Texas Education Freedom Accounts Reach 200,000 Student Applications Ahead of Tomorrow’s Deadline
(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock today announced that student applications for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program surpassed 200,000, marking another major milestone for the state’s new school choice initiative.
Families must submit applications by 11:59 p.m. CT tomorrow, March 17, to seek funding for the 2026–27 school year. Parents do not have to select the school their children plan to attend next school year when they submit an application.
Currently, more than 2,200 schools have signed up to participate. Additional schools, vendors and education services continue to register on a rolling basis. Families will have until July 15 to confirm their school selections.
Since the application window opened Feb. 4, families across Texas have applied at a record pace, demonstrating strong demand for expanded education options and greater flexibility to choose the learning environment that best meets their children’s needs.
“Crossing the 200,000-student mark shows just how strongly Texas families are responding to the opportunity for more educational freedom,” Hancock said. “Our team has worked to stand up a program that is transparent, accountable and focused on student success. As we head into the final hours before the deadline, I encourage any family still considering TEFA to take a few minutes to complete an application. This program gives parents more tools to support their child’s future, and we want every eligible student to have the chance to benefit.”
The Texas Legislature established the TEFA program in 2025 with $1 billion in funding and directed the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to administer the initiative, which expands education choice by allowing Texas education dollars to follow individual students and be used for eligible expenses such as private school tuition, tutoring, instructional materials and other education services.
As applications may exceed available first-year funding, state law requires priority consideration for students with disabilities and low- and middle-income families.
Following the close of the application window, the Comptroller’s office will review submissions and begin determining funding eligibility in accordance with state law. Families can expect the first award notifications in April and will have until mid-July to finalize their education selections for the upcoming school year.
As the family application period does not operate on a first-come, first-served basis, families applying in the final hours of the application window will receive equal consideration for funding eligibility as those who have already completed applications.
Families can learn more and apply at EducationFreedom.Texas.gov. View an updated program fact sheet (PDF) with detailed data.
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