Gov. Greg Abbott visits Athens Christian Prep to push school choice and education savings accounts

Gov. Greg Abbott visited Athens Christian Preparatory Academy in Athens, Texas, and urged parents to back legislation expanding school choice and education savings accounts, saying the proposal would not divert funds from public schools.

"Not a single penny will be taken out of public education for this school choice program," Gov. Greg Abbott said, urging parents to contact legislators in Austin and to "get off the sidelines" and make their voices heard.

Abbott framed his education agenda around three pillars — excellent teachers, academic excellence and empowered parents — and said the state will provide historically large increases in public-education funding even as lawmakers pursue measures to expand parental choice. He said Texas already has education savings accounts for special-needs students and urged broadening the program so "every parent" can choose the learning pathway that fits a child.

Local officials and school leaders opened the event with remarks celebrating the school's recent campus renovations and the school's founding mission. An academy leader recounted the building's longstanding nickname, the "Snake Barn," and described the school's 2008 founding and a 2009 estimate that about $1,200,000 a year left the local economy when families sent children to out-of-area private schools.

Mandy Drogan, campaign director for Next Generation Texas, joined Abbott onstage to outline a "Parent Empowerment Movement" she said rests on four pillars: transparency, quality, respect and choice. Drogan cited figures she attributed to state testimony, saying a Texas Education Agency official had acknowledged "19% of the curriculum in our classrooms is on grade level" and that "50 percent" of Texas children cannot read on grade level. Drogan presented those figures as part of her argument for expanding education savings accounts and for parents to bring personal stories to legislators.

The governor also presented a proclamation recognizing Athens Christian Preparatory Academy for its work with students. The program included student-led pledges and a musical performance, a prayer led by Athens Mayor Aaron Smith and closing remarks and a benediction from the school's board president.

Abbott urged civic engagement as the path to policy change: "Call, text, email, contact legislators in the Texas capital," he said. He described well-funded opposition from lobbyists and said parental advocacy would be decisive in the upcoming legislative session. Abbott said he had declared school choice an emergency item for the legislative session and called on supporters to mobilize.

The event closed after remarks from the school board president and a benediction.