Reactions continue pouring in after Gov. Greg Abbott signed legislation on Saturday authorizing a private school voucher program into law.
The $1 billion Texas School Voucher Program will allow families to receive about $10,000 to send their children to private school using taxpayer money.
The funds are nearly equal to what public schools get for each student through state and local funding.
“I can’t tell you how many years we’ve been praying for this to happen,” Covenant Christian School Director Milton Gonzalez said. “Parents are looking to an academic journey that is in alignment with their principles with their values — they are looking forward to school choice.”
The law will go into effect on Sept. 1, 2025. The school voucher program will launch in late 2026.
READ MORE: Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work.
Sylvia Tanguma, the director of the McAllen AFT teacher’s union, said she believes public schools are getting short-changed.
“Public school is going to be in dire need of additional funding when we get extra kids when all the money has already been allotted for private school,” Tanguma said. “[Abbott] knows that by not funding the public school, these districts will have to shut down schools.”
Abbott said public schools will get more funding through a separate bill.
If approved, House Bill 2 would provide $8 billion to increase public school funding and teacher pay. The State House approved HB 2 last month, but it has still not made it through the Senate.
Members of the McAllen AFT will be in Austin on Tuesday to testify on HB 2.
Gonzalez said he’s expecting students to be on waitlists as the program rolls out.
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