Texas parents can use $10K school vouchers at private pre-Ks in 2026, state says

Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Nov 26, 2025

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Parents of qualifying children in Texas will be able to receive the state’s standard school voucher of about $10,000 to attend private preschools, a major win for families and child care providers.

The Texas Comptroller’s office released final rules this week on the framework for the $1 billion private school voucher program, dubbed the Education Freedom Accounts or Education Savings Accounts.

The program will provide public dollars to families who want to send their children to private schools based on income levels, a lottery system and priority groups, including students with disabilities. Families can apply starting in February and use the vouchers in the 2026-27 school year.

The initial guidance released in August appeared to only offer $2,000 to families of pre-K students, unless parents enrolled their children in a program accredited by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission.

Experts say most private pre-K providers receive accreditations through other agencies and organizations. The final rules clarify that other accrediting entities will be recognized, including the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the American Montessori Society and Texas Rising Star — the state’s quality rating and improvement system for child care programs managed by the Texas Workforce Commission.

In a Tuesday announcement, Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said certain pre-K students who currently qualify for free, state-sponsored pre-K can receive the standard $10,000 voucher. In Texas, this refers to 3- and 4-year-olds who are from low-income households, are experiencing homelessness, are unable to speak or comprehend English, or have a parent who is an active-duty military member.

The clarification is considered a win for private preschool and child-care providers, who have voiced financial concerns to lawmakers over the loss of enrollment of 3- and 4-year-olds to free programs offered by public school districts.

“These administrative rules, like the program itself, put Texas parents in the driver’s seat,” Hancock said. “We are executing the letter of the law as passed by the Legislature, and we’re doing it with families and students at the center of every decision. Education freedom accounts are about opening doors, expanding opportunities and giving each Texas child the chance to succeed in the environment that fits them best.”

Catherine Davis, director of policy for Fort Worth-based Child Care Associates, said she was thrilled about the clarification, which she said will provide parents with more educational options for their children. The child care and development nonprofit operates more than a dozen centers in the Tarrant County area.

“The goal of the (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) program has always been to empower parents to decide on the best educational setting for their child,” Davis said. “And, for many parents of our youngest learners, that is often a high-quality early learning provider in their community.

“We’re thrilled that the Comptroller has clarified that prekindergarten and kindergarten-aged children who wish to enroll in a high-quality child care program will be eligible to receive the full ESA amount, rather than be capped at $2,000 as previously stipulated in the original rules, and are proud to have worked alongside many child care providers to advocate for this change.”

Davis also noted the $10,000 vouchers will help children who are the on the state’s lengthy waiting list for child care scholarships that now exceeds 95,000.

“It is important to note, however, that the new rules do clarify that an (Education Savings Account) can only be used for the hours of the prekindergarten day, meaning families will likely be required to use a different payment source for before- and after-care, as well as summer hours,” Davis said.

Child Care Associates is reviewing the new rules and plans to help child care providers understand the law and its requirements, she added.

Tim Kaminski, president of the Texas Licensed Child Care Association, echoed Davis’ sentiments, noting he was grateful that Hancock listened to the concerns voiced by his organization and other child care advocates after the release of the proposed rules. Kaminski and other private, licensed child care providers provided public testimony to the Texas Comptroller in September, he said.

“TLCCA looks forward to working with families and providers to help them navigate the enrollment process of the ESA program over the next several weeks. We appreciate Comptroller Kelly Hancock’s response to the needs of Texas families and Texas child care providers,” Kaminski said.