Texas school choice program closes application process Tuesday

(The Center Square) – The application deadline for Texas’ first school choice program comes to a close Tuesday after controversy and lawsuits have marked its rollout.

Texas’ first $1 billion Education Savings Account program provides roughly $1 billion in grants to roughly 100,000 students. More than 200,000 students have applied and more than 2,200 schools have been approved to participate, the comptroller’s office said.

Additional schools, vendors and education services continued to register to participate on a rolling basis, the comptroller’s office, which is administering the program, said. Accepted families will have until July 15 to confirm their school selections.

Lawmakers advocating for the program said it was designed to help students in failing public schools attend a school of their choice. Only 1% of applicants are existing public school students. Nearly all who applied currently attend private school or are homeschooled, acc...