Texas has introduced a new school voucher program that allows eligible families to use state funds for private pre-K education in San Antonio.
Mark Larson, executive director of Early Matters San Antonio, views this development as a positive step in addressing early childhood needs. He noted that some families could now use school vouchers to pay for private early education for 4-year-olds.
However, Larson also pointed out that there are far more restrictions on which pre-K students can qualify for the Education Savings Account compared to K-12 students. This means that while the program expands options, it remains limited in scope for early learners.
The ESA program allows families to use state funds for various educational expenses, including private school tuition, therapy, and other education-focused costs. This flexibility aims to provide families with more control over their children’s education.
Only families who qualify for free public pre-K under Texas Education Code are eligible. This includes children who are English language learners, have special education needs, are homeless, in foster care, or are children of active-duty military members or recipients of the Star of Texas Award.
The implementation of the ESA program will be overseen by the Texas Comptroller’s office, which will manage the distribution of funds and ensure compliance with program guidelines. Families interested in participating will need to apply and meet the specified eligibility criteria.
As Texas moves forward with this initiative, stakeholders will be closely monitoring its impact on educational access and equity, particularly for the state’s most vulnerable populations.
Read the full article here: San Antonio Report