A record-setting 46,000 students have applied for the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program within its first 48 hours, according to state officials.
The nearly $1 billion program is designed to provide state-funded accounts for private school tuition or other educational expenses, such as homeschooling.
The surge in applications has shattered the previous national record for single-day school choice enrollment, with more than 42,000 families applying on the program’s first day. This total surpassed the previous record of 33,000 applications set by Tennessee in 2025. By 11 a.m. on Thursday, the total number of applicants had climbed to more than 46,000.
“Texas families made history yesterday,” said Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock, noting that the response demonstrates a “powerful groundswell” of parents seeking educational flexibility.
Initial data indicates that 80.3% of applicants intend to enroll in private schools, while 19.7% plan to pursue options like homeschooling. Most accepted students will receive $10,474 for the 2026-27 school year, though students with disabilities may be eligible for up to $30,000.
Financial data for the initial applicant pool shows a significant lean toward lower-income households. Specifically, 34% of applicants report incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level ($66,000 for a family of four), and 38% report incomes between 200% and 500% ($165,000 for a family of four). Approximately 75% of current applicants fall into the program’s three top priority tiers, which prioritize students with disabilities and those from lower-income backgrounds.
Despite the high turnout, the program faces continued criticism from education advocates and union leaders. Zeph Capo, president of the Texas AFT union, argued the funds would benefit families who already have the means to afford expensive private schools. David DeMatthews, a professor at the University of Texas at Austin, warned that while first-year disruptions to public schools might be minimal, a future expansion could pull essential funding away from the state’s public education system.
DeMatthews also expressed concern regarding the program’s timeline, noting that private schools often require upfront application fees and deposits months before state funds become available on July 1. “What that does is it essentially cuts out most of the low-income families,” DeMatthews said. In response, TEFA spokesperson Travis Pillow encouraged families to work with schools on potential payment plans while their applications are processed.
The application window for the program, which has enough funding for 90,000 to 100,000 students, will remain open through March 17. Families are expected to receive notification of their selection in early April.
The enthusiasm shown for the program reflects the desire of Americans to have increased choice over key areas of their lives. In the health sphere an increasing number of people are exploring options to escape the costly and inefficient world of health insurance and looking at health-sharing as an alternative.
Health-sharing ministries, run by Christian groups and not regulated as insurance, provide a way for people to combine resources to cover health costs.