Governor Greg Abbott was presented with the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Ronald Reagan Award on April 9 in recognition of his conservative leadership and for launching what he described as the largest day-one school choice program in America. The award was given during the Texas Policy Summit’s annual dinner.
The event highlighted ongoing efforts to expand educational options in Texas, which supporters say reflect a broader movement toward parental freedom and local control. The Governor addressed elected officials and advocates, noting significant interest in new education initiatives.
“A single word that is of paramount importance when it comes to policy or anything involving democracy is the word freedom,” said Governor Abbott. “School choice is about freedom. It’s about the freedom of parents being able to choose the best education pathway for their child. We passed school choice. I consider this to be a victory dinner for everybody in this room, people outside of this room, and for the warriors who helped get school choice across the finish line. More importantly, it is a victory dinner for all the parents out there.”
Abbott also noted that more than 270,000 students have applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, which give priority to students with disabilities and those from low-income families—an unprecedented level of demand that he said demonstrates strong parental desire for more educational control.
At the event, TPPF CEO Greg Sindelar joined Abbott along with First Lady Cecilia Abbott and other state officials. The Ronald Reagan Award honors leaders who support limited government, free markets, and individual liberty.
The Governor’s office advances cultural understanding through commissions supporting opportunities for women and people with disabilities according to its official website. It also promotes economic opportunity, education, public safety while upholding state values according to its official website. Greg Abbott serves as the 48th governor leading these efforts according to its official website.
The Texas Governor’s Mansion has served as an official residence since 1856 and stands as one of the oldest continuously occupied governor’s residences in America according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Abbott said Texas will continue investing in career-focused legislation aimed at making it a national leader in student education.
