This page will be updated as new information becomes available. Our goal is to be an outstanding resource guiding our parents through the process of applying for a Texas education savings account.
Overview - On May 3, 2025, Governor Greg Abbott signed SB 2 (Texas Education Freedom Act) into Texas law, as part of the 89th Legislature. Below is a summary of what the legislation covers.
- Effective Date: September 1, 2025. Program launch: 2026–2027 school year.
- Funding: $1 billion allocated for the first biennium (2026–2027), with potential to grow to $4.8 billion annually by 2030 subject to future legislative approval.
- Administration: Managed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, which will issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) to select certified assistance organizations and establish program rules.
- Eligibility: Open to any Texas student eligible for public school, including current private school and homeschooled students.
- Fund Amounts per Student:
- Basic: roughly 85% of average public-school funding (~$10,000–$10,900/year)
- Students with disabilities: up to $30,000/year
- Homeschoolers: capped at $2,000/year
- Prioritization & Cap: In 2026–2027, capped at 100,000 participants; if oversubscribed, a lottery will be used, with prioritization for students with disabilities, low-income families, etc. The exact process for the lottery system and prioritization are currently unknown.
- Approved Uses of ESA Funds: Parents may use ESA disbursements for:
- Private school tuition and fees (including religious schools).
- Textbooks, uniforms, transportation, meals, tutoring, therapies, and other educational services/products.
- Online courses and instructional materials.
- Note: Funds must be spent through pre approved vendors/providers.
- What’s Next: The Comptroller’s office is expected to publish program rules, solicit and select Education Assistance Organizations, and finalize vendor approval guidelines over the next few months. Family applications are not available at this time.
Longview Christian School Position and Planning – The administration and board have researched and discussed this new opportunity at length over the past year. We have consulted with outside organizations including ACSI, Texas Private Schools Association, and ACE. We are cautiously optimistic about the coming changes and hopeful for greater expansion of school choice for all Texans.
- LCS Vision & Mission: The leadership of Longview Christian School remains committed to the vision and mission God has called us to follow in our stewardship of this school. Our involvement in this or any other outside program is contingent upon our ability to maintain our unique Christ-centered approach and academic freedom.
- Concerns: It is typical of those who choose Christ-centered, non-governmental private school to be wary of the involvement of government programs. In most circumstances, to receive government benefits, there is often a requirement to follow government rules. In this case, the law requires participating schools be accredited and administer and report results of a norm-referenced test annually. We are accredited, and we currently administer a norm-referenced test (the Iowa test). There will be some added accountability to ensure funds are not misused and that students are provided a quality education. Our assessment of the current program requirements is that they are reasonable, achievable, and do not impede the pursuit of our school vision and mission. Hypothetically, if additional legislation is passed in the future imposing more invasive requirements, the school leadership would reevaluate our participation at that time.
- LCS Participation: Private schools may elect to participate or not. Some private schools may choose to forgo participation in the program based on concerns noted above, ineligibility, or other factors. LCS leadership has evaluated all the information and has chosen to participate in the program. As soon as the school application process is open, we will apply to be an approved educational provider.
- Impact on Families: At LCS we believe a Christ-centered education should be available to all Christ-followers in our community. Tuition costs have regrettably always been a barrier for some. Many parents have made tremendous financial sacrifices to enroll their children at LCS. Likewise, the school has made sacrifices by keeping our tuition as affordable as possible and offering discounts and financial aid to families in need. The ESAs provide much-needed relief for current families and accessibility to new families while reducing school budget concerns. We believe the financial impact for the LCS community could be significant; however, we are unsure how many LCS families will be approved in the first year.
- Special Services: ESAs provide prioritization and additional funds for students who need special services due to learning differences. At LCS our desire is to provide a Christ-centered education to all types of learners within our current limitations and capabilities. We are working now to implement changes and improvements to our Special Services department that will be announced soon and in place for the 2025-2026 school year. We are hiring new specialists and finalizing program structure during the current year to be in position to clearly respond to the potential increased demand for special services with the introduction of ESAs. We do anticipate growth in this department due to the accessibility provided by ESAs, however, we will have limits in place to ensure that we have the program capabilities to properly serve and accommodate all students who are accepted. Additionally, we plan to guide current families with students in special services to ensure they meet the requirements to have the additional services funded through the ESAs.
- Information and Assistance: We are currently formulating plans to assist existing and prospective families in the ESA application process. Only 100,000 students will be approved, and our hope is that a large percentage of our families will be included. Watch for more information via email, social media, and this website. We will share updates as they are announced by the comptroller’s office. We also plan to organize workshops and open house events in the coming year to guide families through the ESA application and answer questions in person. The dates of these events are TBD as we wait for more information to become available.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@lcseagles.com if you have questions that are not answered above.