# Texas parents fear losing school voucher support for disabled kids > Texas parents worry about losing voucher funding for children with disabilities as new governor pledges to end the program. - Title: Texas parents fear losing school voucher support for disabled… - Summary: Texas parents worry about losing voucher funding for children with disabilities as new governor pledges to end the program. - Keywords: texas, school vouchers, students with disabilities, education savings accounts, gina hinojosa, vicky goodwin, public schools, private schools, special education, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia - Source: Texastribune — https://feeds.texastribune.org/link/16799/17523805/texas-school-vouchers-students-disabilities-uncertainty - Read time: 2 min - Topics: texas, school vouchers, students with disabilities, education savings accounts, gina hinojosa, vicky goodwin, public schools, private schools, special education, autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia ## Ruslan's school struggles Kelci Jagge tried to send her adopted son Ruslan with cerebral palsy and seizure disorder to public school but he couldn't tolerate a full day of class. > He’s profoundly disabled. He’s nonverbal, non-ambulatory and G-tube fed, and he just could not tolerate it. He would be screaming and screaming, and they would call me to pick him up every day. ## Voucher program benefits Texas' $1 billion voucher program provides up to $2,000 for homeschooling expenses including sensory tools and specialized reading materials. > I wouldn’t have normally went and bought (the buzzers) on my own because it’s like, ‘Do I want to spend that money on something I don’t know if he will use?’ Well, we really have used it quite a bit ## Democratic pledge to end vouchers Democrats won all statewide offices and vow to gut the education savings account program which funds over 110,000 families for private schools and homeschooling. > Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa said in her victory speech last week that she would 'work tirelessly to repair the damage of the Texas vouchers scam' ## Parents' concerns about funding Parents worry about losing $30,000 annual funding for children with disabilities if the program is repealed. > It’s making all the difference right now. I wouldn’t have been able to afford the curriculum nor any of the manipulatives ## Voucher program impact Over 18,800 Texas students with disabilities use vouchers this year with 60% low-income and 17% having disabilities. > At least 60% of all students participating are low-income, and about 17% have disabilities ## Parents' success stories Parents report voucher funding helped children with autism, dyslexia and sensory needs access better educational environments. > Talia now attends Oak Creek Academy, a private school in Killeen that specializes in educating neurodivergent children, and is thriving thanks to a voucher ## Political uncertainty Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa has line-item veto power over education funding but hasn't committed to preserving voucher support. > Hinojosa would have the power to veto any funding for the program included in the next state budget, although she hasn’t said if she’d do so ## State lawmakers' response Several Texas Democrats say they're open to supporting families with disabilities through alternative education options. > I don’t think anybody in the Legislature would have any issue continuing to support them ## Voucher program details The program provides up to $30,000 annually for children with disabilities though very few received the maximum. > Children with disabilities qualify for up to $30,000, although very few received the maximum amount ## Public school challenges Parents report public schools failed to provide adequate accommodations for children with disabilities causing bullying and emotional distress. > I’d have to see tears in her eyes at least once a week because she was being bullied, and now she’s happy. She gets to go to school and learn ## Voucher program funding Texas Education Freedom Accounts program provides up to $2,000 for homeschooling expenses with special priority for low-income families. > All eligible Texas children could apply, regardless of disability or income status, but applicants with a qualifying disability and family incomes below 500% of the federal poverty level were given the highest priority ## State leaders' stance Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa and Lt. Gov.-elect Vikki Goodwin have not responded to requests about voucher program continuation. > Hinojosa and Lt. Gov-elect Vikki Goodwin, who oversees the Texas Senate, did not respond to a request for comment on the future of the voucher program ## Voucher program opposition Democrats argue the program deprives public schools of funding and undermines educational standards. > Democrats argue that the state needs to invest additional funds into public schools, not in subsidizing private or unregulated options that are not held to the same educational standards ## Voucher program alternatives Some lawmakers propose reforms requiring private schools to follow federal special education laws to participate in the program. > Others have proposed reforms, including requiring private schools to follow federal special education laws to participate in the program ## Parent perspectives Parents say voucher funding has been life-changing for children with disabilities but fear losing access to specialized education. > It’s making all the difference right now. I wouldn’t have been able to afford the curriculum nor any of the manipulatives ## What happens next Texas lawmakers must decide whether to fund the voucher program or create alternatives for families with children with disabilities. > We want to make sure we get it right for those that have already become part of the system ## Key takeaway Texas parents of children with disabilities fear losing $30,000 annual voucher funding if the state ends its education savings program.