Texas school choice opponents are strong. I recall going to look up the number of lobbyists on retainer by groups opposed to choice during the 2013 legislative session, and the number was well over 100. If you observe social media, you might be tempted to conclude that Texas choice opponents were run of the mill rent-a-reactionary types, but I can assure you that many of the people on this list were deadly professionals holding close relationships with lawmakers, knocking on doors and stuffing envelopes during campaign season and more. This was only one advantage held by proponents of the K-12 status quo, hardly the only advantage. Looking at that list, I concluded that setting Texas students free would require something very special.
I was wrong. It took a series of special things and special people. Last night the Texas House of Representatives passed an ESA bill.
Gov. Greg Abbott deserves the thanks and gratitude of the choice movement, as does Texas House Education Chairman Brad Buckley and a large number of never-say-die supporters. This is an enormous achievement: if longstanding trends hold, the day will come when Texas has more students than California. Last time I checked, there were approximately twice as many K-12 students in Texas as Florida. My guess for the map of states with rubusto choice when the smoke clears from the 2025 session season looks something like:
Mind you, this map would have been exclusively gray as late as 2022. There are states colored gray, which are obvious candidates to color up. Supporting those state efforts must remain a primary goal of the education freedom movement. The most vital goal, however, should shift to a focus on bill quality above quantity.
Mighty oaks begin as small acorns. Arizona’s ESA program, for example, began with 151 students in 2011 but today provides the opportunity to participate to all 1.4 million Arizona K-12 students while enrolling 87,000 and counting. The program is formula funded, available to every student, and provides multiple educational options and methods. Acorn to oak tree can and has, in fact, happened.
We need more oaks more than we need more acorns.
The mightiest oak has grown in Florida; approximately two thirds of all K-12 students participating in account-based choice programs reside there. The care and nurturing of this oak have been a multi-decade task for Hercules. With twice as many K-12 students as Florida, Texas could someday overtake Florida in program size. Texas may be the only state with the potential to do so. That potential, however, will require a great deal more work.
I look forward to it. Onward!
