Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that more than 100,000 families have applied to the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program, marking what officials describe as the largest launch of a new school choice initiative in U.S. history. The TEFA program allows eligible students to use state funding for approved educational providers.
The program is administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts under Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock. It aims to give parents more flexibility in choosing schools and resources for their children.
“The TEFA program receiving more than 100,000 applications in less than two weeks proves that families overwhelmingly want school choice,” said Governor Abbott. “Through this program, families will receive funds to send their children to a school that is the best fit for them. I congratulate Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock for his unwavering support and dedication to this program’s monumental success. Texas families are now more in control of their child’s academic success, regardless of their location or income.”
Applications opened on February 4 after Senate Bill 2 was signed into law by Governor Abbott, allocating $1 billion for the initiative. Accepted families can use funds for tuition, transportation, and other education-related expenses.
Online applications remain open through March 17, 2026. All children living in Texas who are U.S. citizens are eligible to apply during this period; selection does not depend on when an application is submitted within the window.
Governor Abbott has led the Office of Texas Governor since his election in 2014 and has focused on policies such as job creation, economic opportunities, education enhancement, protection of individual liberties, parental empowerment in schooling decisions, and border security according to information from the official website. The governor’s office operates out of Austin at the State Insurance Building and delivers services statewide across Texas (source). In addition to his work on education policy, Greg Abbott was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2024 (source).
