First Round of School Vouchers Reach Texas Families

April 23, 2026 – AUSTIN, Texas — Greg Abbott on Wednesday marked the first distribution of Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) funds, with more than 42,000 families set to receive financial support aimed at expanding school choice across the state.

The program, administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts under Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, is designed to give parents greater flexibility in selecting educational options that best fit their children’s needs.

“School choice funds being distributed to Texas families paves the way for Texas to become the No. 1 state for education,” Abbott said in a statement. “These accounts will give parents the freedom to choose the best learning environment for their children, regardless of their income or location.”

The TEFA program prioritizes students with disabilities and those from low-income households. Families can use the funds to enroll their children in private schools or alternative education programs, as well as cover costs for instructional materials, tutoring, and specialized educational therapies.

State officials said notifications will begin this week for students in the program’s highest-priority tier—those with qualifying disabilities living in households at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty level. Siblings of those students are also included in the initial rollout.

Additional rounds of funding are expected in the coming weeks as the program expands to more eligible families.

Supporters say the initiative represents a major step toward increasing educational access and customization, particularly for families who have historically faced limited schooling options. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the potential impact on public school funding, setting up what is likely to remain a key policy debate as the program continues to roll out statewide.