Mary Rooke Commentary and Analysis Writer
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, while marketed as a beacon of parental choice, actually entrenches excessive government power over education, particularly in curriculum matters that rightfully belong to parents.
Texas enacted its first statewide school voucher program in 2025 through Senate Bill 2 (SB 2), signed into law by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts administers the program, previously referred to as Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). It represents one of the largest school choice initiatives in the U.S., with an initial $1 billion allocation for the first two years.
The program provides public funds to eligible families to cover educational expenses outside the public school system, including private school tuition and homeschooling costs. It is designed to be universal, meaning nearly all Texas students are eligible to apply.
This session, we made school choice a reality.
Parents can now choose the school that is the BEST fit for their child.
Texas supports our families with EDUCATION FREEDOM. pic.twitter.com/J1Et2z76v7
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 10, 2025
Family applications open Feb. 4 for the 2026-2027 school year. Unlike traditional voucher programs, which send direct payments to schools, TEFA operates similarly to an ESA. Taxpayer funds are loaded into a digital account managed by a state-approved platform, and families spend them on approved vendors and expenses through a marketplace. Private schools and providers must apply and be approved to participate.
Each student will receive over $10,000 per year; the exact amount is based on 85 percent of the average per-student funding cost for public schools. Homeschooled students who are not enrolled in any approved private school program can receive $2,000 per student per year. (Sign up for Mary Rooke’s weekly newsletter here!)
TEFA requires all participating private schools to be accredited by bodies like the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) or by accreditors recognized by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Accreditation isn’t a neutral process; it often involves adherence to specific curriculum standards, pedagogical approaches, and content guidelines set by the state or aligned organizations. For instance, TEPSAC-accredited schools must demonstrate curriculum alignment with recognized standards, which could include elements influenced by TEA’s public education frameworks. Parents seeking to use TEFA funds for private schooling are thus funneled into institutions that have already submitted to government-vetted criteria, limiting true choice to only those options the state deems acceptable. This is a far cry from leaving curriculum decisions to parents, who might prefer unconventional or faith-based approaches unencumbered by bureaucratic approval.
Additionally, TEFA mandates annual nationally norm-referenced testing for students in grades 3-12 at participating private schools, a requirement that extends indirect control over curriculum. These tests, while not state-specific like the STAAR, are designed to measure performance against national benchmarks often rooted in common core-like standards. If schools and parents want their students to score well, they must prepare students accordingly. The obvious climax is aligning the school curriculum with the test material rather than personalized, parent-driven content.
The amount offered through this program is no small sum, and it’s per child, not family. For large families paying for private school, it immediately felt like a lifeline. Proponents view TEFA as empowering parents with choice. However, by controlling funding approvals, imposing accreditation and testing mandates, and restricting expenditures to state-sanctioned options, the program subtly shifts decision-making authority from families to bureaucrats in Austin. This not only undermines the autonomy of homeschool and private school parents but also sets a dangerous precedent for future regulatory creep, transforming education savings accounts into tools of state oversight.
School Choice via Texas SB2 Myth vs Facts Sheet.
Unfortunately, Greg Abbott’s sheet wasn’t quite accurate, so I fixed it. pic.twitter.com/YFlnk06Rr1
— Robert Bortins (@TheRobertBshow) February 13, 2025
What began as a promise for school choice has evolved into bureaucratic control over all education options in Texas. Parents are far removed from the decision-making process, especially regarding curriculum, which shapes worldview, values, and critical thinking. After everything parents have been through fighting leftist curriculum in schools, it seems like TEFA is yet another government-approved Trojan horse designed to ensure control over children’s education. The financial carrot blinds desperate parents into accepting a possible slippery slope that would allow bad actors another chance to indoctrinate their children. (ROOKE: Teacher Accidentally Makes Best Case For Why Public Schools Are Failing Students)
Parents, not politicians or agencies like TEA and the comptroller, should hold the reins on education decisions. By tying financial support to state oversight, Texas is not empowering families but consolidating power in government hands, risking the very freedom the program claims to promote. True parental choice demands deregulation, not a funded facade of autonomy.
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