Governor-Elect Hinojosa’s Opposition to School Vouchers Could Have Implications for Eagle Pass ISD
By Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2026 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa’s push to end Texas’ school voucher program could bring changes affecting Eagle Pass Independent School District as lawmakers prepare to consider education funding during the 2027 legislative session.
Hinojosa campaigned on strengthening public schools and opposing the use of taxpayer dollars for private school tuition. She has indicated she would support legislation repealing the voucher program, although doing so would require approval from both chambers of the Texas Legislature.
The issue has local significance. A Texas Comptroller report released August 1 identified 96 funded voucher participants living within Eagle Pass ISD boundaries. However, that figure did not establish how many had withdrawn from district schools, since participants could have already been attending private schools or receiving instruction at home.
For Eagle Pass ISD, the potential impact centers on enrollment and attendance, which help determine public school funding. When students leave district classrooms, the district can lose funding while continuing to cover expenses such as personnel, transportation, utilities and building maintenance.
Repealing or limiting the voucher program could help Eagle Pass ISD retain students who might otherwise leave for private schools. If participating students returned to district campuses, their attendance could also help support district funding. Neither outcome would be guaranteed, since families could continue choosing private education without state assistance.
Hinojosa’s effort could also benefit Eagle Pass ISD if lawmakers agreed to increase public school funding. However, reducing voucher spending would not automatically send those dollars to Eagle Pass or other districts. The Legislature would have to approve how the money would be allocated.
The voucher program, established through legislation Abbott signed in 2025, provides participating private school students $10,474 for the 2026–27 school year. Eligible students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000, while students in homeschool and other qualifying settings receive $2,000.
Texas distributed approximately $1.2 Billion of public taxpayers monies for the 2026-2027 voucher school program. These funds could have gone to public schools in Texas. Governor Gregg Abbott and Republican state legislators are seeking up to $2 Billion or more for 2027-2028.
Governor-elect Gina Hinojosa will seek to terminate the voucher program upon taking office on January 1, 2027.
Supporters argue that the program gives families more educational choices. Ending or reducing future assistance could leave participating Eagle Pass families facing additional tuition expenses or reconsidering where their children attend school.
A full repeal remains uncertain. Democrats won control of the Texas House, but Republicans retained a Senate majority, meaning Hinojosa would need cooperation from lawmakers to eliminate the program. She could also seek to limit future funding through the state budget process.
For EPISD, the practical effect would depend on whether changes resulted in more students attending local public schools and whether lawmakers provided additional funding to meet their educational needs.
