EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — As the deadline to apply for Texas’ new school voucher program approaches, some private schools in El Paso say they are already seeing more interest from families.

The Texas Education Freedom Account program, also known as school vouchers, was created last year when lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2 and Gov. Greg Abbott signed it into law. State leaders set aside about $1 billion to fund the program during its first year.

If selected, families could receive thousands of dollars to help pay for private school or other education expenses.

Most students who use the funding for private school could receive about $10,000 a year. Students with disabilities could receive up to $30,000 depending on their eligibility, while homeschool families could receive about $2,000 for education expenses.

Matthew Macarah, head of Cherry Hill School in El Paso, said the program has led to increased interest from families considering private school.

“For us, we have a lot more interest. We have our returning parents that are interested in it, because we had to raise our tuition,” Macarah said. “But we’ve also had a great growth in interest with the new parents that are coming in and knowing that that door is open, coming to a private school because of the voucher system.”

However, because the program has limited funding, not every student who applies will receive money.

State officials say if demand exceeds available funding, a lottery system will be used. Priority will be given to students with disabilities and families with lower incomes.

Jordan Salas reports on El Paso private school says interest is growing as Texas voucher deadline nears (Credit: KFOX14)

RECOMMENDED: Texas school voucher deadline nears, new data shows El Paso applications

Students selected for the program can only use the funding at schools that have registered to participate.

Private schools are not required to join the program, but state data shows about 31 schools in the El Paso area have signed up so far.

Macarah said the school does not have a set cap on voucher students, but space in classrooms remains a factor.

“Our cap is just based on keeping our class size small,” Macarah said.

According to the Texas Education Freedom Account website, the program will also be subject to oversight and audits.

A private entity will review accounts annually, and the state auditor will also verify that students meet eligibility requirements and that funds are used for approved expenses.

Macarah said schools participating in the program expect that level of oversight.

“Some of the things that we’re expecting are an audit from the state funds to make sure the funds that we get are used appropriately according to the law and the purpose,” Macarah said. “It doesn’t seem overly onerous, and we’re excited to be able to invite more people, more diversity coming into the school.”

Applications for the program remain open until Tuesday. After the deadline, the state will begin reviewing applications and selecting students through the lottery process.

According to the state, families could begin receiving funding notifications as early as April.

More information on the program and how to apply can be found here.

RECOMMENDED: Applications open this week for Texas school voucher program

Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox.

Collin County is home to the nation’s fastest-growing cities. As those cities grapple with the tensions of attracting big developments while maintaining their family-friendly reputations, they are each pursuing a slightly different playbook.

At a conference in McKinney last week, economic development directors from Anna, Celina, McKinney and Prosper shared their visions with residents.

The panelists noted that the cities are on different trajectories of growth. For example, McKinney is approaching build-out while cities like Anna are in the early throes of a population boom.

“We’re all in different seasons of development,” Michael Kowski, president and CEO of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation (EDC), said.

McKinney’s economic development corporation focuses on pursuing “quality job creators” rather than retail. Kowski said that stores often want to set up shop in McKinney once big employers move in.

“It’s counterintuitive [because] we get our money from retail,” Kowski said. “But we don’t go after Walmart and Costco.”

McKinney also gives a portion of EDC funding to start-ups in the city that generate jobs. Kowski said the city wanted to help grow companies locally as opposed to the typical playbook of using incentives to attract established companies.

“Let’s grow the next billion dollar company in McKinney,” Kowski said.

Kowski said McKinney’s EDC is focused on creating “intergenerational” amenities for families of all ages such as District 121, a mixed-use district with parks and restaurants and Cannon Beach, a surf resort planned for the city. These amenities are often a factor in companies’ decisions to relocate.

Anthony Satarino, executive director of Celina’s economic development corporation, said the growing city faces tensions between embracing rapid development and maintaining the community’s “small-town feel.”

Unlike McKinney, Celina leaders are focused on attracting retail along the 10-mile stretch of Preston Road that runs through the city. An internal report found that Celina residents spend about $700 million outside of Celina annually. Satarino said he hopes retail projects will help the city recoup some of that business, which will translate to revenue for the city.

“That sales tax component is … critical to help diversify local city budgets,” Satarino said. “Right now Celina has an over reliance on property tax.”

Related

Natasha Roach, interim director of economic development for the city of Anna, said the city has been able to attract commercial developments organically along U.S. Highway 75. Roach said that Anna, which has the smallest population of the four cities represented on the panel, is trying to create an identity for itself starting with a downtown redevelopment project.

“[Residents] are hungry for a heart of the downtown,” Roach said. “A place where the kids can run around while they’re … drinking and eating at the restaurant.”

The city is also looking to develop its workforce since Anna doesn’t currently have many industrial or manufacturing jobs. Roach touted a partnership between Anna ISD and HOLT CAT, the construction equipment company that set up shop in the city last year, which helps high schoolers get internships.

Chad Gilliland, vice president of the Prosper economic development corporation board, said that the city is focused on developing along the three-mile extension to the Dallas North Tollway that is currently under construction. The city plans to attract life sciences, medical and corporate jobs to the area so that Prosper residents won’t have to commute to neighboring suburbs for work.

Related

Gilliland struck a unifying tone, saying Prosper and other Collin County suburbs “feed off” each other and collaborate especially when it comes to school districts that often fall within the boundaries of various municipalities. He said with AT&T’s planned move from downtown Dallas to Plano, there would be more chances for cities to work together.

“That will drive more people to move to our communities, because they want to get away from Dallas County,” Gilliland said. “There’s an opportunity for us to complement each other.”

If you’ve been on social media lately, you may have seen videos showing Waymo self-driving cars in alarming situations. There have been multiple incidents across the country, including some here in Texas.

CBS News Texas met with people who use the service regularly to gauge their feelings.

Sushi Mellen considers himself a seasoned Waymo rider.

“I ride Waymo in LA, San Francisco, other states as well,” he said.

He’s in Dallas on business and says he’s never felt unsafe.

“Human drivers would be more dangerous,” he said. “Waymo is better, I think.”

Recent incidents spark new scrutiny

About two weeks ago, Waymo launched its services in Dallas. Since then, several incidents across the country have raised questions about how the technology responds to unpredictable situations.

In Arizona, a Waymo robotaxi was seen stopping in oncoming traffic.

In Austin, video shows a vehicle stopped near train tracks as a train approached.

Waymo says there was no rider inside, and the vehicle performed a controlled stop more than 2.5 meters before the tracks after the crossing lights activated. The company says it recognizes the concern and has temporarily restricted travel through similar crossings while it reviews the incident and refines its system.

Attorneys question company’s explanation

“When I saw the video that didn’t look like 2.6 meters,” Witherite Law Group Managing Attorney John Nohinek said. “2.6 meters is close to 10 feet, and the Waymo, in my opinion, did not look like it was in a safe spot.”

Nohinek says the incidents raise serious concerns.

“I don’t see anything that would indicate that these vehicles are 100% ready to be on the road and should,” he said. “The more Waymos on the street in Texas, and in additional cities, the more problems we are seeing.”

Company stresses incidents are rare

Waymo says its goal is to make roads safer and emphasizes that incidents like these are rare. 

Still, the recent videos are renewing the debate over how quickly driverless cars should roll out in major cities.

As for Mellen, he plans to keep riding.

“I feel safe,” he said.