Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced on March 9 that applications for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program have exceeded 160,000 students one month into the application period.
The TEFA program is seeing high demand as families seek to participate in what officials describe as a record-setting launch of school choice in Texas. The application window remains open until March 17, and officials expect the number of applicants to continue rising before the deadline.
“Demand is strong for the record-setting launch of school choice in Texas,” Hancock said. “While there is still some time to apply, we want to make sure families don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in this historic program’s first year, so we’re encouraging folks to avoid waiting until the last minute and go ahead and apply now.”
The Comptroller’s office has released more detailed data about TEFA applicants, including information by grade level, school district, and Education Service Center region. Officials note that these figures are preliminary and will change as additional applications are submitted. Not all applicants will ultimately participate in the program.
Once applications close, funding will be allocated through a lottery system that gives priority to students with disabilities and those from low- and middle-income families. The Comptroller’s office also plans to report waitlist numbers to the Texas Legislature for consideration in future funding decisions.
“We’re expecting to sell out in year one,” Hancock said. “We are also laying a strong foundation for school choice in Texas to flourish for years to come.”
More than 2,200 schools have registered for participation so far. Families do not need to select a school when applying, and additional schools may join as the program continues.
