HOUSTON – Texas just passed the biggest school voucher program in the country, and we’ve been hearing from parents across the board.
EXPLAINER: Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work.
Also known as school choice, the program promises to prioritize students with disabilities and low-income families. In other words, families will have the chance to receive financial assistance to send their children to private schools,
However, many parents are still unsure of how it all works and whether they will actually benefit from the program. For example, one Houston mother, Cokeydo Butler, asked our Ricky Munoz:
“I would like to know, my child is in private school, but would I be able to apply to get some of those grant funds for my child, too?”
Under Senate Bill 2, the answer is yes. Students already enrolled in private school can apply for Texas’ new Education Savings Account — a program that gives families public funds to spend on education.
If accepted, parents could receive up to $10,000 a year per child, or $11,500 if their child has a disability. That money can be used on tuition, textbooks, testing fees, or even therapies, as long as it’s through an approved provider.
But here’s the catch: If there are more applicants than funding, 80 percent of the available spots will go to students who were previously in public school and are either from low-income families or have disabilities. Everyone else — including private school and homeschool students — will enter a separate lottery for the remaining 20 percent of spots.
So, private school parents are eligible, but it’s not a sure thing.
Another parent, Jimiris Williams, asked: “I would want to know what it would require of me. What am I getting to take my son out of school? Usually there’s some sort of give and take… Are the schools limited? What schools is he allowed to go to? You know, I would wanna know where I’m placing him so I can weigh all of my options.”
If your child gets approved for the Education Savings Account, you’d receive public money, up to $10,000 a year, to put toward private school or other approved educational expenses.
But that money comes with rules:- You can only spend it on pre-approved schools, tutors, or services.
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Parents don’t get cash directly
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Payments go through the state
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Once you leave public school, you’re responsible for making sure your child gets tested each year and follows the state’s accountability requirements.
So it’s not just a check — it’s a system with oversight, paperwork, and limits on where that money can be used.
So before you take your child out of public school, you’ll want to make sure the private or homeschool option you’re looking at is approved — and that it fits your family’s needs.
One parent also asked the most pressing question. He’s not convinced this program helps working-class families at all, and asked a blunt question: Is this just welfare for the rich?
“What I understand about the vouchers is that they’re, now giving sort of welfare to rich kids to go to school… when taxpayers are already paying for public schools. So it seems kind of strange to me. Is it open to poor kids, or is it indeed rich kids getting tuition assistance programs?”
The bill doesn’t set income limits, so yes, wealthier families can apply. But if there’s not enough money to go around, low-income families and students with disabilities who were in public school last year move to the front of the line.
Still, critics worry that in practice, private school families, who can already afford tuition, may flood the system first, leaving others behind. So while the bill claims to prioritize need, the reality could depend on how many families apply — and how fast the money runs out.
One parent wanted to know something a lot of families might be thinking about once they take the money:
“So like what happens if my child want to switch back to public school?”
If your child leaves public school and gets approved for the state’s Education Savings Account — you’ll get access to thousands of dollars in education funds.
But if later on, your child wants to switch back to public school, that ends your eligibility.
You’ll need to notify the state, and your education account will be closed. Any money left over goes back to the program — and your child re-enrolls like any other public school student.
So, yes — you can come back to public school. But once you do, the voucher goes away.
Finally, another parent, Kevin Anderson, asked:
“What happens if they keep taking kids out of the public schools? And what happens to those schools?”
Under Texas law, public schools receive state funding based on how many students show up each day — that’s called Average Daily Attendance.
But it’s clear: – If a student leaves public school for an ESA, they’re no longer counted toward ADA.
– And that means their public school loses state funding tied to that student.
The bill even requires the state to check twice a year to make sure that funding doesn’t follow a student who’s no longer enrolled.
Critics say that if enough students leave, the impact could hit smaller schools the hardest, especially in rural or underfunded districts that rely on every dollar.
So while this new program gives some families more choices, public schools could face real losses if enough students walk away.
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