The Texas Senate approved legislation on Thursday to establish a statewide private school voucher program, sending it to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for signing. This marks the end of a contentious intraparty conflict that has dominated state politics for the past two years.
Senate Bill 2, a $1 billion proposal, will allow families to use taxpayer funds for private school education. Governor Abbott has expressed his intention to sign the bill into law. Although similar legislation has faced opposition from Democrats and rural Republicans in the past, the Texas House approved SB 2 last week with support from Republicans who had previously opposed such measures.
The voucher program will officially launch at the start of the 2026-27 school year, following Abbott’s signature. It will initially allocate $1 billion over two years to education savings accounts, which families can use for private school tuition, textbooks, transportation, and therapy. Notably, up to 20% of the funds could be used by wealthier families earning 500% or more of the poverty rate, which equates to approximately $160,000 or more for a family of four.
While Senate Republicans, including education committee chair Senator Brandon Creighton, champion the bill as a way to empower parents and provide educational choice, Senate Democrats have raised concerns about the exclusion of undocumented Texans and the potential impact on public school funding. Senator Molly Cook criticized the Republican-dominated Legislature for not allowing voters to decide on the voucher program through a statewide ballot.
Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick dismissed Cook’s remarks, emphasizing that the state continues to fully fund public education and that many people support school choice. Both the House and Senate are considering a multibillion-dollar public school funding package that includes additional funding for teacher salaries and special education.
Texas currently ranks 38th among states in per-student funding. Critics of the voucher program argue that the state has not adequately invested in public education, highlighting the $7.6 billion in school funding that was withheld last legislative session due to the failure of the voucher program to gain sufficient support.
Under the voucher program, most participating families would receive an amount equal to 85% of what public schools receive per student through state and local funding, which is roughly between $10,300 and $10,900 per year per child. Children with disabilities would be eligible for additional funding of up to $30,000, while home-schoolers could receive up to $2,000 per year.
Almost any school-age child eligible to attend public school, including those already enrolled in private schools, could participate in the program, with the exception of undocumented children. However, private schools would not be required to accept all students, and priority would be given to students with disabilities and those from low-income families if public demand exceeds available funding.
Critics of the voucher program also point out that private schools would not be required to administer the same standardized tests as public schools, creating an uneven playing field. Additionally, studies in other states have shown that vouchers do not consistently lead to improved scores for low-income students, who are often the intended beneficiaries of such programs.
