Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has requested that state lawmakers double the amount of money available for the state’s private school voucher program, bringing the total to more than $2 billion for the 2028-29 biennium. If approved, this request would increase the program's base funding by $1 billion, allowing more families to use taxpayer money for private school or home schooling costs. The Legislature had previously approved $1 billion for the program's initial rollout and the 2026-27 school year.
Officials from the comptroller’s office noted that the request is based on the number of current participants and students on the waitlist, as required by state law. Huffines also requested an additional $226 million to accommodate funding increases for families currently participating in the program. The comptroller's office projected that if the state were to fund all families on the current waitlist, the total cost could reach roughly $4 billion over the next two years. Legislative budget experts had earlier predicted that overall spending on the program could rise to approximately $4.8 billion by 2030.
Currently, nearly 110,000 students have received funding through the program, while more than 106,000 families remain on a waitlist. Families with a child in private school currently qualify for about $10,500 annually. Home-schoolers can receive up to $2,000 per year. Children with disabilities qualify for up to $30,000, an amount based on the estimated cost of educating that student in a public school; however, fewer than 30 students have received the full amount. Recent state data indicates that 70% of families who have joined or have pending invitations to the program already attended a private school or home-school prior to receiving funding.
The comptroller's office stated in the request that it "expects that the interest list will only grow larger as the state continues to promote the program and participating families communicate positive experiences to others in their communities." The office also asserted that the state has "a moral imperative to serve these children."
The Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) criticized the budget request, stating on Thursday that taxpayers need more information on who has signed up for voucher funding before the program’s price tag is increased. The association noted that many school districts are already facing budget deficits, forcing campus closures or program eliminations, and argued against diverting increasing amounts of tax dollars from public schools to support private and religious schools.
Concerns had previously been raised about tight application deadlines and confusing documentation requirements that made it difficult for families of students with disabilities to access money reserved for special education. Officials in the comptroller's office had indicated they would advocate for additional funding for these families in future years. The new request includes provisions for this, with officials expecting nearly 15,000 participating children to receive appropriate special education documentation next year, making them eligible for additional money. Some of the $226 million requested is intended to accommodate these families. Currently, roughly 7,300 students with documented disabilities who attend private schools under the program receive the base $10,500 plus an average of more than $5,000 in additional special education funding.
Legislators are scheduled to address Texas’ two-year budget when the next lawmaking session convenes in January.
