United ISD official warns Texas voucher law could drain public-school funding

Rebecca Cos Morales, associate superintendent for district administration and student services at United Independent School District, told the Laredo Commission for Women at its June meeting that a recently enacted state voucher law will take effect in September 2025 and the voucher program will begin in the 2026–27 school year.

Cos Morales described key features of the law and raised local concerns about funding, special-education services and district capacity. "It was enacted on May," she said, adding that "it does take effect September 2025" and that the state set a per-student payment of $10,000. She said the law allows up to $30,000 for students with special needs and $2,000 for homeschool or tutoring expenses.

Why it matters: Cos Morales warned the program could divert public dollars and cause enrollment declines that translate into reduced state funding for United ISD and nearby districts. "A loss of even a 100, a couple of 100 students translates into millions in lost revenue," she said, citing United ISD's recent shortfall of about…