Understanding Texas Parents' Views on Education Freedom Accounts: A New Report Breaks Down the Numbers
- Accessible Education
- 3 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
If you're a Texas parent or educator trying to make sense of the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, you're not alone. A recent report gives us insight into what Texas families are thinking about this new school choice option.
About the Report
The Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center at Texas Southern University recently conducted a comprehensive survey to understand how Texas parents feel about the TEFA program. The report, authored by Michael O. Adams and Mark P. Jones, set out to gauge both familiarity with the program and parents' likelihood of applying when applications open in February 2026.
The report, titled "Texas Parents & Texas Education Freedom Accounts: Familiarity and Likelihood of Applying in 2026," focuses on the program created by Senate Bill 2, which the Texas Legislature passed during its 2025 regular session. The report doesn't cite external academic sources but instead grounds itself in the legislative framework of Senate Bill 2 and original survey data collected specifically for this report.Â
Who Participated in the Survey
Between October 28 and November 3, 2025, authors surveyed 900 Texas parents who have children enrolled anywhere from prekindergarten through 12th grade. The survey reached registered voters through SMS text messages, directing them to an online platform where they could complete the survey in either English or Spanish. The margin of error is +/- 3.27%. Here's the demographic breakdown of who participated:
Race and Ethnicity
48% Latino parents
32% White parents
14% Black parents
6% parents of other racial or ethnic backgrounds
Household Income
The income distribution was fairly balanced across three brackets:
35% earn less than $65,000
30% earn between $65,000 and $99,000
35% earn $100,000 or more
Gender
65% women
35% men
Political Affiliation
36% Democrats
34% Republicans
17% Independents
13% identified as something else or were unsure
School Enrollment
56% have children in high school (9th through 12th grade)
47% have children in elementary school (K through 5th grade)
37% have children in middle school (6th through 8th grade)
10% have children in prekindergarten
About three-quarters (74%) of surveyed parents only have children attending traditional public schools, while 26% have at least one child who attends a charter school, private or parochial school, or is homeschooled.
Was This Survey Representative?
The short answer is yes, the survey was designed to be representative of Texas parents with school-age children. The authors intentionally structured the sample to capture diverse voices across different income levels, racial and ethnic backgrounds, and political affiliations.
It's worth noting that the report explicitly states that it doesn't provide a direct comparison to overall Texas demographics. However, to provide context, we compared the survey participants to two sources: the United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates for 2019-2023 for Texas, and the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project Poll, a statewide survey of Texas registered voters.
Race and Ethnicity
Compared to the overall Texas population from the ACS data, the survey sample includes:
More Latino parents: 48% in the survey versus 39.5% of the total Texas population
Fewer White parents: 32% in the survey versus 39.9% of the total Texas population
A similar proportion of Black parents: 14% in the survey versus 12.2% of the total Texas population
Political Affiliation
The TEFA survey shows a more balanced political landscape than the registered voter data from the UT Poll:
TEFA survey: 36% Democrats, 34% Republicans
UT Poll registered voters: 43% Democrats, 47% Republicans
What the Survey Found
The TEFA program, which will provide funding starting in the 2026-2027 school year, offers public funds for eligible students in prekindergarten through 12th grade. Students attending private schools can receive $10,800 annually for expenses like tuition, tutoring, and textbooks. Homeschool students and students not attending a TEFA-approved private school can receive $2,000 for approved educational expenses. Once enrolled, students continue receiving funds each year.
Overall Interest
About 40% of Texas parents say they're either very likely (19%) or somewhat likely (21%) to apply for a TEFA when applications open.
Who's Most Interested
Income makes a huge difference. Among families earning less than $65,000, a striking 61% are likely to apply. That number drops to 33% for families earning between $65,000 and $99,999, and falls further to 26% for families earning $100,000 or more.
Race and ethnicity also play a significant role:
47% of Black parents are likely to apply
45% of Latino parents are likely to apply
28% of White parents are likely to apply
Why Parents Want to Apply
Among parents who plan to apply, the top three reasons are:
It would give their child access to a better education (58%)
It would let them send their child to the school that best meets their needs (54%)
It would allow them to choose a school that reflects their family values (44%)
Why Parents Aren't Interested
For the 60% of parents who aren't likely to apply, here are the main reasons:
They're happy with their child's current public school (51%)
The $10,800 isn't enough to cover nearby private school tuition, and they can't afford to pay the difference (39%)
They don't think their family is eligible (28%)
Faith-Based School Interest
There's substantial enthusiasm for new schools established through places of worship if TEFA funds become available. Among parents who regularly attend religious services at a place of worship that doesn't currently have a school, strong majorities of Black (67% for elementary, 62% for middle/high school) and Latino parents (68% for elementary, 59% for middle/high school) would be enthusiastic about their place of worship opening a school.
