JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Mississippi House lawmakers listened to different perspectives on Thursday as they consider drafting a bill to give Mississippians universal school choice.

House Speaker Jason White (R-Miss.) created a Select Committee to focus on school choice.

Lawmakers are considering giving students in public school education savings accounts, where the state would give them the same amount of money to each child. Families would be able to use this to help pay for private education. Critics said this would benefit students who already attend private schools.

Dr. Kim Wiley, director of Education Equity at the Mississippi Center for Justice, said if the state gives students in public schools education savings accounts, meaning an allotment of money from the state to choose a school, it will not be enough funding for some families. She shared some recommendations with lawmakers.

“We should limit the number of ESA’s provided. We should have requirements that students have either been enrolled or attended a public school. And we should impose income limits tied to the federal poverty level to ensure that vouchers actually go to the families who need them,” Wiley stated.

State Rep. Rob Roberson (R-District 43) said school choice already exists in the state.

“It’s called rich people get to do what they want to do, and poor people have to take what they get. And I’m not in favor of that. I want us to move ourselves in a position to where all of our parents and all of our kids have the ability to pick what’s best for their child. And to me, this is a civil rights issue,” he said.

The Mississippi Center for Justice wants to now where the state will find money for the education savings accounts. Roberson said if it’s important enough to the state, they will find the funds.