Saving for education

ESA program

Regarding “Panel hears pros, cons of school choice bill” (Page A6, March 22), public education in Texas faces an immediate crisis. Booming enrollment has led to some increasingly overcrowded public schools. And countless students — mainly by virtue of their ZIP code alone — remain trapped in schools where their educational needs cannot be met.

That is why I testified before the Texas Senate Education Committee on March 21 in support of a bill that would address both of these problems. SB 3, introduced by Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, would expand education choice by making all public school students eligible for an Education Savings Account (ESA). It deserves the support of Texas lawmakers.

In an ESA program, parents gain control of their child’s education through a savings account that is managed by the parents themselves. The state deposits funds into a debit card that parents can use on approved educational expenses. These funds allow parents to develop a K-12 plan tailored to their own child’s needs and aspirations. Parents could use account funds to pay for homeschooling, tuition at private schools, community college, universities or any other qualified educational expense.

The Latino community stands to be among the greatest beneficiaries of expanding school choice policies, so it is no surprise they are strongly in support. Nearly 70 percent of Latinos support school choice in general, and more than half support ESAs in particular.

Expanding the range of educational opportunities open to our students will benefit families and public schools alike. I encourage our elected officials to support ESA programs and bring education choice to Texas.

Jorge A. Lima, executive director, LIBRE Initiative