Special Focus: Families with Children with Disabilities
The TEFA program offers significantly enhanced benefits for students with disabilities, making it particularly relevant for these families.
The Numbers
Close to one-third (32%) of surveyed parents reported having a child with a physical, developmental, emotional, or learning disability diagnosed by a professional.
Enhanced Funding
Students with disabilities can receive up to $30,000 annually, nearly three times the standard $10,800 amount. These funds cover private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and special services. If applications exceed available funding, students with disabilities get priority.
IEP Requirements
To qualify for the enhanced funding, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) must be on file with the local school district.
Among parents with a child with a disability who participated in the survey:
74% already have an IEP on file
17% don't have one on file
9% are unsure
Among those without an IEP (or unsure if they have one), about one-third are either not too familiar (24%) or not at all familiar (11%) with IEPs and how to get one. This suggests many families may need guidance on the IEP process to access the full benefits.
Interest in Applying
Overall, 46% of parents with a child who has a disability said they're very likely (22%) or somewhat likely (24%) to apply for a TEFA. The likelihood varies significantly by race and income.
By race/ethnicity:
68% of Black parents with a child with a disability are likely to apply
44% of Latino parents are likely to apply
37% of White parents are likely to apply
By household income:
67% of families earning less than $65,000 are likely to apply
40% of families earning $65,000 to $99,999 are likely to apply
30% of families earning $100,000 or more are likely to apply
Seeking Specialized Support
Among all parents likely to apply for TEFA, 31% cited that the program would allow them to obtain more specialized assistance and educational therapy for their child. This reason was particularly important for Black parents (35%) and Latino parents (31%).
Families Who Think They Don't Qualify
Here's a concerning finding: among parents unlikely to apply for TEFA, 28% say they're not applying because they don't believe their family is eligible. According to the report's analysis, between one-half and three-fifths of these families are likely actually eligible for the program.
This misconception is fairly consistent across racial and ethnic groups among those unlikely to apply:
31% of Black parents cite ineligibility concerns
28% of White parents cite ineligibility concerns
27% of Latino parents cite ineligibility concerns
While the report indicates these racial differences are not particularly noteworthy, the findings suggest a clear need for better outreach and education across all racial and ethnic groups about eligibility requirements.
Who's Most Likely to Benefit from TEFA
Based on the survey findings, the families most likely to utilize and benefit from the TEFA program share some common characteristics:
Lower-income families show the strongest interest, with 61% of families earning under $65,000 likely to apply. This makes sense given that the $10,800 (or up to $30,000 for students with disabilities) represents a more significant financial opportunity for these households.
Black and Latino families are substantially more likely to apply than White families. This aligns with the program's potential to provide educational alternatives in communities that have historically had fewer school choice options.
Families with children with disabilities represent a particularly important beneficiary group, especially among Black and lower-income households. The enhanced funding of up to $30,000 and priority consideration make this program especially attractive for families seeking specialized educational services.
Families seeking better educational outcomes dominate the pool of likely applicants, with 58% citing access to better education as their primary motivation. The program appears to resonate most with parents who feel their current school options don't fully meet their children's needs.
What This All Means
This report paints a clear picture of a program that's poised to primarily serve lower-income families, minority communities, and children with special needs. The data shows genuine interest from these groups, but also reveals potential challenges.
The Good News?
There's substantial demand for educational alternatives among the families who could benefit most from additional resources. Forty percent of Texas parents expressing interest in applying represents a significant pool of potential participants for the program's first year.
The Challenges?
A significant funding gap exists for many families. The $10,800 allotment isn't enough to cover full private school tuition at many schools, and 39% of parents who aren't planning to apply cited this as their reason. Additionally, misconceptions about eligibility could prevent many qualifying families from even applying.
For families with children with disabilities, the program offers substantial financial support and priority access. However, the fact that over a third of eligible parents aren't familiar with the IEP/ARD process suggests that outreach and education will be critical to ensure these families can access the enhanced benefits.
As applications for families prepare to open on February 4, 2026, this research provides valuable insights for parents considering the program, educators adapting to new school choice realities, and policymakers monitoring the program's implementation.
The data suggests TEFA has the potential to expand educational opportunities for many Texas families, but its success will depend significantly on effective communication about eligibility and the practical realities of how the funding works in real-world scenarios.
Whether you're a parent weighing your options or an educator preparing for potential changes, understanding who's interested in TEFA and why can help everyone navigate this new chapter in Texas education.
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Sources
Adams, M. O., & Jones, M. P. (2025). Texas parents & Texas education freedom accounts: Familiarity and likelihood of applying in 2026. Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research and Survey Center, Texas Southern University
University of Texas/Texas Politics Project. (2025). Texas statewide survey [Data set]. https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/polling-data-archive
U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. (n.d.). Selected Economic Characteristics. American Community Survey, ACS 5-Year Estimates Data Profiles, Table DP03. Retrieved December 12, 2025, from https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=040XX00US48.