Gov. Greg Abbott speaks in Houston to support school choice bill

CYPRESS, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott was in the Houston area Tuesday night promoting one of his biggest priorities in this legislative session: school choice.

Abbott spoke at the Cypress Christian School gym in front of hundreds of parents. He said he wants school choice to be available to every student in Texas.

This would mean that parents would receive money from the state to send their children to the private school of their choice. Senate Bill 8 will provide parents with up to $8,000 per student in an education savings account. This is what Abbott says other states are already doing.

“My job is to make sure we cross the finish line of legislation that will give mom and dad back the responsibility of educating their child in the great state of Texas,” he said.

The idea caused controversy even within the Republican Party. Critics fear this will leave public schools without enough money to thrive. Abbott employees turned down a request for an interview Tuesday night.

Protesters lined the streets before Abbott appeared. The bill is scheduled for committee hearings Wednesday in Austin.

During the speech, Abbott made no mention of the TEA HISD takeover, nor of the community meeting that was taking place at the same time.

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