(The Center Square) – During National School Choice Week, Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is encouraging families to visit EducationFreedom.Texas.Gov to get ready for the launch of Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA).
The comptroller’s office is managing the program.
“Texas families are just days away from opening the door to new educational opportunities,” Hancock said. “We’re launching the largest day-one school choice program in the nation, and we want parents to feel confident and informed about the new choices you’ll have ahead. Our goal is to make this process simple and focused on helping families find the learning path that works best for each of their children.”
Applications open at 9 a.m. on Feb. 4. Applications must be submitted online at EducationFreedom.Texas.Gov. The application is also mobile-friendly and takes less than 15 minutes to complete, the comptroller’s office says.
The program becomes effective in the 2026–27 school year and provides taxpayer-funded ESA grants of $10,000 to roughly 100,000 students through a pilot program created by a new law. ESA funds will be made available to eligible parents to send their child to a school of their choice, for private school tuition, educational expenses for homeschoolers, tutoring, career and technical education programs, among other expenses.
In the first 10 days of receiving educator applications, the Comptroller’s Office said roughly 600 private schools and prekindergarten providers and more than 200 education service providers, including tutors, had applied statewide. That number is now up to 1,400 and growing daily, the comptroller’s office said.
Eligibility is based on economic need, not based on who applies first.
Applications are prioritized by economic thresholds with disabled and low-income students at the top of the prioritization list. A lottery system will be used if applications exceed available funding.
The Texas Education Agency has said TEFA students enrolled in a participating private school will receive $10,474 for the 2026–27 school year. This represents 85% of the statewide average of state and local funding per public school student as required by statute, the comptroller’s office says.
Eligible special needs students participating in an Individualized Education Program may receive up to $30,000 in ESA TEFA funds based on their educational needs. Eligible participating homeschool students can receive $2,000, according to the new law that created TEFA.
Hancock, while serving as a state senator, voted for the bill that created TEFA. He and his Republican colleagues argue the $1 billion the state legislature allocated for TEFA is the largest first-year school choice program in the country. Now, as comptroller, he’s tasked with administering it.
His office also launched a statewide outreach effort, including hosting informational events to educate families about the new program and process.
It’s also launched a video advertising campaign, “Freedom to Learn Your Way.” Video ads are running on streaming TV platforms, parenting and education websites and YouTube.
Videos are 30 seconds in English, 30 seconds in Spanish, 15 seconds in English and 15 seconds in Spanish.
Families are encouraged to visit EducationFreedom.Texas.Gov to review a “parent prep checklist,” explore participating schools and sign up for updates ahead of next week’s launch. The website has a range of tools to help families understand eligibility and funding and navigate the application process.
The comptroller’s office is also publishing updates and guidance throughout the week ahead of the application launch.
The application process ends March 17. The first award notifications are expected to be announced in early April.
