Texas Comptroller refuses to release voucher spending records
Texas Comptroller Don Huffines' office has refused to release public information showing how millions of dollars in state school voucher funds have been distributed to private schools and vendors, citing student privacy concerns. The Houston Chronicle reported on October 22, 2026 that its public information requests over the previous month were denied, despite the program being a $1 billion state fund under Huffines' supervision.
Earlier story. First reported Oct 22, 2026 at 4:05 am; added to this site Oct 22, 2026. Details may have changed since.
- When it happened
- October 22, 2026
- Where
- Texas statewide; administered by Texas Comptroller's office
- First reported by an outlet
- Oct 22, 2026 at 4:05 am
- Confirmed by
- 2 independent outlets
Taxes & money
| What | Amount | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| State school voucher program | $1 billion[1] | State of Texas |
| Families spent as of Oct. 5, 2026 | more than $270 million[1] | State funds |
| Portal purchases as of Oct. 5, 2026 | nearly $50 million[1] | State funds |
| Annual school voucher per student | about $10,400[1] | State of Texas |
| Annual voucher for special education students | up to $30,000[1] | State of Texas |
| Homeschooled students annual allowance | $2,000[1] | State of Texas |
Who's involved
The facts
- Comptroller Huffines' office refused to release information showing how millions of dollars of state voucher funds have been distributed to private schools and vendors in response to public information requests over the month to October 22, 2026. [1][1]
- The Comptroller's office turned over a list of more than 2,700 schools approved to participate in the voucher program and a list of nearly 2,200 approved vendors, but no information about how much money each has received. [1][1]
- As of October 5, 2026, families have spent more than $270 million of state voucher funds, with nearly $50 million of that going to purchases in the state portal. [1][1]
- Huffines' office said that releasing the amount of money spent could be considered a student record used to identify an individual student, which is prohibited by federal law. [1][1]
- Unlike other states such as Florida, Texas has not historically collected or disseminated data on students who are homeschooled or enrolled in private school. [1][1]
- The Texas Education Freedom Account lists approved schools and vendors where voucher money can be spent, and vendors include a company that sells a $13 pair of engraved children's scissors, a college apparel store, and a company that sells only $17 tape meant to replace thimbles. [2][2]
- The voucher program's assistant director said the program is hiring an auditor, as required by law, though it is unclear if that audit will be made public. [2][2]
Who said what
- Comptroller Huffines' spokesperson Jeff Norwood Comptroller Huffines will protect the confidential information of participating children and their families to help prevent doxxing of Texas students, and Texas has the most transparent and successful education freedom program in the country.[1]
- State Sen. Sarah Eckhardt, D-Austin If vouchers are going to improve the educational outcome of the children who get them, then there needs to be transparency and honesty about it.[1]
- Comptroller Huffines' office It has tried to take a conservative approach to releasing information, noting that once something is released, you cannot take it back.[1]
Sources
- News Texas won’t name the private schools and vendors profiting from state vouchers Houston Chronicle · Oct 22, 2026
- News Texas won't say which private schools, vendors are profiting from state vouchers: Houston Chronicle ABC13 Houston · Oct 22, 2026
Written by AI from the sources above, under fixed rules: every fact is cited, claims are kept apart from facts, and dollar figures appear only when a source states them. Mistakes get corrected in public.