Texas Voucher Deadline Stands After Judge Denies Extension Request

Muslim families and Islamic schools sued to extend the application deadline, but the judge ruled the state has already approved their participation.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:50pm

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A federal judge has denied a request from Muslim families and Islamic schools in Texas to extend the deadline for applying to the state's new school voucher program. The judge said the state has already approved the Islamic schools to participate, so an extension is not necessary. The lawsuit alleges the state initially excluded the Islamic schools from the program, but the state says it has since accepted all eligible Islamic schools.

Why it matters

The school voucher program has been a controversial issue in Texas, with concerns raised about potential discrimination against certain religious groups. This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over access to the program and whether the state is fairly administering it.

The details

The families and Islamic schools sued the state, arguing they had been improperly excluded from the voucher program. A federal judge previously gave them an extra two weeks to apply after the initial March 17 deadline. However, the judge has now denied a request to extend the deadline further to April 14, saying the state has already approved the Islamic schools to participate. The state says it has accepted all eligible Islamic schools that applied, though the plaintiffs argue the late approvals have deterred Muslim families from applying.

  • The original voucher application deadline was March 17.
  • On March 17, a federal judge extended the deadline by two weeks to March 31.
  • The judge denied the request to further extend the deadline to April 14 on March 29.

The players

Alfred Bennett

The U.S. District Judge overseeing the case.

Kelly Hancock

The acting Texas Comptroller who manages the voucher program.

Ken Paxton

The Texas Attorney General representing the Comptroller's office in the lawsuit.

Mehdi Cherkaoui

A Muslim father of two children and lawyer representing himself in the initial lawsuit.

Bayaan Academy, Islamic Services Foundation, and The Eagle Institute

Islamic private schools that filed the second lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“As we prepare to admit students into the program and begin funding their accounts on July 1, our office is committed to investigating any failure to comply with program requirements or other applicable law by any participating school or service provider.”

— Travis Pillow, Spokesperson for the Texas Comptroller's office

“The exclusion is not based on individualized findings of unlawful conduct by any specific school, but rather on categorical presumptions that Islamic schools are suspect and potentially linked to terrorism by virtue of their religious identity and community associations.”

— Mehdi Cherkaoui, Muslim father and lawyer

What’s next

The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for April 24, where the judge is expected to hear arguments from both sides.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions over school choice policies in Texas, with concerns about potential discrimination against Muslim families and schools. The judge's decision to deny a further extension of the voucher application deadline suggests the state has made efforts to include Islamic schools, though the plaintiffs argue the process has been flawed.