OISD Loses Students as State Eyes Voucher Expansion

Olney ISD trustees identified 21 students who left for homeschooling, nine of them from the elementary school.

Superintendent Dr. Matt Caffey presented the information in response to trustees’ earlier request for an explanation of student departures. The report also included graduations, household moves, and transfers.

Dr. Caffey said homeschooling decisions varied among families.

“Every kid that goes to homeschool, there’s a different reason,” he said. “There’s not just like a uniform, ‘This is why we’re doing homeschool.’” Dr. Caffey suggested that school vouchers could make homeschooling more attractive to some families, although the discussion did not establish whether financial assistance influenced the departures included in the report.

The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program allows participating families to use state money for approved private-school or homeschooling expenses. Private-school students generally qualify for about $10,500 annually, while homeschooled students can receive up to $2,000, according to The Texas Tribune.

Lawmakers limited the program’s initial funding to $1 billion for the 2026–27 biennium, covering its launch and first school year. Comptroller Don Huffines has requested an additional $1 billion in base funding and $226 million for increased participant awards for the 2028–29 biennium, the Tribune reported Sept. 3. The proposed increase requires legislative approval.

About 70 percent of voucher funding went to families of children already attending private schools or homeschooling, the Tribune reported. That figure includes pending invitations and is not limited to students who have received funding.

For low-income families in Olney, the practical value of a private- school voucher depends on more than tuition assistance. Without a nearby participating school, parents must also find reliable transportation and time to get their children to and from classes and activities.