Texas Program Faces Funding Shortfall Amid High Demand for Private School Assistance
A new taxpayer-funded program in Texas designed to assist families in paying for private school education is facing a significant funding shortfall. According to state officials, approximately 247,000 students are eligible for the program, but the available funding is only expected to cover about 100,000 students in its first year. The program prioritizes applicants based on income, with 12% of applicants falling into the highest-priority tier of low- or middle-income students, and 32% in the second tier of low-income families. While all first-tier applicants will receive funding, the resources will be exhausted partway through the second tier. A lottery system will be used to allocate the remaining funds, and a waitlist will be established for those who do not receive funding.