As Texas lawmakers fiercely debated school choice, a key provision quietly gained approval—parents of eligible pre-K children can now receive public funds to pay for private or community-based early education under the state’s new education savings account (ESA) program.
Under Senate Bill 2, qualifying families of 3- and 4-year-olds can get more than $10,000 per year for tuition, textbooks, and related expenses at approved providers. This expansion could be especially beneficial in areas like Fort Worth, where early childhood care can cost nearly $9,000 annually.
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- 1 Who Qualifies?
- 2 Public Schools Can Benefit, Too
- 3 How Will It Work?
- 4 Not Everyone Is Celebrating
- 5 A Step Forward, But Work Remains
“It’s a win-win-win—for families, for the programs, and for sustainability,” said Catherine Davis, policy director at Child Care Associates, the largest early childhood provider in Tarrant County.
Who Qualifies?
Eligibility for the ESA funds mirrors current state pre-K standards, covering:
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Low-income households
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Military families
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Foster children
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Children learning English
This means the law does not provide universal pre-K, but it does aim to serve underserved communities first.
“We want to make sure not just the affluent but all Texans can access the setting that’s best for their children,” said Jorge Borrego, of the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
Public Schools Can Benefit, Too
The law allows public school districts to enroll out-of-district students using ESA funds—potentially easing budget or enrollment struggles.
Still, the first-year cap is set at $1 billion, limited to 100,000 participants, likely far less than total demand.
How Will It Work?
The Texas Comptroller’s Office must establish the full rules by May 2026, ahead of a 2026–27 school year launch. Some providers have raised concerns about:
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Payment timing (quarterly vs. weekly)
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Program alignment with existing aid like child care scholarships and Head Start
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Administrative compliance (e.g., background checks, financial audits)
“Now that enabling legislation has passed, Texas has a great opportunity to simplify eligibility, funding, and parent access,” Davis noted.
Not Everyone Is Celebrating
Raise Your Hand Texas, a public education advocacy group, criticized the bill as undercutting an already underfunded school system.
“Texas ranks 46th in the nation in per-pupil funding,” the group said. “We should do more for all public education students—not just those using an ESA.”
They also called for expanding public pre-K access, especially for special education students.
A Step Forward, But Work Remains
While some hail this as progress for school choice and early education, others say the law is just a starting point.
“Texas has made important advances this session,” Davis said. “But the real work is still ahead.”
Until 2026, providers will focus on educating families and tracking how the law unfolds—because for many, success means simply finding the right place to grow.
