The topic of school choice has been a prominent—and oftentimes contentious—topic in the Texas Legislature for years. In late January, state Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, filed a bill that provides school choice funding options for approximately 15,000 students in the first year, if signed into law.

The bill would provide school choice funding options through two avenues: education savings accounts and tax credit scholarships, the latter of which would be funded through donations from businesses and distributed by nonprofits through grant money. Participating businesses would receive a tax credit for the donation.

However, education savings accounts give the state the opportunity to use the average amount of money spent on a public school student and place it into an account for students who attend a failing school. Eligible students would then be able to use the funds to find alternate education options.

As of early February, the bill had been referred to the Senate Committee on Education.