Republican lawmakers and supporters say it will let parents pull their children out of poor-performing public schools.

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.

The controversial legislation creates Education Savings Accounts, which will allow Texas parents to use public funds toward private education costs.