Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced on Apr. 22 the first round of student awards for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, with more than 42,600 students set to receive award notices this week. The recipients include all students in the program’s top priority tier—those with qualifying disabilities from households at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty level—and their siblings.
Hancock said, “The Legislature made low- and middle-income students with disabilities the first priority for the first year of school choice here in Texas, and that is exactly where this process starts.” He added, “These awards put tens of thousands of Texas families one step closer to the educational path that works best for their children.”
Award notifications will be distributed in batches beginning Apr. 22 through Friday, Apr. 24. Parents who wish to appeal funding determinations have a window of 30 days after receiving their notice; however, adjustments will only be made based on documentation from school districts and Individualized Education Programs.
A detailed breakdown released by the Texas Comptroller’s office shows that about half of these top-priority students previously attended public schools and two-thirds have a documented disability. Additional families are expected to receive TEFA award notifications in coming weeks.
The Comptroller’s office will conduct a lottery during the week of April 27, in consultation with an independent agency, to determine which lower-income students in tier two will receive award notifications for the upcoming school year. The lottery will also assign waitlist positions for remaining applicants.
Awarded students must confirm enrollment in a participating private school or select homeschool/other options by July 15; those choosing homeschool or other alternatives qualify for $2,000 in funding or may opt out entirely. If some awarded students opt out, additional funds may become available to move more applicants off the waitlist.
More information about Texas’ school choice program is available at EducationFreedom.Texas.Gov.
