Senate Bill 2 would devote public money to defray the cost of private education. Early plans would set aside $1 billion.

Texas families could use tax dollars to fund their children’s private school tuition under a Republican-backed bill that sailed through the Senate late Wednesday.

By print deadline Wednesday, the Texas Senate was poised to pass a school voucher bill that would offer $10,000 to students for private school tuition

"The Texas Senate's passage of SB 2 is the biggest launch of any universal school choice program in American history, with $1 billion in funding for 100,000 students," Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said in a statement Wednesday night.

Once passed in the Senate, the school choice bill will head to the House. Governor Abbott said he remains very confident that school choice will pass in the chamber, even though Democrats promise a fight.

The bill would give eligible families $10,000 to cover the costs of sending their child to private school. AUSTIN, Texas (CN) — After hours of impassioned debate, members of the Texas Senate voted Wednesday evening to advance a controversial education savings account bill,