the TEFA program gives parents greater freedom and flexibility to choose the best educational environment for their children<\/a>, with funds used outside the traditional public school system.<\/p>\nArticle continues below this ad<\/p>\n
The TEFA program was established by the Texas Legislature in 2025 through Senate Bill 2 to empower parents with educational choices. The $1 billion state-funded program will launch in the 2026-27 school year and offers accounts for private school tuition, homeschooling and educational services.<\/p>\n
A participating child who attends an approved private school or a pre-K or kindergarten program will receive 85% of the estimated statewide average amount of state and local funding per student in average daily attendance for the most recent school year, as calculated by the Texas Education Agency. The agency has set this amount at $10,474 for the 2026-27 school year.<\/p>\n
A participating child with a disability who is enrolled in an approved private school or a pre-K or kindergarten program may be eligible to receive up to $30,000. To qualify, the child must have an individualized education program\u00a0on file with the Texas Education Agency by the end of the application period.<\/p>\n
The award amount is based on the funding the child\u2019s local school district would receive to provide services under the child\u2019s\u00a0IEP.<\/p>\n
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A participating child who is\u00a0homeschooled or not enrolled in a public school or a pre-K or kindergarten program may be eligible to receive $2,000 annually.<\/p>\n
Applications opened Feb. 4 for the 2026-27 school year and ended March 31.<\/p>\n
Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock said families will learn their funding status later this spring, with totals set by statute and administered in coordination with the Texas Education Agency.<\/p>\n
According to the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, of the 274,183 Texans who applied for vouchers, 45% are white, 23% are Hispanic and 12% are Black.<\/p>\n
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Low-income families make up 37% of applicants. According to the program, a low-income\u00a0family is one composed of four earning $66,000 or less per year. Children with disabilities make up 16% of applicants.<\/p>\n
The Texas Comptroller reported that 77% of applicants were already enrolled in private schools.<\/p>\n
In addition, nearly 25,000 applications were ineligible, and more than 2,000 are under review.<\/p>\n
More than 1,100 local students from Laredo-area school districts applied for TEFA by mid-March.<\/p>\n
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Local response<\/p>\n
Superintendents from Laredo ISD and United ISD, Guillermo Pro and Gerardo Cruz, respectively, shared their views.<\/p>\n
Guillermo Pro, superintendent of Laredo ISD, said students in his district who have enrolled in the TEFA program, if approved, represent a lost opportunity for\u00a0LISD to demonstrate its advantages to families.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt means that these families will be missing out on free nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinners served in our cafeterias on a daily basis, along with free transportation on our school buses,\u201d he said. \u201cStudents not enrolled at LISD won\u2019t have the benefit of an exemplary education with 60 hours of free college tuition, including college books, education in our 14 National Blue Ribbon\/Lone Star Ribbon campuses and seven specialty schools for students who wish to pursue careers in medicine, engineering, transportation, fine arts, technology and cybersecurity.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Pro said he feels bad for students who will miss out on these opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey will not benefit from our comprehensive special education programs, award-winning fine arts and athletic activities and state of the art facilities staffed by certified dedicated teachers who have been awarded thousands of dollars by the State of Texas through the Teacher Incentive Allotment program,\u201d he said. \u201cI just feel bad for boys and girls who aren’t enrolled at LISD and are missing out on all of our opportunities and advantages.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pro said research shows a majority of the students applying for vouchers are already enrolled in private schools, and he believes some disadvantages of private schools include a lack of facilities, dual-credit opportunities, certifications and extracurricular programs.<\/p>\n
\u201cTEFA does not pay for household or family expenses such as school clothing, extracurricular fine arts or sports uniforms or tools and gaming equipment for Esports,\u201d he said. \u201cLISD does not require school uniforms, but it encourages students to wear apparel as per the Standardized Dress Code, and LISD does not charge for participation in extracurricular activities. Students can join band for free, and LISD provides the music instruments.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He said LISD provides every child with a computer through its 1:1 program and that LISD provides up to 60 college credit hours at no cost, along with free work-related certifications in numerous fields including welding, agriculture, food service, law enforcement, emergency medical technicians and nursing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount we receive per child is already paid by our families through their property taxes,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is no need for parents to pay LISD for any of these amenities and benefits that $10,000 TEFA funds will be used,\u201d he said. \u201cThe state provides $10,571 per student, and we use all of it to provide our children with the very best learning environment and rich educational experiences.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added LISD provides secure, attractive, state-of-the-art facilities, certified teachers, free extracurricular programs, real pathways to the workforce and free college credit hours.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd yet parents choose to deny these free opportunities, and yes, it is not fair for the public education system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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Pro said that as an experienced educator and product of LISD, he believes the best experience for students is to attend LISD schools and enjoy the benefits the district offers.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can’t put a price tag on a student walking across the graduation stage as a proud Martin Tiger, Nixon Mustang, Cigarroa Toro or Garcia Early College,\u201d he said. \u201cWe provide the best education value. Period!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gerardo Cruz, superintendent of schools for United ISD, said school vouchers are unfair to the public education system.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool vouchers are something unfortunate that says that Texas is going down a certain path and it is rather unfair because we did our calculations since each student who goes through school vouchers will receive approximately $10,000, which will not be given to Texas public education.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He said this is concerning because UISD receives about $8,000 per student from the state, and school districts across Texas are witnessing a significant decline in enrollment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will make it more difficult for public education, such as UISD,\u00a0to provide the excellent services that we offer our students,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Recently, United ISD trustees tabled a proposal March 30, 2026, to consolidate Matias De Llano and Amparo Gutierrez elementary schools<\/a> due to a $44 million budget deficit and declining enrollment.<\/p>\nCruz noted that, based on the final figures, not all students who applied for school vouchers will be selected for the program, however, he assured the public that\u00a0UISD is a leader in Region One.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have great programs; we boast the highest graduation rates. From Kindergarten through 12th grade, our students excel, and our parents can have confidence in our system, and in the fact that public education is the right path,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cruz added that\u00a0UISD employs qualified teachers in every classroom and provides special education services \u2014 resources that many private schools are unable to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have specialized special education units that provide truly unique, specialized services within the public education framework at our UISD campuses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also said UISD provides health care services, with nurses stationed in every school, as well as a robust security system featuring security guards and police officers on UISD premises.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe offer free, nutritious meals and transportation, along with advanced technology and numerous extracurricular activities to children from all types of backgrounds and socioeconomic classes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Cruz added that\u00a0UISD students earn college credits and high-skill certifications before they even cross the stage at their high school graduation.\u00a0He said this serves as a baseline year and that he does not want to anticipate results when asked whether more students will apply for TEFA in the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are waiting to see the final enrollment figures, but many of the students who applied were already attending schools such as St. Augustine or United Day; their parents may simply be taking advantage of that $10,000,\u201d he said. \u201cHowever, UISD is prepared. We are currently working on our budget and will be making important decisions regarding this decline in enrollment \u2014 specifically how we will respond to it by making the best choices to ensure we continue providing the highest quality services to our students.\u201d<\/p>\n
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