AUSTIN, Texas – The Texas Comptroller’s office announced a major expansion of the state’s new school choice initiative, saying more than 53,000 additional students have been awarded Texas Education Freedom Accounts for the 2026–27 school year.
Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock said awards began going out today and will continue through Wednesday. Families selected in this round will receive email notifications and can view updated award details, including funding amounts, through the program portal.
The students awarded this week qualify as Tier 2 applicants, meaning they come from households earning at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, or about $66,000 annually for a family of four.
Texas families have waited a long time for school choice, and the response to TEFA shows just how much this opportunity means to parents across our state,” Hancock said. “This first year is groundbreaking for Texas.
This latest round follows more than 42,600 Tier 1 awards already issued to students with disabilities and their siblings.
Under the program timeline, families must make a selection by July 15, either confirming enrollment in a participating private school, choosing a homeschool option with $2,000 in funding, or opting out entirely. Officials say additional funding may become available as families make decisions, opt out, or go through appeals, potentially opening more spots for students currently on the waitlist.
Because demand for Tier 2 far exceeded available funding, awards were determined through a randomized lottery system as required by state law. The Comptroller’s office said the process assigned applicants a sequential order using a random number generator, with oversight from state officials and independent advisers.
Officials also noted that siblings were grouped together based on the highest priority applicant in their household, and additional funds were reserved for appeals. Parents have 30 days to challenge award decisions or eligibility determinations.