AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said certain private schools are not eligible to participate in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program and should not receive taxpayer funds. The program is designed to provide education allotments to families to enroll their children in private schools.
In a statement, Paxton said public funds should not be directed to entities he described as having links to “terrorism or America’s foreign adversaries.” The comments were issued in response to a request from the state comptroller’s office seeking clarification on the attorney general’s legal authority to block funding for organizations with alleged connections to terrorist groups or hostile governments.
Within this context, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was cited. The organization describes its mission as defending civil rights and promoting a better understanding of Islam and has denied any ties to terrorist groups. While the U.S. federal government has not designated CAIR as a terrorist organization, Texas state officials have previously identified it alongside the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization.
According to the legal opinion, the restrictions would not apply exclusively to Muslim schools. Any private school that has hosted public events associated with CAIR at its address could be subject to review and potential exclusion. Although the opinion is not legally binding, it could serve as guidance for state agencies.
Local media reported that the exact number of schools affected remains unclear, but hundreds of private schools could lose access to education allotments. Enrollment for the $1 billion program begins on February 4 and provides more than $10,000 per student. Representatives of CAIR have questioned the legal basis of the state’s approach.
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