Texas ESA Program: Massive Applications, Islamic School Fight

0:00Texas just wrapped up applications for its first educational savings accounts program and the numbers are massive. Over 270,000 students applied, with nearly 2,400 private schools, ready to take the funding this fall. A big court fight popped off during applications over whether Islamic private schools could join. A judge extended the deadline by two weeks so families could apply to spots like Brighter Horizons Academy in Garland. School leaders there call it a game changer, saying it will help attract more kids, upgrade facilities, and boost staff pay. They sued the state after Governor Greg Abbott labeled a group tied to some schools as a terrorist organization, claiming exclusion amounts to, religious discrimination. Among Texas's top 50 private schools, 28 are in the program and just 18 are religious, mostly non-denominational Christian, with. Catholic and Episcopal following, only one is Islamic. A federal hearing in May would decide if blocking other Islamic schools breaks the constitution, so this saga is far from over as families gear up for.

1:04The new school year, that wraps El Paso news today, brought to you with AI.