Taxpayer-funded private school tuition boosts classical Christian schools
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The gist
Texas began rolling out $1 billion in public funding families can spend on private education this summer.
Critics warn the shift could drain public schools and raise church-state issues.
Background
The Association of Classical Christian Schools (ACCS) is the oldest network of classical Christian schools, founded by conservative Idaho pastor and writer Doug Wilson, who describes himself as a Christian nationalist. ACCS President David Goodwin, co-author of "Battle for the American Mind" with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, sees a historic chance to take a share of public funding and educate Christian leaders. The trend is accelerating because Republican-controlled state legislatures have approved a cascade of similar programs over the past six years, and half of US school-age children are now eligible to apply for state money to attend private schools.
How it unfolded
- Last yearACCS formed a coalition with conservative groups including Turning Point Education and the Heritage Foundation.
- Jun 2026The annual ACCS conference in Atlanta buzzed with talk of the historic shift in school funding.
- This summerTexas began rolling out $1 billion in public funding that eligible families can put toward private education expenses.
- This fallAdministrator Keith Castello is launching three classical Christian schools under his Kyrie Christian Academy brand.
- Oct 16, 2026AP published Tiffany Stanley's report on taxpayer-funded private school tuition and classical Christian schools.
- Oct 21, 2026AP published takeaways from its report.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Castello said the influx of taxpayer money "completely transforms the possibility" of increasing access to Christian education, and that he has prayed 28 years for this.
- Official
- ACCS President David Goodwin said the goal of 5,000 new schools sounds "very ambitious" but "this money has never been there before."
- Caution
- Critics worry the movement will drain public schools, which educate students of all religious backgrounds and political persuasions, and create church-state issues.
Still unverified
At one of Castello's startup schools, an estimated 22 of 25 students are said to be using Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), the state's private-education funding accounts.