A new report examining Texas’ school voucher program says families may have fewer private school options than the number of participating schools initially suggests.
The Texas Center for Voucher Transparency reviewed 221 private schools approved to participate in the Texas Education Freedom Account program, including schools in districts represented by members of the Texas House Public Education Committee.
Researchers found 55% of the schools reviewed serve only pre-K or kindergarten students, potentially limiting choices for San Antonio-area families looking for schools for older children. The report also found 45% of the schools are religiously affiliated.
Cost was another concern highlighted in the report. More than half of the schools reviewed did not list tuition on their websites. Among schools that did publish tuition, 47% charged more than the state’s base voucher amount of $10,474. Published tuition ranged from $4,800 to as much as $49,000 a year.
Families of children with disabilities could also face additional hurdles. Researchers found 26% of the schools had information on their websites that raised concerns about special education access, including statements that they could not serve students with certain disabilities. Only 3% of the schools reviewed were specifically focused on serving special education students.
The report also found many families face a lengthy admissions process. Some schools require campus tours, interviews, academic assessments or other evaluations before accepting a student. Only 11% of the schools reviewed offered an online-only application.