Texas’ school voucher-like program, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), has awarded funding to nearly 110,000 students, but few students with disabilities have received the full $30,000 promised. Out of 28,700 students with special needs, fewer than 25 received the full amount, with the average award being $16,000.

Program Details

The TEFA program is a $1 billion initiative launching this fall, which aims to provide funding for students with special needs to attend private schools. However, critics argue that the program’s distribution numbers call into question whether families will actually be able to afford private schooling. The awarded amount is based on how much the public school district would be allotted for a student with special needs, with larger districts resulting in smaller voucher awards.

Some private schools in the Dallas-Fort Worth area have tuition rates exceeding $40,000, making it difficult for families to afford even with the voucher. For example, Green Oaks School, a specialized school for students with special needs in Arlington, has a tuition rate of $23,000 for the 2026-27 school year, a nearly 45% increase from the previous year.

Concerns and Criticisms

Critics, such as Steven Aleman, senior policy specialist at Disability Rights Texas, argue that the $30,000 figure was misleading and that the program may not be effective in providing adequate funding for students with special needs. Aleman would rather see funding go towards the public school system, which is legally obligated to serve students with special needs.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.