Bill > HB984

This bill establishes an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program in Texas designed to provide eligible children with up to $10,000 annually for education-related expenses. Parents of children who would be eligible to attend public school can enroll their children in the program, and funds can be used for various educational expenses such as private school tuition, online courses, textbooks, curriculum, educational therapies, technology, and testing fees. The comptroller will administer the program, creating accounts for participants that can be accessed via debit card or electronic transfer, and will make quarterly payments. School districts will receive 50 percent of the difference between state average per-student expenditures and the scholarship amount for each participating child. The program aims to improve public schools, promote educational efficiency, preserve parental rights, and increase educational options. Participating schools and service providers must meet certain accountability standards, and the program includes provisions for random auditing, fraud prevention, and account suspension for misuse. The program will begin in the 2026-2027 school year, with the first payments to be made by September 15, 2026, and is designed to be flexible, allowing participants to use funds for a wide range of educational services while maintaining autonomy for schools and families.

Education

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB984