The 89th Texas Legislature could be largely defined and remembered for its conservative push on education policies.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, in his announcement earlier this week marking the session's end, touted several education-related priority bills as "key Senate victories."

That includes Senate Bill 2, the sweeping $1 billion school voucher-like program establishing an Education Savings Account (ESA), which Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law last month. Patrick also noted House Bill 2 , which was signed Wednesday and will boost school funding and teachers' salaries.

Although Texas Republicans are celebrating the bills as a win, some consider it a loss for the state's public school system.

"Public education has become a central battleground where deep divisions within the Texas G

See Full Page