Texas just shattered records with the launch of its groundbreaking school choice program. On Wednesday, the Texas Comptroller's Office announced that more than 40,000 students applied for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts on the very first day.
This number represents the biggest day-one launch of a school choice program in U.S. history. This launch reveals historic levels of demand from parents who are ready to take control of their children's education.
Parents know what's best for their kids, not bureaucrats or union bosses. And now, Texas is leading the charge, empowering families across the state to choose the education that fits their child's unique needs.
Governor Greg Abbott has been a champion in this fight, and he's encouraging every Texas family to get involved. In a press release, he said, "I encourage Texas families to apply for the program which puts parents in the driver's seat of their child's education. This program puts Texas on the pathway to become the No. 1 state for education."
Let's break down the basics of this universal school choice hoice program. Every family in Texas can apply – it's open to all, regardless of income or zip code. But the state has only budgeted $1 billion for the first year, which is enough to cover about 90,000 scholarships.
Priority goes to low-income families (those below 500% of the federal poverty level) and students with special needs, ensuring that the most vulnerable get the help they need first.
The scholarship amounts are substantial. For the 2026-27 school year, the base value is set at $10,474 per student, which can be used for private school tuition, online learning, or other approved educational expenses.
For students with special needs, scholarships can go up to $30,000 per year to cover therapies, specialized programs, and more. And homeschoolers are eligible for $2,000 to help with curriculum, materials, and other costs. The program supports private options for customizing education for every child.
Applications for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts are still open. The deadline is 11:59 p.m. CT on March 17th. Texas parents should head over to the program's website and secure a spot. We're already seeing massive interest, and projections show more than 90,000 families could apply.
That means Texas might end up with a waitlist, and it's up to the legislature to step up and expand funding to clear it. We've seen this play out successfully in other states. Take North Carolina, for example – they launched a similar program and faced a waitlist of over 55,000 students. But in 2024, their legislature passed a bill to fully fund those scholarships, proving that when demand is there, leaders can deliver.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has also already opted the state into President Trump's new federal school choice tax credit scholarship program. This federal initiative provides additional support through tax credits. Donors will be able to receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits for contributing to organizations like ACE Scholarships. These federal scholarships can be stacked on top of the state-level ones in Texas.
The launch is a win for Texas and a beacon for the nation. Parents are voting with their applications, showing that they're done with one-size-fits-all government schools.
