HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — The Texas Comptroller’s office is refusing to release records showing how families are spending taxpayer-funded school voucher dollars, ABC13’s partners at the Houston Chronicle reported on Thursday.
School vouchers are taxpayer dollars families can use to help pay for private school. The billion-dollar program lets families use the money to pay tuition, buy school supplies, and get educational therapies.
The Houston Chronicle reported that its reporters have repeatedly been denied documents and information on how families who receive the money spend it.
The controller’s office, led by Don Huffines, has repeatedly said people deserve to know how their money is spent but claims it is withholding the information to protect student privacy, according to the Chronicle. However, other states with similar voucher programs turn this information over to the public.
Reporters in Arizona obtained records from that state’s voucher program and found families used voucher dollars to buy unauthorized items like gaming consoles and diamond jewelry.
The Texas Education Freedom Account lists approved schools and vendors where voucher money can be spent, but some of those vendors raise questions. Vendors include a company that sells a $13 pair of engraved children’s scissors, a college apparel store, and a company that sells only $17 tape meant to replace thimbles.
While the comptroller’s office refuses to release spending details, the voucher program’s assistant director said the program is hiring an auditor, as required by law. It is unclear if that audit will be made public.
This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.