Jorge Borrego, Director of Education Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said that Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), currently under debate in the Texas legislature, will save taxpayers $6,000 per student. Borrego made this statement in a February 14 post on X.
“ESAs will save taxpayers over $6,000 per student,” said Borrego, Education Policy Director. “Public schools spend $16,792 per student, while ESAs operate at $10,000 per student. That’s a net win for Texas taxpayers and a direct path to an Article III surplus next biennium.”
According to Texas Senate News, ESAs provide parents with the ability to choose the educational path that best suits their child’s needs. By directing public funds allocated for their child’s education to private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling, families gain more control over their children’s learning environment. This system ensures that parents are not restricted to neighborhood public schools but can select institutions that align with their child’s unique learning style and interests.
Texas Senate News also reports that one of the long-term benefits of school choice is the encouragement of innovation within schools. By enabling families to choose their schools, ESAs create competition between public, private, and charter institutions. As a result, schools are incentivized to innovate and improve their educational offerings—whether through new teaching methods, specialized programs, or better overall performance—to attract students.
A 2022 report by EdChoice analyzed 40 private school choice programs across 19 states and Washington D.C., finding that these programs have collectively saved state and local taxpayers between $12.4 billion and $28.3 billion through fiscal year 2018. This translates to savings of $3,300 to $7,500 per student participating in these programs. EdChoice suggests these savings can be redirected to public schools, potentially adding resources and enhancing the quality of public education.
Borrego is identified as the Director of Education Policy at the Texas Public Policy Foundation on the TPPF website.
