Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday evening that a universal, school choice voucher program that gives parents public dollars to spend on private school tuition will help Texas lead the nation in education.

The Texas Senate is set to discuss its proposal for school choice on Wednesday, while opponents warn of potential harm to public schools.

Texans also heard from their fellow citizens as part of the Democratic Party’s response to Abbott’s speech, with state Democrats enlisting a public school educator, an OB/GYN, electricians’ union representative and the state’s Democratic chair to represent what the party hoped to project as the voice of everyday Texans.