Texas Gov. Abbott signs private school voucher bill into law

Summary

Gov. Abbott signs school voucher law

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, establishing a $1 billion school voucher program that allows families to use public funds for private school tuition and other education-related expenses.

Launching September 2026

The program, launching in 2026, will provide up to $10,000 per year for private school students, $30,000 for students with disabilities, and $2,000 for home-schooled students.

Critics worry about less funding

Critics, including many Democrats and public education advocates, argue the plan diverts funding from public schools that are already under financial strain.

Image credit: Bob Daemmrich/ZUMA Press Wire via Reuters

Summary

Gov. Abbott signs school voucher law

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, establishing a $1 billion school voucher program that allows families to use public funds for private school tuition and other education-related expenses.

Launching September 2026

The program, launching in 2026, will provide up to $10,000 per year for private school students, $30,000 for students with disabilities, and $2,000 for home-schooled students.

Critics worry about less funding

Critics, including many Democrats and public education advocates, argue the plan diverts funding from public schools that are already under financial strain.

Full story

Texas families will soon be able to use public funds for private education under a new law signed Saturday, May 3, by Gov. Greg Abbott. The new legislation marks a major shift in the state’s approach to school funding.

Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, which establishes a school voucher program that will allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to pay for private school tuition and other education-related expenses. The legislation, backed by a $1 billion funding package, was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature following months of debate.

“When I ran for reelection in 2022, I promised school choice for the families of Texas. Today, we deliver on that promise,” Abbott said during a bill-signing ceremony outside the Governor’s Mansion. “Gone are the days that families are limited to only the school assigned by government.”

The law will go into effect Sept. 1, but is expected to launch in late 2026. It will provide up to $10,000 per year to students attending accredited private schools. Students with disabilities will be eligible for up to $30,000 annually, and home-schooled students can receive $2,000 per year. Funds can also be used for expenses such as textbooks, transportation and therapy services.

The program will use an online platform operated by the education financial technology company ClassWallet, similar to a system currently used in Arizona.

Critics, including many Democrats and public education advocates, argue the plan diverts funding from public schools that are already under financial strain.

“We are looking at siphoning $1 billion out of our already underfunded system to help a tiny percentage of Texas school children who are mostly already in private school,” said state Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin.

President Donald Trump praised the bill’s passage in a post last month on his social media platform, Truth Social.

“Congratulations to my friends, Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dustin Burrows, along with Texas Legislators, for finally passing SCHOOL CHOICE, which I strongly endorsed – this is a gigantic Victory for students and parents in the Great State of Texas!” Trump wrote.

Tags: 2024 Elections, Department of Education, Donald Trump, Education, Greg Abbott, public education, Texas

Why this story matters

Texas' new school voucher program represents a major shift in public education policy, affecting how families can access and fund private and alternative schooling options using public money.

School choice

The program expands families' options for their children's education by enabling the use of public funds for private schooling and related educational expenses.

Public funding and resource allocation

Debate centers on how the law redirects public education funds, with concerns about potential impacts on already underfunded public schools.

Policy and political debate

The legislation reflects deep political divisions, with support and criticism from various political figures and parties regarding the future direction of educational policy in Texas.

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Community reaction

Community responses are sharply divided. Supporters, including advocacy groups and some parents, celebrated increased educational options and parental empowerment. Public school advocates, teacher unions, and Democratic lawmakers expressed concern over potential funding losses for public schools, with rallies and public statements warning of negative effects on educational equity and local districts, especially in rural or low-income communities.

Debunking

Some claims—that the voucher program will immediately overhaul the education system or fully replace public schools—are not supported by the bill’s provisions. The program is set to start with a capped budget and prioritizes low- and middle-income families, though opponents argue most beneficiaries may already attend private schools. Attempts to frame the shift as an overnight transformation are overstated.

Underreported

One underreported point is how private schools may select which students to accept, since they are not subject to the same enrollment requirements as public schools. This discretion could limit access for students with specific needs, undermining claims of universally expanded choice. Additionally, limited coverage exists on the administrative logistics and challenges of setting up and monitoring the new program.

Sources

Bias comparison

Media outlets on the left framed the Texas voucher bill as a "controversial" milestone benefiting "school choice supporters," while emphasizing harm to "already-struggling public schools" and highlighting the "ugly conflict" surrounding its passage.
Media outlets in the center took a more neutral stance, using terms like "landmark" and "historic" but also "controversial."
Media outlets on the right touted the bill as a "win" that empowers parents and challenges the "failing public school monopoly," part of a broader "school choice revolution," often using the term "educational freedom."

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Media landscape

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Key points from the Left

Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2, creating one of the largest school voucher programs in the U.S., allowing families to use taxpayer money for private education starting September 1, 2025.
The program will provide funds equivalent to 85% of public school funding, approximately $10,300 to $10,900 per child annually, and will prioritize low-income families.
Critics argue the program could harm public schools, while supporters, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, emphasize the need for more educational options for parents.

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Key points from the Center

Texas will implement a $1 billion school voucher program to fund private school tuition, signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott.
Families can receive $10,000 per year for private tuition, while children with disabilities can qualify for $30,000.
The program will initially cover up to 90,000 students and could cost $4.5 billion yearly by 2030, according to projections.
Abbott stated the bill gives parents more choice, noting that "Gone are the days that families are limited to only the schools assigned by government."

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Key points from the Right

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2 into law on April 29, creating a $1 billion school voucher program for private school tuition after years of political resistance.
The law allows eligible parents to use 85% of public school funding, about $10,000 for private schooling, with priority for students with disabilities from low-income families.
Gov. Abbott identified school choice as an emergency and actively campaigned for the bill, culminating in its passage and signing.
Concerns raised by critics include potential financial strain on public schools and the prioritization of funding for families earning over 500% of the poverty line.

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