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.
