Cristo Rey College Prep in Fort Worth just opened a new Science & Technology center, and the timing couldn’t be better for the school, which was experiencing growing pains.

“We will be able to accommodate up to 400 students. We have the space now to grow. We’ve got a lot of support,” said Dani Ray Barton, the school’s President.   

While it was built to provide more creative learning space and more physical space, the expansion comes as Texas launches the largest school voucher program in America.

“We’ve seen an uptick in our admissions, I’d say probably 25 to 30 percent at minimum,” said Barton.

Texas’s voucher program, called the Texas Education Freedom Account, gives each accepted student as much as $10,474 a school year to go toward tuition, tutoring & supplies. 

Those with special needs get up to $30,000, and the applications start today.

“It’s encouraging to see families engaged, but sure, it seems like a daunting thing of where do I even sign up,” said Grant Coates, President, The Miles Foundation. 

Fort Worth’s Miles Foundation is an advocate for school choice programs. They’re trying to help answer questions about all this. 

“Bestplace4students.com is the website we set up to help families navigate the different options, learn about the application process,” said Coates.

 There’s only enough money to give to about one and a half percent of the school children in Texas. It’s almost like winning the lottery.

Every student brings more than $16,000 in funding to a school district each year. Losing students to private schools will decrease the dollars for public schools. But superintendents say most parents believe in the work they do. 

“We dream big about strong neighborhood schools and unique experiences that really allow a parent, if that voucher comes across, you know, their mailbox, that there’s no doubt for them that Richardson ISD is the one for their child, and they’re not even going to consider that voucher,” said Tabitha Branham, Superintendent, Richardson ISD.

Many public school leaders are publicly showing their confidence in their product. 

Nonetheless, if you want to try out this program, you can apply at educationfreedom.texas.gov starting at 9 a.m. February 4th.

There is a checklist of what you need to apply, and you can download the application.