Texas’ private school voucher program admitted several Islamic schools this week after a federal judge ordered the state to invite previously-excluded schools to apply and extend the application deadline for families.
The state’s list of approved schools now includes at least four Islamic institutions: Bayaan Academy, a virtual school from Maryland with Texas headquarters in Galveston County; Brighter Horizons Academy, a college preparatory K-12 school in Garland; Excellence Academy, a Montessori school north of Dallas; and the Houston Quran Academy, a K-12 top-rated private school in Katy and the first Houston-area Islamic school approved to receive vouchers.
The state agency overseeing the program, led by acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, confirmed that three schools were admitted to the program this week, but declined to comment, citing the ongoing lawsuit. The Houston Quran Academy’s school administration confirmed to the Chronicle they had been admitted…