The demand for Texas's new school choice program has surpassed 100,000 student applications in less than two weeks, marking what state officials describe as the largest launch of a school choice initiative in the nation's history.
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, created under Senate Bill 2, allows eligible families to apply for state-funded accounts to support alternative education options.
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said the early response reflects years of pent-up demand among families seeking more educational flexibility.
"Texas families are embracing a new era of educational freedom at historic levels," said Hancock. "For years, parents have asked for more control and more choices when it comes to their children's education. Texas is delivering, and families are seizing the opportunity."
The program is not structured on a first-come, first-served basis. Families who apply before the March 17 deadline will be included in the selection pool. However, if applications exceed available funding, recipients will be selected through a lottery.
The process prioritizes students with disabilities and those from low- and middle-income households. According to a fact sheet released by the Comptroller's office, approximately 70% of applicants so far come from low- or middle-income households.
"We want every eligible Texas family to know this program is built for them," said Hancock. "The application is simple, mobile-friendly, and takes just minutes to complete. This is about putting parents in the driver's seat and giving every child the chance to learn in the environment that fits them best."
With more than a month remaining before the application deadline, participation in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program could continue to climb. If demand remains high, the lottery mechanism will determine final recipients, setting the stage for one of the largest school choice rollouts in the country.
