A review of nearly five dozen voucher-approved private schools in Texas by the Texas Center for Voucher Transparency deserves the attention of public education advocates. It found significant barriers to entry for many Texas families across a range of private schools 

The center, an initiative of the Texas-based nonprofit Our Schools, Our Democracy, says that the report’s findings “point to a consistent theme: families may gain more options on paper than in practice.”

Among the report’s findings: 

• Early childhood programming dominates. 
• Religion frequently shapes access. 
• Cost is a universal filter. 
• Special education services are not guaranteed. 
• Transparency is inconsistent. 

The center’s director, Dee Carney, says clear information is important both for families making education decisions and for Texas’ taxpayers  who are paying for the $1 billion program. These constituencies “deserve to know the truth: Ultimately, private schools choose their students.”  Carney points out that receiving a voucher does not guarantee admission to a private school.

“Texas public schools remain the one educational system designed to serve every student, in every community,” Carney says. “As families explore new voucher-approved educational options, transparency and accessibility matter.”

Leigh Dingerson
Senior Research Fellow