Children with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 for approved educational services.
Texas joined more than 30 states this year in adopting a school voucher program to fund private school tuition.
“Gone are the days [when] families [were] limited to only the schools assigned by government,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said before signing the bill in May this year at the governor’s mansion. “The day has arrived that empowers parents to choose the school that is best for their child.”
The $1 billion program was years in the making and will cover up to 90,000 students.
Here is what to know about the program and how to use it.
About the Program
The Texas voucher program is set up as an Education Savings Account, which can be used for a number of educational purposes.
Included in the applicable uses are private and homeschool options, as well as other education-related expenses.
Students who require special education can receive larger amounts to compensate for therapeutic or other services.
The program received $1 billion in funding, and a participating child attending a private school could receive up to $10,800.
Children with disabilities could be eligible to receive up to $30,000 with an approved individualized education program. That total is contingent on what the child’s local school district would receive to provide the same services.
Homeschooled children, or any child participating who is not being enrolled in a private school or who is in a pre-K or kindergarten program, could be eligible to receive $2,000 annually.
All totals will be finalized in January 2026 after program rules and budgeting are completed.
Enrollment for the program is expected to open on Feb. 4, 2026. Parents hoping to keep tabs on the progress can get updates from the comptroller’s office.
Student Eligibility
Eligible students include Texas residents engaged in pre-K or K–12 education who are citizens of the United States or lawfully admitted.
The program includes children eligible to attend a public school or an open-enrollment charter school. If a child is accepted into the program, he or she will be eligible to participate until high school graduation or until he or she is no longer eligible to attend a Texas public school.
According to EdChoice, participating children in third grade through 12th grade who attend a private school must take a nationally norm-referenced examination every year.
However, every child who applies will not necessarily be accepted.
