Governor Greg Abbott expressed his support for school choice during a media event at Kingdom Life Academy in Tyler, discussing growing support for the issue across Texas. "Hispanics and African Americans in the state of Texas, they strongly support school choice. Those parents want an option. They know their child better than any government employee does, and they want to put their child on the pathway toward success," Abbott said in a statement. He also noted increased backing from Hispanic and African American communities as the Legislature prepares for its next session, according to the Office of the Texas Governor.
The plan also focuses on increasing teacher salaries, incentives, and job training. At the event, Joel Enge, Founder and Director of Kingdom Life Academy, emphasized the importance of school choice for minority students, saying, "We are excited about the fact that Texas is moving in the direction of school choice," and, "As a Black founder of schools, I can speak to the issue on how important school choice is for Black and Hispanic students in our communities," as stated by the Office of the Texas Governor.
The recent election results have given the Texas Legislature the support to focus on school choice, which Governor Abbott believes is in demand across different racial and socioeconomic groups. Texas aims to provide parents with more educational options based on quality and preference, not just their zip code. Abbott also emphasized that the focus on school choice should be paired with efforts to improve existing schools and support teachers, aiming for balanced educational progress in Texas, as reported by the Office of the Texas Governor.