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OP / ED
School choice was pivotal in my educational journey — not just for the opportunity to attend a better school, but for the personal growth it inspired in me. It wasn’t just about choosing a school; it was about the sacrifices my parents made, the hard work I put in and the lessons learned along the way. These experiences shaped who I am today.
As a child of immigrants living in a low-income neighborhood, my assigned public school was not satisfying my educational needs, but my family could not afford another option. Thankfully, when my local school eventually closed after failing to meet baseline educational standards, ACE Scholarships provided the financial support for me to attend private school, but it didn’t do the work for me. While my scholarship brought me to the starting line, my family and I had to run the race ourselves. I commuted two hours by bus to attend a private school, understanding that it gave me access to an environment that nurtured my development. At the same time, I was aware that the responsibility to succeed was mine.
I had to learn how to navigate a world in which my parents could not guide me — applying to schools, securing internships, understanding corporate environments, networking and even buying my first home.
School choice isn’t about a guaranteed outcome — it’s about empowering families to make the best decisions for their children’s future and giving students the opportunity to build a foundation for success.
Today, I am a 24-yearold software engineer, business owner and the first in my family to graduate from college. I worked hard, and my parents sacrificed for me to get here. I’m proud of our accomplishments, but my success is also due to the educational choices that financial assistance made possible.
While I had a scholarship, many Texas students will never have access to a wider range of educational options. They are stuck in failing schools, bound to the local public school assigned by their ZIP codes. High and middle-income families can move to districts with high-performing public schools or pay for private schools and tutors, something lower-income families can’t afford to do. This legislative session, Texas has a chance to extend greater educational options to all students by creating an educational savings account program.
ESAs are government- funded accounts that families can use for educational expenses, such as private school tuition or homeschooling. These programs allow education dollars to follow the student, and many prioritize low-income families, providing access to high-quality education for students who need it the most.
Some critics argue that instead of expanding school choice, the government should invest more in public schools. But this viewpoint overlooks the instant power of school choice to transform lives. Many students will choose to stay in public schools, but for those who need something different — a smaller classroom, accelerated learning or specialized help — school choice provides essential options. Education should not be one-size-fits-all.
With only 37% of Texans believing that K-12 education is on the right track, it’s time for us to lead the way in educational reform. ESA programs represent an opportunity to empower students and families, giving them the tools to succeed in ways that traditional public schools may not offer.
I urge Texans to look past the politics and focus on the impact. With the right support and access to education, we can create a future where success is within reach for every child — just as it was for me.
Jessica Garcia-Tejeda is an ACE Scholarships alumna, software engineer, and business owner living in Austin.
