Vouchers would let parents use public funds to pay for their kids’ private education. Learn about how they could work and the political battle around them.

The proposal, a priority of Gov. Greg Abbott, budgets $1 billion over the next two years to fund the private school vouchers.

Budget estimates released Tuesday showed the cost of the Texas Senate’s “school choice” bill would nearly quadruple in four years. The analysis from the Legislative Budget Board came shortly before GOP lawmakers gave the proposal – Senate Bill 2 – a cozy reception in the Senate’s Education K-16 Committee.

Under Senate Bill 2, families whose income is 500% at or below the federal poverty level would be considered a low-income household. Democrats say the roof is too high.