Texas and Florida are facing criticism and potential legal challenges over efforts to exclude Islamic schools from their school voucher programs, with Muslim advocacy groups and parents arguing the moves amount to religious discrimination.
In Texas, around two dozen Islamic schools have been excluded from the state's school choice program over alleged connections to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the largest U.S. Muslim advocacy group. Both states have attempted to designate CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization, despite the group lacking a criminal conviction or any similar federal categorization.
Florida is advancing legislation that would bar schools with ties to CAIR from participating in its school voucher program. A judge previously struck down Gov. Ron DeSantis's designation of CAIR as a terrorist group, but the pending bill could achieve similar results through a different mechanism.
What the Left Is Saying
Muslim advocacy groups and Democratic officials say the exclusions represent religious persecution targeting American Muslim families.
What we are seeing is not even religious discrimination, what we are seeing is religious persecution. Those families, they choose private Islamic schools, they pay taxes like everyone else, but they were not evaluated based on objective criteria under the law, said Shaimaa Zayan, operations manager for CAIR-Austin. This religious persecution is based on narrative, not reality.
The schools targeted by Texas Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock were allegedly accredited by Cognia and hosted events organized by CAIR, which Gov. Greg Abbott has declared a terrorist group. Critics note CAIR has never been convicted of terrorism-related crimes.
The schools that I know that haven't been invited — the accredited private schools that happen to be Islamic — are really good schools that have great curriculum … they have a strong community culture, said Laura Colangelo, executive director of the Texas Private Schools Schools Association. I am certain that there are schools that have absolutely no connection to CAIR that could prove that, and I would like for them to be able to have that opportunity.
What the Right Is Saying
Supporters of the voucher exclusions argue the policies target foreign influence and potential terrorist ties, not religion.
What is going on is this has nothing to do with religion or freedom of religion. This has everything to do with ensuring that in no way is Texas providing financial support to entities tied to or a part of terrorist organizations or hostile foreign nations like the Communist Party of China, said Mandy Drogin, senior fellow at the Texas Public Policy Foundation.
The position has led to two federal lawsuits filed against Texas by Muslim parents and private schools who argue the state has systematically targeted Islamic schools for exclusion.
School choice advocates say the programs should not fund organizations with potential foreign ties. Unless a school is found guilty in a court of law of criminal activity, that school should be something that people can choose, said Neal McCluskey, director for the Center for Educational Freedom at the Institute.
Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock's office has begun reviews of some schools with Cognia accreditation that it believes is in compliance with Texas law, though the specific evidence required remains unclear.
What the Numbers Show
School choice programs have expanded significantly since the pandemic, with many Republican-led states adopting policies allowing parents to receive state funds for private school costs.
The Texas school choice program affects approximately two dozen Islamic schools that were excluded over alleged CAIR connections. The Florida legislation is currently working through the state legislature.
The exclusion efforts coincide with increased political rhetoric targeting Muslims. GOP Texas lawmakers in Congress have formed a Sharia-Free America Caucus, and some Republican candidates have campaigned on explicitly anti-Muslim platforms.
A federal lawsuit filed in Texas alleges systematic targeting of Islamic schools. A Florida judge has already struck down Gov. DeSantis's designation of CAIR as a terrorist group.
The Bottom Line
The legal battles in Texas and Florida will test whether states can exclude schools based on alleged ties to organizations without criminal convictions. The outcomes could determine the future of school choice programs for Muslim families in both states.
The Texas comptroller's office continues to review schools with Cognia accreditation, though the criteria for proving no CAIR connection remains undefined. The Florida legislation awaits final passage.
The disputes highlight broader tensions between school choice expansion and concerns over religious discrimination, with advocates on both sides promising continued legal and political fights.