Last week, Governor Greg Abbott delivered a speech in front of the Texas Capital to support Parent Empowerment Day. He was surrounded by a rally of people with shirts that stated, “Parents Matter.” Those in attendance at the rally were parents, educators, and legislators.

Governor Abbott over the last two years has pushed for school choice in the form of educational savings accounts. “I went to public schools, and I would not have had it any other way,” said Governor Abbott. “However, I have heard so many parents and teachers across Texas raise concerns about what is being taught in classrooms today. Our schools are for education, not indoctrination. The solution to this problem is empowering parents to choose the school that’s right for their child, and that’s why we will pass this legislative session in Austin. It takes five minutes of your time: Call your state senator, call your state representative, and let them know you support school choice in the state of Texas.”

School choice is a topic the Governor has been rallying on since last year. His efforts have support based on the Governor’s resonating remarks about the public school system being used to indoctrinate children and teach them critical race theory, sexual orientation, and gender identity. 

Since last year, Governor Abbott has promoted school choice via school vouchers, something that is unpopular in rural Texas. A more detailed avenue has been announced in regard to school vouchers that were wrapped together in a bill with other provisions that support parental rights.

A bill proposed in the Texas Senate, Senate Bill 8 written by State Senator Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), has stated more clearly how parent empowerment in Texas education would look across a variety of issues. 

For school vouchers, Senate Bill 8 proposes that parents who want to switch their child from public to private school would receive $8,000 of taxpayer funds with oversight from the Texas Comptroller‘s office. In turn, school districts under 20,000 students would receive $10,000 for each student that left for private schools. That funding would be implemented for only the next two years.

There are criteria that students and parents have to undergo. The funds would be controlled by the state, only going to private school tuition and/or educational resources approved by the state. Purchases will be overseen by the comptroller’s office. Plus, the money can only go to private institutions and vendors approved by the state. 

The goal of Senate Bill 8 is to prohibit public education or the government from infringing upon the “rights granted to parents under the laws of this state, including the right to direct the moral and religious training of the parent’s child, make decisions concerning the child ’s education, and consent to medical, psychiatric, and psychological treatment of the parent’s child.”

In addition to school vouchers, Senate Bill 8 prohibits schools from teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity.

Furthermore, the bill sets its sights on great transparency regarding student information with parents. One thing to point out in the bill is for parents to have access to records, monitoring, and screenings regarding their child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being.

There is also a push in the bill for parents to be notified of their options and rights including to withhold or exempt their child in the areas of:

• Library materials 
• Study courses
• Health education instruction
• Instructions regarding sexual orientation or gender identity 
• Virtual and/or remote schooling options
• Immunizations
• Gifted and talented programs
• Promotion, retention, and graduation policies
• Grade, class rank, and attendance info
• State standards and requirements 
• Healthcare services

School districts would also be required to discipline employees who encourage children to withhold information from their parents. However, there is an exception if a prudent student believes releasing their educational and mental health records would lead to abuse or neglect. In that case, a school district may withhold them from the parents in question.

The rest of the bill promotes provisions such as parental rights in grievance procedures with or towards school boards, school districts, and over educational materials. The bill also promotes parental access to materials and the participation of parents in the implementation and creation of educational programs. Additionally, Senate Bill 8 says that school boards must improve parent and teacher cooperation and have at least one parent-teacher organization.

Overall the bill provides a way for Texas students to have access to school vouchers, temporarily helps schools that have lost a student, and gives parents more say in public education.