EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Thousands of families across Texas have applied for a new state program that could help pay for private school tuition or other education-related costs, but questions remain about how much it will benefit communities such as El Paso.

The Texas Education Freedom Account program was created last year when Texas lawmakers passed Senate Bill 2. Under the plan, most students could receive around $10,000 a year to attend private school, while homeschool families could receive about $2,000 for education expenses such as curriculum or tutoring.

Supporters say the program gives parents more options for their children’s education.

One parent said, “When you’ve got an opportunity to have accepted into a smaller learning environment, it gives him a much bigger chance of really thriving. And so I would love to see many more people take advantage of that program.”

Others said it is too soon to know what the broader impact will be.

Jordan Salas reports on Texas school voucher deadline nears, new data shows El Paso applications (Credit: KFOX14)

One man said, “I think, it certainly gives a lot of flexibility to parents in general. I think it’s hard to say whether it’s a true benefit to the community.”

He added, “I think to the average person, they’re probably not getting a whole lot of benefit from that.”

Data released by the Texas Comptroller’s Office shows 163,362 applications statewide so far. In the El Paso region, there have been 2,536 applications, compared with 1,587 in Midland and 1,651 in Lubbock.

A district-level breakdown covering Feb. 14 through March 8 shows:

– El Paso ISD: 1,266

– Socorro ISD: 614

– Ysleta ISD: 301

– Canutillo ISD: 228

– Clint ISD: 98

While El Paso ISD and Socorro ISD serve nearly the same number of students, El Paso ISD has about twice as many applications so far.

El Paso ISD has about 46,000 students enrolled and 1,266 applications, while Socorro ISD also has about 46,000 students enrolled and 614 applications.

School participation may also shape how families can use the funding. State data shows 2,208 schools in Texas are registered to accept the funding, including 31 schools in the El Paso area. Families can only use the money at registered schools.

Homeschool families can also apply. About 21% of applications statewide so far are from families seeking funding for homeschooling, though the state does not break that number down specifically for El Paso.

Lindsay Kronmiller, president of the El Paso Homeschool Association, said the program has sparked interest for some families, but many homeschoolers see it as focused mainly on private schools. “I think overwhelmingly people left going, yeah, this is really for private schools. Homeschoolers feel a little bit like an afterthought,” Kronmiller said.

Families have until Tuesday to apply. The state will then review applications and distribute funding through a lottery system. According to the state, the program prioritizes students with disabilities, along with low- and middle-income families.

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