Public school advocates oppose any plan resembling school vouchers saying such programs drain resources from the campuses that educate more than 5 million children in Texas. Supporters of ESAs say families should get state funding for the educational settings that best fit their needs.

The Texas Senate recently passed its version of a school choice program with Senate Bill 2. The proposed legislation calls for education savings accounts — a voucher-like program that allows families to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Speaker Dustin Burrows predict a school voucher bill will pass through the Texas House, which last year blocked such a program.