Texas Voucher Families Face New Funding Fight
Families using Texas school vouchers should track the 2027 legislative session, when repeal and funding levels will be debated.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Special Education
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Should Texas end its school voucher program and redirect the money to public schools?
Texas Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa intends to end the state's school voucher program when she takes office on January 1, 2027. Repeal would require passage by both chambers of the Texas Legislature, where Democrats now control the House and Republicans retain a Senate majority.
Why it matters
The program, created by legislation Governor Greg Abbott signed in 2025, sends public money to private school tuition and homeschool costs, so its fate affects families who have already applied or enrolled. Hinojosa campaigned on strengthening public schools and opposing taxpayer funding of private tuition, setting up a funding fight that will carry into the 2027 session.
The Comptroller's August 1 report found 96 funded voucher participants living within Eagle Pass ISD boundaries. Per-student amounts range from $2,000 for homeschool students to $30,000 for students with disabilities, against about $1.2 billion distributed for the 2026-2027 school year.
The players
Gina Hinojosa
Texas governor-elect who opposes taxpayer funding of private school tuition and seeks to end the voucher program.
Greg Abbott
Texas governor who signed the 2025 voucher program legislation and seeks up to $2 billion for the program in 2027-2028.
Eagle Pass Independent School District
Local district whose enrollment and funding could shift depending on the fate of the voucher program.
The details
Repealing the voucher program would require a bill passing both the Texas House and Senate, and Hinojosa could also try to restrict future voucher funding through the state budget process. Because Democrats now control the House while Republicans keep the Senate, any repeal would need bipartisan support or a change in the upper chamber's position. The state's 2027 legislative session will be the first opportunity to address education funding under the new governor. Abbott and Republican legislators are already seeking up to $2 billion for the 2027-2028 year, which sets up a direct clash over the program's size.
Timeline
2025: Abbott signed the voucher program legislation.
August 1, 2026: Texas Comptroller report identified 96 voucher participants in Eagle Pass ISD.
January 1, 2027: Hinojosa takes office and is expected to seek termination of the program.
2027-2028: Abbott and Republicans seek up to $2 billion for vouchers.
The Home Front
The voucher program ties household education costs to state budget decisions, a pattern now playing out as the 2025 law faces its first leadership change. Families weighing private schooling or homeschooling in Texas are now facing a funding outlook that could shift between the 2026-27 year and the 2027 session.
If your family receives or has applied for a voucher, confirm your award amount and eligibility with the program administrator before budgeting for the 2026-27 school year. Families planning private school or homeschool costs for 2027-2028 should watch the legislative session, since funding levels are still being debated.
The takeaway
Voucher funding in Texas now depends on a political contest between the incoming governor and the Legislature, so it is not yet settled for families. Keep your award documents and enrollment confirmations on file, and check the 2027 session outcome before committing to multi-year private school tuition.
What happens next
Lawmakers will consider education funding during the 2027 legislative session, when the repeal and the proposed $2 billion program funding will be debated.
Further reading
For background on how these programs affect students with disabilities, see Special Education coverage across Texas.
Live Poll
Should Texas end its school voucher program and redirect the money to public schools?
