AUSTIN, United States — The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts said it will begin notifying families next week about their eligibility for the state’s $1 billion school voucher program, after more than 274,000 applications triggered a lottery system due to limited funding.
The program provides education savings accounts (ESAs) worth about $10,500 per student annually for private school tuition, up to $30,000 for students with disabilities, and $2,000 for home-schooled students.
According to the comptroller’s office, the first round of funding will prioritize students with disabilities and their siblings from households earning up to $240,000 per year, covering an estimated 40,000 to 45,000 students. A second tier will include students from households earning less than $66,000 annually, followed by other applicants based on income levels.
Spokesperson Travis Pillow said the agency expects to place a majority of applicants on a waitlist during the program’s first year due to high demand.
The rollout faced delays after a federal judge extended the application deadline by two weeks, from March 17 to March 31, amid lawsuits filed by Islamic private schools and parents who alleged religious discrimination in the program. The extension led to tens of thousands of additional applications.
The comptroller’s office is working with Odyssey to verify student eligibility. Officials said approved accounts will receive funding starting July 1 for use in the 2026–27 school year.
The agency is also conducting a second review of participating private schools to confirm accreditation, in-state operations, and at least two years of campus activity. Officials said some المدارس have been asked to provide additional documentation to address gaps in accreditation records, though no schools have been removed from the program.
Nearly 2,400 private schools have been approved so far, with additional schools allowed to join on a rolling basis through the summer.