Families, educators, and advocates are pushing Texas lawmakers to pass public school funding bills now that the school voucher program has become a reality. Gov. Greg Abbott officially signed the controversial $1 billion school choice bill into law on Saturday.

AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas will implement a $1 billion school voucher program, one of the largest in the country, that uses public dollars to fund private school tuition under a bill Gov. Greg Abbott signed Saturday, capping off a yearslong effort by Republicans.

Families in Texas are now among a growing number of states who can use public funds to pay for a nonpublic education, including private schools and homeschooling. Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on May 3 signed a school choice bill into law,