Texas families who wish they had other educational options for their children will soon have access to a robust scholarship program. In May 2025, the state established Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), an education savings account program set to launch next year. The program is similar to school vouchers that are available in many states, but vouchers can only be used for tuition. With education savings accounts, families receive state funding to use toward a variety of approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, therapies and instructional materials.

It’s a program that I wish had been available in Pennsylvania when my children were younger.

Like many parents, we bought our first house based in part on the local school district. By the time our oldest was approaching kindergarten, we weren’t happy with some things we were seeing. But we didn’t think we had other options.

Then we learned that Pennsylvania had tax credit scholarships, which helped us send our kids to a Catholic school. Since the program is relatively small, the average scholarship is only around $2,000. Even with the help, tuition became too expensive, and we eventually switched to homeschooling.

The Texas program is much more robust.

For students in private schools, the account value will be 85% of the average state and local per student funding — around $10,000 per child. Students with disabilities are eligible for higher amounts based on their specific special needs. Homeschoolers can receive up to $2,000 per child. If there are more applications than available funds, a lottery would be used with priority given to students with special needs and to lower-income families.

Unfortunately, the education establishment, resorting to a familiar playbook, is stoking fear and opposition. But parents need not fall for these tactics. Private school choice programs operate in more than 30 states, and studies show public schools improve when faced with competition.

It’s important that parents who think their children could benefit from Texas’ program not be dissuaded by the fearmongering. And time is of the essence. Private school admission cycles may have already begun by the time parents can sign up. On December 9, applications opened for private schools that want to participate in TEFA. Applications for families will open February 4 through March 20, with decisions made by May 1 and funds distributed starting July 1. If parents wait until February to start considering their schooling options, it could be too late.

Traditional private schools aren’t the only alternative to district schools. In states with strong education savings accounts, creative learning environments are thriving. Parents are increasingly choosing more individualized options, such as microschools, hybrid models, and homeschooling.

These options already exist in Texas, but they’re mostly accessible to families who can afford to pay twice for education — once through taxes and again through tuition. When funding follows the student, that changes. Suddenly families across the income spectrum are exploring alternatives. And in rural Texas, where options have historically been limited, school choice can inspire entrepreneurs to create new alternatives.

For homeschoolers, the lower funding level may make them question if it’s worth participating. They may want to take a longer view of things. Unspent funds can be carried over to future years, which means parents can save the money for college or career training courses when their kids are in high school. I’ve known homeschooled kids who have earned industry certifications or a year or two of college credits while in high school, which helped them save time and money after graduation.

Any parent can tell you that one size doesn’t fit all kids when it comes to education. Parents whose children are doing well in their assigned schools may not be interested in TEFA. And that’s fine. But families who want or need something different should not be scorned for taking advantage of new opportunities. Whether your child has unique learning needs, you prefer a faith-based environment, you want a more individualized setting or you want more flexibility, Texas Education Freedom Accounts may be your solution.