Texas School Choice Program: 274K Apply for 90K Spots

0:00Texas just wrapped up applications for its new school choice program, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TIFA. Over 274,000 families applied by March 31st for just 90,000 spots, blowing past what they expected. State officials will prioritize low-income families and kids with disabilities first. They'll start notifying winners by email in early April and approve families have until mid-July to lock in a private school spot before getting their first funding chunk. Advocacy groups are hyped, calling it one of the biggest launches ever, and crediting leaders like the governor for pushing it through. Demand hit hard from pre-K kids, with over 34,000 apps there, plus big numbers from Houston and North Texas areas. More than 2,000 private schools have signed on so far, and over 34,000 applicants noted disabilities for priority. A recent lawsuit extended the deadline by two weeks over claims some schools got left out, with a hearing coming in April. This flood of interest shows parents are hungry for options like private tuition or homeschooling help

1:05using public funds. As reviews roll and debates heat up, Texas families wait to see who makes the cut and how it all shakes out next school year. This has been Dallas News Today, powered by AI.