Comptroller Won’t Say Which Schools and Vendors Get Voucher Dollars

The comptroller’s office has refused Houston Chronicle public information requests, filed in July and September, for how much each private school and vendor in the $1B Texas Education Freedom Accounts program has received. It released a list of more than 2,700 approved private schools and nearly 2,200 approved vendors, along with total spending in 13 broad categories, but no payment amounts. It also withheld voucher recipients by ZIP code, which the Chronicle reports state law requires be disclosed annually. The office says payment amounts could identify individual students, which it says federal law prohibits. Spokesperson Jeff Norwood said “Texas has the most transparent and successful education freedom program in the country.”

As of Oct. 5, families had spent more than $270M in voucher funds. Michigan State University professor Joshua Cowen, who has studied vouchers for 20 years, told the Chronicle most states report school-level totals; Ohio publishes payments to each private school. Sen. Sarah Eckhardt (D-Austin), who faces Comptroller Don Huffines on Tuesday, has vowed to audit the program, and program staff told senators the office is hiring an auditor as state law requires. The office has asked lawmakers for at least $2B next session to keep current participants enrolled.

Enrollment Losses Push Districts Toward Restructuring

Alief ISD’s enrollment has fallen 21% since 2017-18, and 11 elementary schools operate below 50% capacity. The district is weighing closures, consolidations, rezoning and new programs, with community meetings through Nov. 19, draft scenarios in January and a board vote planned for February; no campuses have been named. Houston ISD terminated or reassigned at least 360 employees in its fall campus leveling, with enrollment expected near 160,000, down from about 168,800, the Houston Chronicle reports. Mission CISD trustees approved a review of programs, staffing and spending after enrollment fell about 11% to 12,868; The Monitor reports the 2026-27 budget shows about $187.8M in revenue against more than $200M in expenses.

Districts are also rethinking transfers. Eanes ISD trustees rejected charging out-of-district students $20,000 a year; the district’s 614 nonresident students bring in about $4.5M, and trustees are now weighing a 7% cap per campus. Grapevine-Colleyville ISD approved a campus transfer policy 5-2, aimed at keeping families who are considering leaving.

Full-Year Data: Misconduct Reports Tripled, and the Clock Starts at 24 Hours

TEA received 19,766 educator misconduct reports from Sept. 1, 2025, through Aug. 31, 2026, three times the 6,455 filed the year before, according to the agency’s dashboard. Of this year’s investigations, 53.9% involved violence or abuse toward students and 15.3% involved inappropriate relationships. TEA Inspector General Levi Fuller told KCBD that superintendents and principals must report to law enforcement and DFPS within 24 hours and to TEA within 48 hours. Negligent failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor, intentional concealment is a state jail felony, and educators who fail to report can lose their certificates and face a $10,000 fine. Fuller said superintendents having trouble with the TEA reporting portal can call his office.

$40M for Teacher Preparation and Mentoring Goes to 411 School Systems

Gov. Greg Abbott announced $40M through the Preparing and Retaining Educators through Partnerships (PREP) Program Allotment, created by House Bill 2, for 411 Texas school systems to improve teacher recruitment, preparation and mentorship. Separately, Brazosport ISD received $92,000 and federal recognition as an employer sponsor in the U.S. Department of Labor’s Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program, which The Facts reports has produced 83 classroom teachers for the district.

Districts Pay More to Fill Substitute and Staffing Gaps

Hutto ISD filled 59% of substitute requests in September and raised daily pay to $125 for uncertified and $130 for certified subs, with $150 for long-term subs after 11 days; it is aiming for a 75% fill rate by January and a pool of 200, up from 156. Liberty Hill ISD approved up to $283K in incentives, including a substitute stipend program, an extra $20 for Friday subs and a $4,000 referral bonus for special education and pre-K roles. Willis ISD approved a $1,000 retention stipend for employees who stay from Nov. 1 through May 26, paid in December and repaid by anyone who leaves. College Station ISD is considering a pilot that would have central office staff substitute teach; the superintendent said a framework could be ready by December.

Employee Health Plans Are Pulling From General Funds

A voluntary efficiency audit of Bryan ISD by MoakCasey found the district’s employee health insurance program running a deficit of roughly $5M, with the general fund contributing $9.5M over the past 10 years. The audit also found the district takes in less revenue per student than its peers while spending more; voters decide a 2-cent tax rate increase on Nov. 3 that would raise about $5.6M. Nationally, Education Week reports medical inflation is straining district budgets: Illinois’ West Aurora district spent $26M on medical costs this year, more than 10% of its $215M operating budget, and estimates that changing GLP-1 drug coverage could save $750,000 to $1M a year.