Texas is on the brink of a sweeping transformation in public education, as lawmakers have passed a historic $1 billion school voucher program, following in the footsteps of Florida’s controversial and expansive approach. The new program, set to launch in the 2025-26 school year, will allow Texas families to use taxpayer dollars to send their children to private schools, marking a dramatic shift in the state’s education landscape. But the voucher initiative is just one part of a legislative session that saw the Texas Capitol abuzz with debate, protest, and ultimately, a raft of new policies that will touch every corner of the state’s classrooms.
According to The Texas Tribune, the 2025 legislative session was nothing short of transformative for Texas schools. In addition to the voucher program, lawmakers approved an $8.5 billion boost to public education funding after years of stagnation, aiming to address teacher pay, special education, and more. House Bill 2, a centerpiece of the funding package, establishes a long-term teacher pay raise system. Teachers with three to four years of experience in districts with 5,000 or fewer students will receive a $4,000 raise, while those with five or more years will see an $8,000 increase. In larger districts, the raises are $2,500 and $5,000, respectively. The bill also expands the Teacher Incentive Allotment, rewarding educators who demonstrate improved student performance, and overhauls special education funding to better reflect the individual needs of students with disabilities.
But perhaps the most headline-grabbing move is the adoption of the school voucher program itself. As reported by WUSF, Texas’ plan is modeled closely after Florida’s, which began with targeted scholarships in the 1990s and expanded in 2023 to allow nearly any parent to redirect public school funds to private or parochial schools. In Florida, the most popular voucher, the Family Empowerment Scholarship, averages about $8,000 per student, with additional funds for students with disabilities. Texas’ program will provide around $10,000 per student, making it the most generous of its kind among large states and about $2,000 more than the Florida average.
Governor Greg Abbott signed the Texas voucher legislation in May 2025, touting it as a win for parental choice and a key piece of his conservative agenda. “It’s kind of part of that conservative momentum that’s sweeping the country, and it was also an election strategy very much pushed by our Republican governor, Gov. Abbott,” said Ernie Manouse of Houston Public Radio’s “Hello Houston,” as quoted by WUSF. The law creates Education Savings Accounts, giving parents flexibility to use public funds for private tuition, homeschooling expenses, and more.
Yet, the move has not been without controversy. Critics, including public education advocates and some lawmakers, argue that vouchers drain millions from already underfunded public schools and do little to help lower-income families. As Tom Hudson of The Florida Roundup explained, “Florida’s lack of an income cap on these kinds of vouchers means a lot of lower-income and working-class families still can’t send their children to private schools because it often doesn’t pay the full cost of tuition. Families in Texas could face a similar hurdle.” An analysis by the Florida Policy Institute found that 69 percent of new voucher applicants in Florida were students who had never attended public schools, raising questions about whether vouchers truly expand access for those most in need.
Concerns also swirl around the possibility of misuse. In Florida, some voucher funds have reportedly been used for theme park visits under the guise of educational benefits, prompting calls for stricter oversight. Texas’ program, while modeled after Florida’s, faces similar scrutiny as it prepares for implementation, with lawmakers and watchdogs alike keeping a close eye on how funds are spent.
Beyond the voucher debate, the Texas Legislature passed a series of measures that will reshape daily life in schools. House Bill 1481 bans the use of cell phones by students during school hours, a move supporters say will reduce distractions, improve mental health, and curb bullying. “That’s a pretty substantial change…especially for high school students. Probably less of a change for the younger grades,” said Brian Woods, deputy executive director of the Texas Association of School Administrators, as reported by The Texas Tribune. Critics, however, worry that the ban limits students’ ability to contact parents or emergency services, though the law does allow phone use outside of school hours.
Religion has also moved to the forefront. Starting in September 2025, Senate Bill 10 will require every classroom to display a poster of the Ten Commandments, provided the posters are privately donated. The measure is part of a broader push by Republican lawmakers to infuse more religion into public schools. Senate Bill 11 further allows time during the school day for students and employees to pray or read religious texts, provided there is a signed consent form. Both laws have sparked legal challenges. The American Civil Liberties Union and a group of parents have filed lawsuits, and a U.S. district court in San Antonio began hearing oral arguments in mid-August.
Another flashpoint is diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Senate Bill 12 bans DEI programs in K-12 schools and prohibits clubs based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Proponents say the law upholds parental authority and ensures schools focus on academics, but critics argue it targets marginalized groups and could harm students’ sense of belonging. The ACLU and other civil rights groups have announced plans to challenge the constitutionality of the DEI ban, echoing similar battles over higher education DEI programs in Texas.
Parental oversight is also expanding. Senate Bill 13 allows parents and school boards to challenge and remove library materials they deem inappropriate. If enough parents petition, they can even form advisory councils with the power to review and ban books. The law specifically targets materials with “indecent or profane content,” but critics worry it will disproportionately affect books about sexuality, gender identity, and marginalized communities. According to PEN America, Texas banned 540 books during the 2023-24 school year, more than any other state.
Discipline policies are changing, too. House Bill 6 gives schools more leeway to suspend students, including the youngest and homeless students, and extends the maximum duration of in-school suspensions. The bill also allows for more use of alternative education settings, including remote instruction—a practice that contributed to learning loss during the pandemic. Supporters argue these changes protect other students and maintain order, while opponents warn they may not address underlying behavioral or emotional issues.
As Texas embarks on these sweeping changes, the state stands at a crossroads, balancing promises of innovation and choice with concerns about equity, inclusion, and the future of public education. The coming school year will test whether these reforms deliver on their lofty goals or deepen the divides already present in the nation’s second-largest state.
