More than 100,000 students in Texas have applied for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program within two weeks of its launch, according to state officials. The TEFA initiative is now being described as the largest rollout of a new school choice program in U.S. history. Applications remain open until March 17.
Kelly Hancock, Acting Texas Comptroller, said, “Texas families are embracing a new era of educational freedom at historic levels. For years, parents have asked for more control and more choices when it comes to their children’s education. Texas is delivering, and families are seizing the opportunity.”
Participation in TEFA will not be determined by the order in which applications are received. All applicants before the deadline will be considered equally. If there are more applicants than available funds, awards will be distributed through a lottery system that gives priority to students with disabilities and those from low- and middle-income households.
A fact sheet released by the Comptroller’s office indicates that about 70% of applicants come from low- or middle-income backgrounds. This reflects one of the main priorities set out by Senate Bill 2, which established the school choice program.
Hancock emphasized accessibility and inclusiveness: “We want every eligible Texas family to know this program is built for them. The application is simple, mobile-friendly and takes just minutes to complete. This is about putting parents in the driver’s seat and giving every child the chance to learn in the environment that fits them best.”
Additional details on TEFA and participating schools can be found at educationfreedom.texas.gov.
