The passage of the state’s first voucher program means ho - meschool families in Texas will soon be eligible for up to $2,000 to use toward educational costs such as tutoring or curriculum. From 500,000 to 600,000 Texas children are being homeschooled - between 8% and 10% of all school-aged children, the Hous - ton Chronicle reported. Homeschooling in Texas is largely unregulated, with no re - quirement for parents to submit curriculum for review. Students are also not required to take the standardized tests given in public schools. Any family that is currently homeschooling its children can apply for the $2,000, with pri - ority given to children with dis - abilities or those in low-income households. Homeschoolers who want to switch to a private school can get up to $10,000 a year to help pay for tuition. If there are more applicants than can be handled by the $1 bil - lion allocated, the state will hold a drawing to determine who gets into the program. The Legislative Budget Board has predicted that about 270,000 homeschoolers will apply in the first year.
Groups fight repeal of Texas Dream Act
Several civil rights groups have joined Austin Communi - ty College trustees in suing to protect the Texas Dream Act, which allowed college students without legal status to obtain instate tuition, the Austin Ameri - can-Statesman reported. The U.S. Department of Jus - tice sued to outlaw the 2001 Tex - as Dream Act, and state Attorney General Ken Paxton declined to defend the state against the law - suit. Joining ACC's suit against the repeal are the American Civil Liberties Union, the Texas Civil Rights Project, Democracy Forward and the National Immi - gration Law Center, as well as a private law firm in Dallas.
