Texas School Voucher Program Sees High Demand

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The Texas Comptroller's Office has released the final data on applications for the state's new school voucher program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). A total of 274,183 students applied to use public funds for private or homeschool education, with nearly three-quarters coming from low- or middle-income families. The program will use a tiered lottery system to select recipients, prioritizing students with disabilities and those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Why it matters

The high demand for the TEFA program highlights the desire among Texas families, particularly those from lower-income backgrounds, to have more educational options beyond the traditional public school system. This could signal a shift in the state's approach to education funding and the role of school choice.

The details

According to the final data, 37% of the TEFA applications came from families living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, and 36% were between 200-500% of the federal poverty level. In terms of race and ethnicity, 45% of the applicants were white, 23% were Hispanic, 12% were Black, 11% were multiracial, 8% were Asian or Pacific Islander, and 1% were American Indian or Alaskan native.

• The TEFA application period ended on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.
• The Texas Comptroller's Office released the final data on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

What’s next

Funding notifications will be sent to parents beginning this month, and the selected students will be able to use the TEFA program for the 2026-2027 school year.