HOUSTON — A new $1 billion private school voucher program in Texas, among the nation's largest, has become the focal point of a contentious political and legal dispute, with Islamic private schools alleging religious discrimination after initially being excluded. The program, a signature achievement for Governor Greg Abbott, launched amidst escalating anti-Muslim rhetoric from some Republican officials and conservative activists in the state.

Islamic schools, including Houston's Iman Academy, expressed concern about their ability to participate despite demonstrating patriotism and academic achievement. For months, these institutions did not receive invitations to join the program, which provides over $10,000 per student for families enrolling in approved private schools. This omission prompted several Islamic schools, including the Houston Quran Academy, to file a federal lawsuit last month in Houston, contending their exclusion violated constitutional rights.

Republican leaders have offered differing views on the matter. Governor Abbott stated last month on social media, "We don’t want school choice funds going to radical Islamic indoctrination." Similarly, Representative Chip Roy, a Republican running for Texas attorney general, posted on social media last week, "No more Muslims."

The issue has also intensified rivalries among top state Republicans. Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who oversees the voucher program, wrote to Attorney General Ken Paxton on March 24, urging an investigation into potentially eligible Islamic private schools and suggesting ties to "radical Islam." Paxton responded by calling Hancock an "incompetent loser" and announced his office would no longer represent the comptroller in the federal lawsuit. Hancock’s office has since sought private legal representation.

Conversely, Democratic lawmakers, who largely opposed the voucher program's creation, have criticized the state's actions. A letter signed by more than 50 Texas Democrats warned that "selectively filtering participants based on religious affiliation or lawful associations, the state risks violating the First Amendment."

In a significant legal development, a federal judge ordered Texas to extend its application deadline and allow the excluded schools to apply. Following this order, the state began inviting Islamic private schools to the program at the end of last month, with nearly all receiving invitations, according to lawyers involved in the case.

Despite this legal victory, uncertainty persists. Comptroller Hancock indicated in his letter that the schools were only "temporarily allowed to participate." Lawyers for the schools, such as Maha Ghyas, expressed concern that the intent to discriminate remains. Hancock's office stated Tuesday it would "protect the integrity of the program" and ensure "no taxpayer funding flows to organizations affiliated with foreign adversaries or terrorist organizations."

School leaders like Ahmed Zaqoot, president of Iman Academy, which serves 1,500 students from diverse backgrounds, assert their commitment to "American values" and education. While roughly 350 families at Iman Academy have applied for the program, the long-term outlook for Islamic schools' full integration into Texas's school choice initiative remains unclear amid ongoing political and legal scrutiny.