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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott holds up Senate Bill 2 which he signed into law on Saturday, May 3, 2025 in Austin. A new analysis of comptroller data shows San Antonio public schools could lose $29 million in state funding because of the voucher program.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/American-State<\/p>\n
San Antonio public school districts may lose\u00a0$29 million in state funding because of the state\u2019s new private school voucher program<\/a>, according to new analysis of data from the comptroller\u2019s office. The $1 billion state program<\/a> gives public dollars to families for private education costs including tuition, uniforms, tutoring and\u00a0homeschooling.\u00a0<\/p>\n Two advocacy groups that oppose vouchers, the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency and Every Texan, released a new analysis on Thursday.<\/a> They used the number of students previously enrolled at school districts who were awarded or used a Texas Education Freedom Account as of Aug. 10 to calculate potential enrollment loss. Not all students may have used their TEFA funds\u00a0\u2014 Texas granted 122,000 students a voucher, but 20,700 returned their offer.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n The data offers a glimpse into the financial toll that the program is taking on public school districts amid declining enrollment<\/a>. Texas funds schools based on how many students show up for class each day, so fewer students mean less state funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n Considering the program\u2019s opt-out rate, the financial impact on school districts is likely smaller than it appears. The comptroller\u2019s office passes unused voucher funding to new recipients as awardees decline to participate. On Wednesday, the comptroller gave unused funds to 2,400 students on the waitlist.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Texas’ new voucher program could fuel microschool boom<\/a><\/p>\n While the data presents an incomplete picture of how vouchers are financially affecting the area\u2019s public schools, it provides a window into the program\u2019s potential future impact. Comptroller Don\u00a0Huffines has asked the state Legislature to increase funding for TEFA to $4.4 billion for the next two years.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Almost every San Antonio-area public school district\u00a0served students last year who\u00a0won vouchers. Data released in early August showed that more than 8,400 students<\/a> living in San Antonio planned to use their TEFA funds. Alamo Heights, Somerset and Fort Sam Houston independent school districts are not included in Thursday\u2019s analysis, according to the advocacy groups.<\/p>\n The analysis shows that eight area school districts stand to lose more than $1 million each to the voucher program, and the area\u2019s largest district, Northside ISD, faces a loss of about $7.7 million if all of the district\u2019s former students awarded vouchers use them.<\/p>\n Judson, East Central, Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City and Medina Valley ISDs had the\u00a0highest percentage of former students receive vouchers\u00a0based on 2025-26 enrollment\u00a0\u2014 each had\u00a0more than 1.2% of students win vouchers.\u00a0<\/p>\n Each student who does not show up to class takes with them about $8,200 in funding, a number that includes the base level of state funding awarded for every Texas public school student and additional money that goes to support specific needs, like addressing a student\u2019s disability,\u00a0according to estimates from the nonprofits.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Just because a student received a voucher doesn\u2019t mean they will use it and leave their public school, said SCUCISD spokesperson Deanna Jackson.<\/p>\n But, she said, \u201cany enrollment decline can affect a school district because state funding is tied largely to student attendance, while many operating costs remain fixed.\u201d<\/p>\n How much money could San Antonio districts lose?<\/p>\n If every former San Antonio public school student who received a voucher as of early August accepted funding and left their district, the area\u2019s public schools would lose $29 million in state funding, according to the analysis. Across Texas, public schools would lose $294 million, the groups estimated.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cVoucher supporters promised that vouchers would expand educational options for Texas families without harming Texas public schools,\u201d said\u00a0Dee Carney, director\u00a0of the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency. She said the projected funding loss means \u201creal harm\u201d for districts that have to cut teachers<\/a> and close schools<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n READ MORE: See how San Antonio-area campuses did on the A-F ratings<\/a><\/p>\n Military districts Randolph Field and Lackland ISDs will lose at most 29 students to vouchers, with funding losses estimated at about $240,000, according to the analysis.<\/p>\n Harlandale, Edgewood and Southwest ISDs face relatively smaller financial setbacks from vouchers than neighboring districts\u00a0\u2014 though all stand to lose more than $400,000\u00a0\u2014 and Southwest ISD could lose more than $885,000.\u00a0<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n Some of the area\u2019s fastest-growing districts may be the hardest hit financially. More than 1.2% of students who attended East Central and Medina Valley ISDs last year received vouchers, according to the data. Each district will lose a projected $1 million as a result.<\/p>\n East Central ISD Superintendent Roland Toscano said voucher-related enrollment decreases are \u201cactually helping us in that we just have such rapid enrollment that we\u2019re having a hard time keeping up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n