In this edition of IDRA’s Texas Education Policy Alert, you’ll find information on the House’s passage of a multi-billion-dollar voucher bill, other bills that have passed the House and a discriminatory bill that attempts to repeal the Texas Dream Act.  

In this edition:

• Multi-Billion-Dollar Voucher Bill Passes the House 
• Small Steps for School Funding with Historic Bilingual Additions  
• Bad Discipline Bill Passes the House 
• Help Stop the Dream Act Repeal  
• Good Bill Alert! Ethnic Studies Bill! 
• Committee Hearings This Week 

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Multi-Billion Dollar Voucher Bill Passes

In the early hours of Thursday morning, the Texas House passed Senate Bill 2, a multi-billion-dollar voucher bill that will create a universal private school voucher program for the first time in our state’s history.  

During the debate, lawmakers in support of the voucher, refused to vote on any of the 43 proposed amendments by tabling them from additional consideration. Thus, members did not have to go on the record as supporting or opposing extra accountability measures such as capping voucher expenditures, stopping millionaires and billionaires from receiving taxpayer-funded vouchers, requiring that private school teachers be certified or collecting data to measure the impact of vouchers on student achievement and educational access. They even refused to vote to protect students from sexual harassment and bullying. 

SB 2 supports private school costs for a small number of families, with very few requirements for public accountability and transparency.  

SB 2 is not law until the bill is signed by the Governor. Over the weekend, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced that the Senate plans to concur with the House’s changes to the bill, which means the Senate agrees with the House’s changes and the next step will be to send the bill to the Governor for his signature.  

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Small Steps for School Funding, with Historic Bilingual Additions

The Texas House also passed House Bill 2, a nearly $8 billion investment in public schools, teachers and students last Thursday. Some of the major changes include: 

• A $395 increase to the basic allotment and a tie-in to adjust for inflation based on property values, 
• A historic bump of 0.02 to the Bilingual Education Allotment, raising it to 12% in additional funding for emergent bilingual students, and 17% additional funding for those in in dual language programs; 
• Increased funding for students from low-income households and for prekindergarten through the compensatory education allotment; 
• A needed shift in special education funding to be based on the intensity of the services students receive; and 
• Changes to promote certified teachers in the classroom. 

IDRA has pushed for increases in per-pupil funding and targeted student-based funding, especially for bilingual education, for over 40 years. The proposed funding increases for bilingual education are the first of its kind since the allotment was implemented. The bill now moves to the Senate, which has taken up some funding shifts but no increases to per-pupil funding. (See IDRA testimony on HB 2.) 

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More Bad Bill Updates!

House Bill 6, a harmful wide-ranging school discipline bill passed the Texas House. House Bill 6 would unnecessarily expand schools’ ability to remove students for vaguely defined behaviors and create new legal systems and education settings that are not research-based nor designed to support our state’s most vulnerable children.

These measures have not and will not help Texas students, families or teachers. Instead, IDRA encourages evidence-based practices that support all students, not exclusionary discipline. The bill now moves to the Senate. (See IDRA testimony against HB 6.) 

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Help Stop the Texas Dream Act Repeal

This Tuesday in the Senate Education K-16 Committee, the members will hear Senate Bill 1798, a bill that would repeal the Texas Dream Act. Texas passed the DREAM Act in 2001 to allow tuition rate equity for all eligible students graduating from Texas high schools, regardless of their immigration status. This bill would eliminate access to in-state tuition and state aid for undocumented students in Texas.

This would directly impact thousands of immigrant students and weaken Texas’s long-standing investment in education for all its residents. In addition, Texas public colleges and universities could lose millions of dollars if this bill were to pass. All Texas students deserve equitable access to college.  

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Good Bill Alert: Ethnic Studies!

House Bill 178 by Rep. Christina Morales would allow ethnic studies to count as a social studies credit for graduation. Ethnic studies courses benefit all students. Culturally-sustaining curriculum has a positive impact on students’ attendance, academic achievement and community engagement. This bill is consistent with the recommendations by our student research team. 

The bill will be heard during the House Public Education committee meeting this Tuesday. 

See bilingual English-Spanish version

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Coming Up: Week of April 21, 2025

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Tools & Resources

Learn more about IDRA’s policy recommendations for Texas
See our Infographic: 5 Data Snacks on IDRA’s Policy Priorities

The Big Cost of Proposed Voucher Legislation, Data Map

How to Testify before the Texas Legislature, Infographic

Get more advocacy tips and videos on IDRA’s SEEN website.

Welcoming Immigrant Students,  Infographic

IDRA Voucher Comment Portal – Voice your concerns on the voucher bill.