Neither of the Legislature’s voucher bills require private schools to accept certain students, which some warn could block the neediest children from access.

If the author and all co-authors vote for House Bill 3, it would pass the lower chamber. The controversial program, also called school choice, would use public money to pay for children’s private school tuition.

Public school advocates oppose any plan resembling school vouchers saying such programs drain resources from the campuses that educate more than 5 million children in Texas. Supporters of ESAs say families should get state funding for the educational settings that best fit their needs.

Texas Republicans’ demand for a school voucher-style program appears poised to clear a major hurdle as a slim majority of House members have signaled their support. Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated Wednesday that 75 Republican representatives signed on as co-authors to House Bill 3,

Families participating in the program could receive about 85% of the amount public schools collect for each attending student from state and local sources.

Texas House lawmakers filed a sweep of education-related legislation Thursday including a school voucher proposal and a funding bill that would invest $8 billion in public education. The bills are ...

The House bill filed by state Rep. Brad Buckley would offer private school vouchers to all Texas students, including home-schoolers.