Texas’ first school choice program opened applications to students earlier this month, and since then an avalanche of families have applied, vying to get flexible funding for their children’s educations.
In just the first three weeks since applications opened for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts education savings accounts (ESA), the program has received more than 130,000 student applications, and more than 2,000 schools have signed up to participate.
More than 130,000 students have applied for the ESA as of Wednesday, three weeks after applications opened. On the very first day, more than 42,000 students applied, and in the very first hour, more than 8,000 students applied.
As of Thursday, 2,138 schools are participating in the ESA, according to the Texas comptroller. You can explore where these schools are located using this tool the Texas comptroller’s office has made available.
Applications opened three weeks ago on February 4 and will remain open to families for three more weeks, until March 17.
“Texas families are making their voices heard and signing up for school choice in huge, record-breaking numbers,” said Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock.
The comptroller’s office has also made some initial demographic information available about who is applying for the new ESA, collected when applications sat at just under 124,000.
Some of the data break down the family income levels of applicants.
About 35% of students come from families with incomes that are 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) or less
Another 36% come from families with incomes 200-500% of the FPL
29% come from families with incomes above 500% of the FPL
More data show how many students from each priority tier are applying.
1st Priority: Students with disabilities, the highest priority group, make up 11% of applicants
2nd Priority: Students with family incomes at or below 200% of FPL make up 30% of applicants
3rd Priority: Students with family incomes between 200-500% of FPL make up 31% of applicants
4th Priority: Students with family incomes at or above 500% of FPL who attended a public school last year make up 5% of applicants
5th Priority: Students with family incomes at or above 500% of FPL make up 23% of applicants
Yet more data gives insight on how families who applied plan to educate their children.
79% of students plan to attend private school
Students will receive an account of $10,474 when their parents enroll them in an accredited private school. Special needs students can receive up to $30,000. Homeschooled students’ accounts are capped at $2,000.
“Every child is different. Every student learns differently. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to education,” Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said. “This program puts parents in the driver’s seat. It gives families new options and new flexibility to choose the education that best fits their child, whether that’s private school, homeschooling, tutoring, therapies, online programs, or other approved education services.”
“We can’t wait to see how Texas families use this program to help every student thrive,” Hancock said.