Preliminary data from the Texas comptroller’s office reveals that the majority of applicants for the state's school voucher program are white families and children who previously attended private schools or were home-schooled. The program allows families to use taxpayer funds for private school or homeschooling expenses.

Applicant Demographics

As of late March, 45% of the 256,700 applicants identified as white, 23% as Hispanic, and 11% as Black. Approximately 36% of applicants come from low-income families, defined as a family of four earning $66,000 or less per year.

Comparison to Public School Demographics

These figures contrast with the demographics of Texas public schools, where 24% of students are white, 54% are Hispanic, and 13% are Black. Around 60% of public school students are considered low-income, with a family of four earning $61,050 or less annually.

Program Details and Funding

The voucher program offers approximately $10,500 annually for students attending private schools and up to $2,000 per year for those homeschooling. Students with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 annually.

Demand for the program exceeds $1 billion in available funding, necessitating a lottery to determine recipients. Travis Pillow, a spokesperson for the comptroller's office, anticipates the final participant group will differ from the initial applicant pool.

Prioritization and Eligibility

The state will prioritize applicants in the following order:

  • Students with disabilities and their siblings (families earning under $165,000 annually – about 12% of applicants).
  • Families at or below 200% of the poverty level (families earning $66,000 or less annually – about 31% of applicants).
  • Families at or above 500% of the poverty level (about 22% of applicants), with preference given to those who attended public school for at least 90% of the prior year (5% of applicants).

Concerns and Next Steps

Critics have raised concerns about the disparities in the applicant pool and the potential impact on public school funding. Carrie Griffith, executive director of Our Schools Our Democracy, noted the comprehensive services offered by public schools and the general preference among Texans for strong public education.

Families must find private schools that will accept their children by July 15th. Eligibility notifications will be sent later this month. Private schools are not generally required to accept students with disabilities, who represent 14% of applicants.