TEFA is a Success. What’s Next?

Texas’ launch of the Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) program has been nothing short of historic. It sends a clear message that families are demanding more control over their children’s education.

Within the first 24 hours, more than 42,000 applications poured in, shattering national records for a school choice program rollout. By the time applications closed, over 274,000 Texas families had applied, representing roughly 4% of all schoolchildren in the state and far exceeding participation rates seen elsewhere.

This overwhelming response is not just a policy win, it is a powerful signal that parents are eager for options. They want the ability to choose schools that best meet their children’s unique needs, whether academic, cultural, or philosophical. Texas has taken a bold step in empowering families, but it must not stop here.

Unfortunately, the current program can only serve fewer than 100,000 students, meaning that more than half of applicants will be left without access. Lawmakers should view this not as a limitation, but as a call to action. In the next legislative session, they should expand the program to meet demand and ensure that every family who wants educational choice has it. No child’s future should be constrained by an arbitrary cap when better options are within reach.

At the same time, school choice alone is not a cure-all. The broader public education system still serves the vast majority of Texas students, and it urgently needs reform. Across the state, far too many schools are failing to deliver basic outcomes, with significant numbers of students unable to read or perform math at grade level. That is unacceptable and it demands a renewed focus on results, accountability, and academic rigor. The success the state of Mississippi has seen by concentrating on phonics in recent years could be a model.

Equally concerning is how education dollars are being spent. Less than half of public school funding reaches the classroom, with large sums diverted to administrative overhead, consultants, lobbyists, and expanding the bureaucracy. Taxpayers—and more importantly, students—deserve better.

Finally, Texas must ensure that teacher preparation programs prioritize strong academic instruction and practical classroom skills. Texans should no longer tolerate our woke neo-Marxist programs in our public universities. Teachers should be equipped to deliver high-quality, age-appropriate education that prepares students for success, instead of pushing to involve our children in adult controversies.

The success of EFAs proves that Texans are ready for change. Now it is up to lawmakers to build on that momentum, expanding choice while also reforming the system that so many families still rely on.

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