One-third of Greater Houston private schools approve TEFA voucher participation

Roughly one-third of Greater Houston’s private grade schools — about 82 of more than 250 — have applied and been approved to accept Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TEFA, as of the latest state round. The statewide program is funded at roughly $1 billion and can provide families up to $10,800 per student for private tuition, with higher amounts available for students with disabilities.

The scale and character of local participation matter because vouchers shift public education dollars into private school tuition and change where children receive instruction and school-based services. Our reporting found that Christian-affiliated schools dominate TEFA participation in Greater Houston, making up about 87 percent of approved private schools. Many Catholic schools are among those signing on, while a small number of nonreligious or other-faith institutions have applied. Notably, no Islamic schools in the region appear on the approved list yet, and relatively few private schools that specialize in serving students with disabilities are listed.

Those patterns have immediate implications for families and county services. For students who rely on school-based health supports, therapies, or specialized staff, moving to a private site that does not offer comparable services can interrupt care. Families of children with disabilities may receive larger subsidies through TEFA, but the lack of participating disability-specific schools limits where those funds can be used. Transportation, eligibility timing, and curricular fit also affect whether the dollar amount translates into real access.

Timing mismatches present a particularly stark equity concern. Several private schools set priority admission deadlines that occur before families will know whether they received a voucher. That dynamic can disadvantage lower-income households that cannot risk enrolling without financial certainty, effectively reserving limited private seats for families with resources to pay up front.

The state maintains a searchable map and list of approved TEFA schools and updates it as additional schools apply. That evolving list will shape choices for Harris County families over the coming weeks and months, and it will determine which communities see an influx of voucher-funded students.

Public health and policy officials watching this rollout worry about how shifted enrollment may affect public school funding and the ability of districts to sustain programs such as school nursing, counseling, and special education. Concentrated participation by faith-affiliated schools also raises questions about whether the options available reflect the county’s religious and cultural diversity.

The takeaway? If you’re weighing TEFA as a route out of your assigned public school, verify deadlines and services before committing, check the state’s updated school list, and ask any prospective private school how it handles special education, health services, and tuition contingencies. Our two cents? Don’t let paperwork timing or a lack of nearby options force you into a choice that disrupts your child’s care.