HOUSTON – Time is running out for Texas families to apply for the state’s new Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, a school voucher program, aimed at giving parents more flexibility in choosing their child’s education. The application window closes Tuesday, March 31, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
So far, more than 257,000 students statewide have applied, with Houston-area families leading the way.
According to the latest data:
- Houston ISD: 11,526 applications
- Fort Bend ISD: 7,740 applications
- Cypress-Fairbanks ISD: 5,446 applications
- Katy ISD: 4,672 applications
Other districts seeing high participation include Dallas ISD (8,133), Northside ISD (6,539), North East ISD (5,147), Plano ISD (4,764), Austin ISD (4,636), and Fort Worth ISD (4,549).
While every applicant has a chance to be selected, the state plans to accept roughly 100,000 students.
How the Program Works
After the application window closes, families will be sorted into four priority tiers, which determine who receives funding first:
- Tier 1: Families with a child with a disability and household income at or below 500% of the federal poverty level (up to $165,000 for a family of four).
- Tier 2: Lower-income families at or below 200% of the federal poverty level (about $66,000 for a family of four).
- Tier 3: Families earning between 200% and 500% of the federal poverty level ($66,000–$165,000 for a family of four).
- Tier 4: Families above 500% of the poverty level. Only 20% of the program’s $1 billion budget is allocated for this tier, and a lottery will determine funding if there are more applicants than funds.
The state will fund each tier in order, starting with Tier 1, and continue until all available funds are distributed. Award notifications begin in April.
Schools and Application Details
Families don’t need to select a school when applying, but officials recommend doing so by June 1 for initial funding on July 1. The final school selection deadline is July 15. More than 2,300 schools, including accredited online programs, are participating, and additional schools will join on a rolling basis.
If you’re undecided between a private school or homeschool/other, the state advises selecting a private school for now. Changes from private school to homeschool are allowed, but not the other way around after the March 31 deadline.
Families of children with disabilities should confirm their child’s information with a current Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a signed disability certification form.