Texas Lottery Will Decide Recipients of New School Voucher Program

Texas families may be able to start applying for private school vouchers as early as January 2026, according to Comptroller Kelly Hancock. The school voucher program, set to launch for the 2026–2027 school year, will provide public funds to cover private school tuition and homeschooling costs.

Hancock made the announcement on Tuesday following a hearing on the $1 billion initiative, emphasizing the urgency of implementation. “We’re trying to get this implemented at the speed of business,” he said, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.

Details about the application process remain limited. The comptroller’s office has not yet clarified how long the application window will be open, when recipients will be selected, or which private schools will participate. The office is still finalizing program rules and selecting a contractor to approve education vendors, such as schools and textbook providers.

Under the program, families may receive up to $10,500 annually for private school tuition or $2,000 for homeschooling expenses. All Texas families with school-age children are eligible to apply, but funding is limited. A lottery will determine recipients, with priority given to students from low-income households and those with special education needs.

Hancock also announced the hiring of Mary Katharine Stout as director of the new program. Stout is a former vice president at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank that has promoted the voucher program.