Private school vouchers are now law in Texas. Here’s how they will work.

June 30, 2025
Gov. Greg Abbott signs legislation authorizing a private school voucher program into law at the Texas Governor’s Mansion in Austin on May 3, 2025. Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune

Texas will give participating families about $10,000 to pay for their kids’ private schooling. Other details about the program, set to launch in 2026, are unclear.

The law will go into effect on Sept. 1, with the program expected to launch in late 2026.

Families can receive about $10,000 to send their children to private school on taxpayers’ dime

Texas will spend $1 billion on vouchers in the first two years, but costs could skyrocket

Most families can participate, including some of the wealthiest Texans

The program launches next year, but other specifics are still unclear

Participating students won’t have to take the STAAR test

Contributor

Jaden Edison is the public education reporter for The Texas Tribune. He previously reported on justice for The Connecticut Mirror and interned at Poynter. He holds master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Columbia University and Texas State University, respectively. While at Texas State, he was editor-in-chief of The University Star.

You can reach him at jaden.edison@texastribune.org or on X @edisonjaden.