Education Partnership Scholarships

At a glance

What: Whether to restore San Antonio Education Partnership (SAEP) scholarship funding cut from the FY 2027 proposed budget.
Where it stands: Restoration for one semester ($1.1 million) was on the staff amendment list; funding sources were debated. The budget passed September 17 with Council district carry-forward funds available for the program at each member's discretion.
Next: District carry-forward balances could support up to about another $1 million, per Walsh.

Speakers at the September 10 hearing, the September 16 public comment session and September 17 asked for SAEP funding.
Jones wanted to use Ready to Work funds (Alamo Promise took $1.9 million of Ready to Work in FY 2026); Meza Gonzalez and Kaur opposed redirecting Ready to Work, saying it was not what voters approved. Castillo favored limiting scholarships to San Antonio residents.
Alderete Gavito said families had already planned for awards and asked to use district carry-forward balances; Walsh said no scholarships had been awarded yet. Galvan, Viagran, Kaur and Castillo wanted funding restored.

September 10: one speaker for the San Antonio Education Partnership and a representative of Up Partnership, who also asked to keep current Human Services delegate agency funding for FY 2027 and FY 2028. September 17: two speakers supported the program, and a high school student asked for funding for the Mayor's Fitness Council.
September 17: Alderete Gavito asked about restoring funding; Walsh replied that the amendment did not include Council district project funds, which each member could direct, and that $1.45 million of emergency home repair funding could also come from those funds. See Fiscal Year 2027 Budget.