Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott on May 3 signed a school choice bill into law, allocating $1 billion for about 100,000 students to use for alternative schooling tuition or other educational purposes. The money can be used to pay for textbooks, academic tests, transportation to school, computers and meals during the school day.

Gov. Greg Abbott has signed the $1 billion controversial school choice bill into law, allowing for taxpayer money to be used to help qualifying students pay for private school tuition. "Today is the culmination of a movement that has swept across the state and our country," Abbott said Saturday.

Most participating students will receive approximately $10,330 to pay for private school tuition and other expenses under the program, the first of its kind in Texas. Twenty-nine other states have programs that use public funds for private education.