The Texas Comptroller launched a dashboard Thursday to show how money is distributed through Texas Education Savings Accounts, often called vouchers. The Houston Chronicle has reported that more than $270 million in taxpayer dollars has been spent through the program so far, according to the story's source reporting.
The dashboard shows that more than half of the 111,295 students who received vouchers are in Tier 2, which the state defines as low-income families of four earning about $66,000 a year or less. It does not show whether middle-income families in Tier 3, earning up to $165,000, are closer to either figure. Pre-K students were the most likely to receive vouchers, with 23,732 awarded. Nearly 83% of voucher students were not in public school the prior year.
Houston ISD had the most students apply and receive vouchers, with 4,020 funded. Dallas ISD was second with 3,149 funded. The dashboard does not show what programs, therapies or schools the money is used for. The state has said it withholds that information to protect children's privacy. Opponents say the information should be public to keep spending honest. The dashboard also includes no details on 33,878 eligible students who opted out.