From the passage of private school vouchers to the State Board of Education reshaping what’s taught in classrooms, one thing remains clear: Education is driving voters to the polls this midterm election year.
Two-thirds of Texas voters agree with the statement “Texas’s new school voucher law will increase school closures and take needed public dollars out of our public schools,” according to a survey published in June from Lake Research Partners of Texas voters with household incomes under $250,000.
Vouchers, which became law in 2025 and award $1 billion of taxpayer money to Texas families to use on private school tuition and homeschool funding, were a top priority for Texas Republicans and Gov. Greg Abbott (R) last legislative session.
“I am certainly not surprised to learn that many Texans list education as a top priority for state leaders,” Zeph Capo, president of Texas AFT, said in a statement. “Instead of focusing on funding our schools and respecting our educators and students, elected officials have devoted time and capital to privatization schemes that voters of all political stripes do not support.”
While proponents of the program argue it gives more school choice to lower-income families and students with disabilities, recent data shows that’s not necessarily the case. The majority of recipients already attend private schools, and although students with disabilities were told they could receive up to $30,000, less than 1% actually received that amount.
“Every child in Texas deserves a quality education, and that means fully investing in the public schools that serve all of our communities,” said Felicia Martin, president and executive director of the Texas Freedom Network, in a statement. “Two-thirds of Texas voters see what this voucher law does. It pulls desperately needed tax dollars from neighborhood schools, fueling budget deficits and closures that hurt the kids left behind. Heading into the next legislative session, Texas lawmakers should prioritize the hardworking families and children who depend on public schools, because the future of Texas depends on it.”
When asked to choose from a list of issues, 30% of Texas voters surveyed by Lake Research Partners said that education and schools are a top priority for leaders to address in order to make Texas a better place to live in the future.
Only 22% of voters agreed with the statement that “Texas’ new school voucher law will improve educational opportunities for students in the state,” while 51% of voters disagreed.
The Texas comptroller awarded over 102,000 students vouchers, and received around 275,000 applications. Tens of thousands of students were then added to a waitlist. Families who were awarded private school vouchers received funds starting on July 1, and had until July 15 to confirm their chosen participating private school.
As Abbott’s voucher program takes effect, Democratic leaders across the state continue to voice their fears it will continue to expand and eat up more taxpayer dollars.
