Fights over how to create a school voucher program and cut property taxes are brewing in the Texas House and Senate. Both chambers are proposing to spend $1 billion to establish education savings accounts that families could use for private school tuition and other educational expenses, but the plans differ when it comes to how much money students would receive, which applicants would take priority and how the program would accommodate students with disabilities. Read more about the House’s version: trib.it/anDOSN The House and Senate will also have to agree on how to spend $3.5 billion for tax cuts. A House proposal would spread out tax relief across homeowners and business owners, while a Senate proposal would give targeted tax breaks to homeowners in the form of a boost to the state’s homestead exemption: trib.it/ZdVGZv Recently, we’ve been tracking several key pieces of legislation that would: - Expand the state’s DEI ban to K-12 public schools: trib.it/Ch1Jw2 - Require an overhaul of the state’s STAAR test by 2026 to prioritize post-secondary education: trib.it/jM1a37 - Give public school teachers free pre-K and raises based on experience and performance: trib.it/ltKeJL - Make it easier to convert office space into apartments and condos: trib.it/obbNg8 As discussions about diversifying school options continue, Lufkin school district leaders decided to close two schools last week to cope with lower enrollment. This highlights the choices school communities must make amid increasing competition from charter schools and homeschooling: trib.it/MjyIex