What You Need to Know About Texas’ School Voucher Program and Islamic Schools

Overview of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program

In May, Texas launched a school choice initiative known as the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program. This nearly universal program allocates approximately $1 billion to assist families with private schooling and homeschooling expenses. The initiative allows approved private schools to begin accepting funding for students in the 2026-27 academic year.

Each student can receive over $10,000 to cover private school costs, including those at religiously affiliated institutions. For schools to participate, they must be accredited by either the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission or an agency recognized by the Texas Education Agency.

Why Families Want to Participate

Islamic private schools, similar to Christian and Jewish institutions, offer early learning or K-12 education alongside religious instruction, moral teaching, and Muslim values. According to Mustafaa Carroll, interim executive director of the D-FW office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), these schools often include Quranic studies and curriculum on Islamic principles.

Carroll emphasized that none of these principles conflict with U.S. values. Ehsan Sayed, a board member and graduate of Brighter Horizons Academy in Garland, noted that Muslim families seek the same right to send their children to schools aligned with their values as families from other religious backgrounds. He stressed the importance of equal treatment under the law for Muslim families.

Sayed also highlighted that private schools like Brighter Horizons offer smaller class sizes compared to public schools, which can enhance the educational experience for students.

Reasons Islamic Schools Were Blocked

In January, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an opinion stating that the comptroller’s office could block schools from participating based on political affiliations. Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock had sought this opinion regarding excluding schools with alleged ties to CAIR, the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the U.S.

Governor Greg Abbott later designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization, a move the organization has strongly contested and is currently challenging in court.

Which Islamic Schools Were Blocked?

The Houston Chronicle reported in February that more than a dozen Islamic schools across Texas were excluded from the program. Maria Kari, an attorney representing parents and schools in a federal lawsuit over the exclusion, stated that 30 Islamic schools in the state should be eligible and want to participate.

Are Muslim Schools Now Being Accepted?

Following a federal lawsuit filed by Muslim parents and schools, a court order issued on Tuesday extended the application deadline for the new education savings account program to March 31. The order, issued by District Judge Alfred Bennett in the Southern District of Texas, required the state to make the school application available to Muslim schools involved in the lawsuit. However, this order does not mandate the acceptance of these schools, only their consideration for admission.

As of Thursday afternoon, at least one online school, Bayaan Academy based in League City, and one brick-and-mortar school, Excellence Academy in McKinney, appear on the Texas Comptroller’s Office list of participating schools. Representatives from Brighter Horizons Academy told The News that it has been added to the program, but the school did not appear on the comptroller’s public list of participating campuses Thursday.