San Antonio families with children who have severe disabilities are alarmed that Texas’s $1 billion school voucher program could be dismantled after Democrats won every open statewide office and a majority in the state House, according to San Antonio Report.
Kelci Jagge, who adopted her son Ruslan from Ukraine in 2022, described how the program transformed his education. Ruslan, who is non‑verbal, non‑ambulatory and G‑tube fed, could not endure a full day at East Central ISD. “He’s profoundly disabled,” Jagge said, adding that the voucher allowed her to purchase an early‑literacy program for $119.95 and interactive buzzers that she otherwise could not afford.
Under the voucher program, families can receive up to $2,000 in public funds for homeschooling expenses, while children with disabilities qualify for up to $30,000. More than 18,800 Texas students with disabilities are using vouchers this year, according to the state comptroller’s office, and about 17% of all voucher participants have disabilities.
Joy Smith, a mother from Roanoke, echoed Jagge’s sentiment, noting that the $2,000 she received for her 7‑year‑old son with autism covered specialized curricula and manipulatives that would have been out of reach. “It’s making all the difference right now,” Smith said.
Democratic leaders, including Gov‑elect Gina Hinojosa, have pledged to “repair the damage of the Texas vouchers scam,” arguing that the funds should be redirected to public schools. Hinojosa, who will assume office in January, said she would work to repeal the program, though she has not confirmed whether she will veto any budget provisions that maintain it.
Lawmakers have already filed bills seeking to eliminate the voucher program entirely. Parents worry that a repeal would force them back into public schools that have previously failed to meet federal special‑education requirements, or compel them to shoulder the full cost of private‑school tuition and specialized materials.
Jagge, a single‑income mother of six, said losing the voucher would “limit her options” for Ruslan’s education. “We don’t have a whole lot of extra wiggle room to be trying out different things for him,” she warned.
While the program is designed to prioritize families with disabilities and incomes below 500% of the federal poverty level, critics contend it diverts hundreds of millions from struggling districts. Supporters, however, argue that the vouchers enable families to secure tailored therapies and curricula that public schools often cannot provide.
What’s next: The Texas Legislature will convene in January, and the proposed repeal bills are expected to be debated during the session. Families like Jagge’s are monitoring the budget process closely, hoping the program remains funded or that alternative assistance is offered.
Sources: sanantonioreport.org
