AFPI’s Chair of the Center for Education Opportunity Erika Donalds Supports Education Savings Accounts for Texas Families

Washington, D.C. – Today, the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) released the following statement from Erika Donalds, Chair of the Center for Education Opportunity supporting Senate Bill 2 in Texas establishing Education Savings Accounts (ESAs):

“President Donald J. Trump has called school choice ‘the civil rights issue of our time.’ At AFPI, we are proud to support his call for every child—regardless of their zip code or income level—to access a high-quality education. President Trump also recently stated that passing school choice policies in Texas would ‘deliver a gigantic victory for Texas students and parents.’ We are looking to bold leadership in states like Texas to pave the way, and your commitment to advancing educational opportunity exemplifies our guiding principle: America First, Always.

AFPI strongly supports the efforts of Governor Greg Abbott, Speaker Dustin Burrows, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Representative Brad Buckley, and Senator Brandon Creighton—to enact Senate Bill 2, Texas' ESA legislation. Every Texas parent deserves the power to choose the best educational environment for their child, and ESAs are a key tool to ensure that freedom becomes a reality.

School choice strengthens public education by introducing healthy competition, giving parents real options, and ensuring schools remain accountable for student outcomes. Research on Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship program found that public schools near private school alternatives saw higher test scores, lower absenteeism, and fewer suspensions—benefits that were especially meaningful for low-income families.

School choice policies uplift every community and strengthen our nation’s future by empowering parents and reinforcing school accountability. AFPI stands firmly with you in this vital effort and echoes President Trump’s belief that school choice is indeed the civil rights issue of our time. Together, we can make that vision a reality for every family in Texas.

Thank you for your leadership and for your dedication to putting America’s children first.”