How voucher vendors could make millions from ‘school choice’ in Texas

The Legislature’s current proposals put a handful of private contractors in the driver’s seat. Other states have already seen problems.

by Josephine Lee and Justin Miller, The Texas Observer March 15, 2025July 22, 2025

The Legislature’s current proposals put a handful of private contractors in the driver’s seat. Other states have already seen problems.

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New poll shows most Texans oppose school vouchers, even if described as ‘school choice’

The new survey comes as the Texas House prepares to hear public testimony on its school voucher bill.

by Michael Karlis March 10, 2025July 7, 2025

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Texas GOP forges ahead on school vouchers as local districts suffer from lack of state dollars

Texas public schools’ per-student funding level amounts to a 12.9% decline when adjusted for the past decade’s inflation.

by Michael Karlis February 5, 2025April 8, 2025

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Jeff Yass, billionaire school voucher advocate, gives Greg Abbott another $4 million

The donation follows another $6 million Yass gave Abbott in January, which the governor’s campaign said was the largest single donation in Texas history.

by Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune July 18, 2024December 1, 2024

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Texas House runoffs bring wave of GOP incumbent defeats, give Abbott votes for school vouchers

Six of eight GOP incumbents lost their races. Gov. Greg Abbott declared he ‘now has enough votes to pass school choice.’

by Jasper Scherer, The Texas Tribune May 29, 2024October 24, 2024

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How Gov. Greg Abbott lost a yearlong fight to create school vouchers

The governor projected confidence throughout 2023 that vouchers would pass. But his insistence on universal eligibility ensured his failure to convince 21 House Republican holdouts.

by Patrick Svitek, Zach Despart and Brian Lopez, The Texas Tribune December 22, 2023February 20, 2024

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After school voucher bill falls apart, supporters and opponents get ready for future fights

The vote to block education savings accounts disappointed voucher advocates and likely spelled doom for more public school funding. Both bands say they’ll keep pushing for their priorities during next year’s primary elections and the 2025 session.

by Maia Pandey, The Texas Tribune December 5, 2023December 14, 2023

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School voucher fallout leaves Texas Legislature with no clear sense on next steps

Vouchers were left without a clear path forward after a decisive vote. Gov. Greg Abbott, who had threatened lawmakers with more special sessions, seems to have turned his attention to punishing voucher opponents in next year’s primary elections.

by Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune November 24, 2023May 8, 2024

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The Texas House’s new priority education bill offers the most concessions yet to sway voucher skeptics

The revised bill promises a significant funding increase for public schools and academic accountability measures for students participating in the proposed voucher program, two of the biggest requests from voucher opponents.

by Brian Lopez and Maia Pandey, The Texas Tribune November 4, 2023October 5, 2024

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Disability advocates argue against school vouchers in Texas Senate hearing

The Senate’s main ‘school choice’ bill would prioritize vouchers for children with disabilities, among others. But parents raised concerns that recipients who choose private school would no longer be protected by federal law.

by Maia Pandey, The Texas Tribune October 15, 2023February 13, 2024

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Baptists blast Gov. Greg Abbott for trying to ‘co-opt’ church services to push vouchers

Abbott asked faith leaders to push his school voucher plan from the pulpit. Baptist leaders say he’s violating the separation of church and state.

by Sanford Nowlin October 5, 2023July 29, 2025

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Gov. Greg Abbott says special lawmaking session will begin on Oct. 9, likely on school vouchers

The session comes as a rift between the Texas House and the Senate grew following Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial, raising questions about the chambers’ ability to compromise on education issues.

by Brian Lopez and William Melhado, The Texas Tribune September 30, 2023October 13, 2023

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Will Greg Abbott keep losing on school vouchers?

‘If Abbott calls a special session to get a voucher program, we’ve been told by a lot of House members that the opposition to a voucher program will increase.’