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Texas School-Choice Program Tops 100,000 Applications in Less Than Two Weeks

Created by Senate Bill 2, the need-based TEFA grants offer roughly $10,000 per student with awards allocated by a prioritized lottery if demand exceeds the $1 billion cap.

Overview

  • State officials say the rollout is the largest launch of a new school-choice program in U.S. history, crossing the 100,000-application mark roughly 12 days after opening.
  • Applications opened Feb. 4 and remain open through March 17, with timing having no effect on a student’s chances in the allocation process.
  • The program is administered by the Texas Comptroller’s Office under Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock.
  • TEFA funds can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, homeschool educational expenses, career and technical programs, and other approved costs.
  • A comptroller fact sheet reports seven in ten applicants are from low- or middle-income households, with priority also given to students with disabilities if a lottery is required.