Creighton Files Senate Bill 2, Texas Education Freedom Act

Senator Brandon Creighton (R- Conroe) filed Senate Bill 2, the Texas

Education Freedom Act. He offered the following statement:

“Texas families are rejecting the status quo and calling for an education system that

prioritizes their children’s success. Senate Bill 2 places parents at the center of their child’s

education, empowering them with the freedom to choose the educational path that works

best for their families.

“This session, we are fully committed to passing universal, comprehensive school choice

legislation, ensuring every Texas family has access to the educational opportunities they

deserve. It’s time for Texas to join the 32 other states that already empower parents and

students with greater educational freedom.

“School choice is a proven driver of success. Across the nation, it expands opportunities for

students while resulting in meaningful improvements in public schools. Competition is not a

threat to any one school but rather an opportunity to deliver better results for all Texas

students. This legislation includes safeguards to ensure Texas avoids the challenges faced by

other states while delivering a program tailored to the needs of our families.

“Every child in Texas deserves the chance to succeed, especially those who require

specialized learning environments. By passing this legislation, we will break the barriers

imposed by zip codes and give all families the tools they need to provide a brighter future for

their children. With bold action and decisive leadership, we will finally deliver for the 6

million students in Texas schools.

“I want to thank Lt. Governor Patrick for his leadership and steadfast commitment to

school choice in Texas, and I look forward to working with members of the committee and

the full Senate to finally get this bill to Governor Abbott’s desk.”

###

Details of Senate Bill 2:

1. Eligibility

○ Universal Access: Every Texas student may apply and, if accepted, participate in

the ESA program—whether they are entering school for the first time,

currently enrolled in public school, or currently enrolled in private school or

homeschool.

2. Prioritization

○ If applications do not exceed the program’s capacity, all eligible students are

accepted.

○ If applications exceed capacity, 80% of available positions will be filled by

lottery among students who previously attended public school and are either

from low-income households or have a disability. The remaining slots will be

filled by lottery among all other eligible applicants.

3. Allocation per Student

○ Base Funding: Each participating student will receive at least $2,000 per year in

their ESA.

○ Private School Funding: If a family elects to enroll their child in an accredited

private school, that student will receive $10,000 per year—or $11,500 per year

if the student has a disability.