AUSTIN, 2025-06-16 09:30:00
Texas Education Faces a Crossroads
Sweeping changes are remaking Texas’s education system, from elementary schools to universities. The state is set to launch a massive school voucher program and overhaul higher education curriculum.
- A $1 billion school voucher program is coming.
- New powers granted to governing boards at public universities.
- The Texas Dream Act, providing in-state tuition to some, has been struck down.
What’s happening with education in Texas? The state is in the throes of a significant transformation, encompassing everything from primary schools to higher education. These changes, which include a new school voucher program and revisions to university curricula, are poised to reshape the future of learning in the Lone Star State.
New Voucher Program
Texas is about to launch a $1 billion school voucher program, giving families public funds to send their children to private schools. Starting in the 2026 school year, families can receive $10,000 annually for private school tuition, with up to $30,000 available for children with disabilities. This initiative, spearheaded by Governor Greg Abbott, aims to provide families with more educational choices.
Proponents argue that the vouchers empower parents, allowing them to select schools that best fit their children’s needs. However, critics express concerns that the program could divert resources from public schools and potentially exclude vulnerable students. Opponents also point out that the voucher payments may not cover the full cost of private education.
Did you know? Private schools can be selective in admissions, which may exclude some students from benefiting from the voucher program.
Jaime Puente, the director of Economic Opportunity for Every Texan, highlighted the ongoing lack of investment in schools, exacerbating existing challenges like closures and reduced services.
Higher Education Shake-Up
Senate Bill 37 is poised to shift some decision-making power in Texas universities. The law will give governing boards, appointed by the governor, more control over curricula at public higher education institutions. These boards will review general education requirements to ensure they prepare students for the workforce and are cost-effective. Additionally, they can eliminate courses with low enrollment.
The legislation, approved by the Texas Legislature earlier in June, also establishes a state ombudsman’s office. This office can investigate complaints against institutions and threaten funding if they don’t comply with the law. Republican state Representative Matt Shaheen said the goal is to “provide consistency with respect to our curriculum and the degrees we’re offering our students.”
Vivek Datla, regional education policy fellow at the Intercultural Development Research Association, believes this is a “huge shift” in how universities are governed. He noted that by shifting curricular authority away from faculty, students could lose access to diverse and thought-provoking courses. Cameron Samuels, the executive director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas, expressed concerns that this legislation might make students question the value of pursuing higher education in Texas.
Zeph Capo, president of the Texas AFT, has said that the legislation could lead to an exodus of top teaching talent and diminish the prestige of Texas higher education institutions.
Dream Act Under Fire
On June 4, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor struck down the Texas Dream Act. The law, for over two decades, had allowed college students without legal residency—”Dreamers”—to access reduced in-state tuition. The Department of Justice sued to block the policy, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion agreeing that it should not be enforced.
The policy, initially passed in 2001, faced challenges as debates over illegal immigration intensified. Legislative attempts to repeal the law repeatedly failed, even in the legislative session that ended in early June.
Supporters of the policy warn that the ruling will restrict access to higher education for many students and negatively affect the state’s economy. Research from the American Immigration Council estimates that Texas could lose around $461 million annually if the Texas Dream Act is repealed. J.R. Gonzales of the Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce said that removing access to affordable education would reduce college enrollment and weaken the state’s long-term competitiveness.
Datla noted that the Texas Legislature understood the economic benefits of the Dream Act, but closed-door negotiations led to its downfall. Puente also pointed out that many beneficiaries of the law are now public school teachers in Texas, contributing economically and to the public education system.
Datla also noted that the next legislative session could bring further attempts to control university curriculum content.
Puente said the changes are efforts to “socially engineer who we are as a state,” targeting specific people to eliminate dissent.
