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 Freedom 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. Click here to access the Comptroller's website for information on TEFAs.
- Eligibility: Open to any Texas student who is:
- a U.S. citizen or legal resident of Texas,
- eligible to attend public school in Texas,
- and is not enrolled full-time in a public or charter school while receiving TEFA funds.
- 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 approximately 70-80,000 participants; if oversubscribed, a lottery will be used, with prioritization for students with disabilities, low-income families, etc. See below for detailed prioritization information.
- Approved Uses of TEFA Funds: Parents may use TEFA 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.
LCS 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 to be accredited and administer and report the 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 TEFAs 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: TEFAs 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. More information can be found on our Mosaic Program page. We are working to make adjustments to our program during the current year to be in position to clearly respond to the potential increased demand for special services with the introduction of TEFAs. We do anticipate growth in this department due to the accessibility provided by TEFAs, 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 TEFAs.
Information and Assistance: We are currently formulating plans to assist existing and prospective families in the TEFA application process. Only 70-80,000 students will likely 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 TEFA application and answer questions in person. The dates of these events are TBD as we wait for more information to become available.
2025-2026 TEFA Timeline
September 1, 2025 — TEFA law takes effect (Texas Senate Bill 2)
Fall 2025 — Comptroller releases program details and portal instructions
January 2026 — TEFA application period opens for families
Spring 2026 — Approval notifications sent to families
Summer 2026 — Funds distributed to approved accounts
TEFA Prioritization
All families will be able to submit applications for TEFA during the application window earlier in 2026. Applications will be sorted into the following priority groups:
- PRIORITY 1 - Child with a disability AND family AGI at or under 500% FPL
- PRIORITY 2 - Family AGI under 200% FPL
- PRIORITY 3 - Family AGI over 200%, but under 500% FPL
- PRIORITY 4 - Family AGI over 500% FPL AND student moving from public to private school
- PRIORITY 5 - All remaining
Here is a link to current Federal Poverty Levels to determine which priority group your family falls into.
Once all the applications are sorted into prioritization groups, funding will be assigned in group order. When group 1 is fully funded, group 2 will receive funding. If, at any point in this process, remaining funding is not sufficient to fully fund the current group, all students in the group will be placed in a lottery and selected randomly until funding is exhausted. All remaining students who do not receive a TEFA will be placed on a waitlist. If the legislature approves additional funding or families who received funding do not accept it, students on the waitlist may be funded.
Siblings - If a child is eligible for Priority Group 1, all siblings will be included in Group 1. If a child is selected in the lottery process, all siblings will also be selected.
Everyone Should Apply - We are asking all LCS families to apply for a TEFA regardless of your prioritization group for two good reasons, even if you are not likely to be selected.
- The Comptroller is required to request funding for everyone who applies. Even though that request may not be approved, there is a possibility that additional funding could be authorized beyond the initial $1 billion.
- Even if you do not receive a TEFA, additional applications show lawmakers that the program is in high demand. This information will be critical when we go back to Austin to work to expand the program.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to us at info@lcseagles.com if you have questions that are not answered above.