South San Antonio News

Travis Baughman, a parent from Sugar Land, expressed that his family faced a "major financial burden" when they opted for private schooling. This decision was made because their "tax dollars are not available to us for alternative education choices," he said on February 20.

"While we were both professionals, private school was going to be and was and is a major financial burden due to the fact that our tax dollars are not available to us for alternative education choices outside of the public school system," said Baughman, Parent from Sugarland TX.

According to Texas Senate News, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) empower parents to select the educational path that best fits their child's needs. By allowing public funds allocated for a child's education to be directed towards private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling, families can exert more control over their children's learning environment. This system ensures that parents are not confined to neighborhood public schools but can choose institutions that align with their child's unique learning style and interests.

Texas Senate News further explains that one of the long-term benefits of school choice is the promotion of innovation within educational institutions. ESAs foster competition among public, private, and charter schools by enabling families to choose their preferred schools. Consequently, these institutions are incentivized to innovate and enhance their educational offerings through new teaching methods or specialized programs to attract students.

A report by EdChoice in 2022 analyzed 40 private school choice programs across 19 states and Washington, D.C., revealing significant savings for state and local taxpayers—between $12.4 billion and $28.3 billion through fiscal year 2018. This translates into savings of $3,300 to $7,500 per student participating in these programs. EdChoice suggests these savings could be redirected towards public schools, potentially enhancing resources and improving the quality of public education.

The Texas Tribune reports that Senate Bill 2 proposes financial assistance for families seeking private education options. The bill suggests eligible families could receive up to $10,000 per student annually to cover tuition fees at private schools. This measure aims to make private schooling more accessible for families who might otherwise find it unaffordable, thus providing children access to high-quality education that may better suit them than local public schools.

According to the Sugarland ISD website, Sugar Land is served by Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD), one of the largest districts in Texas.