Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is sending another wave of Texas Education Freedom Account notices, this time to more than 53,000 additional students for the 2026–27 school year. The latest round of notifications is scheduled to hit inboxes and mailboxes between May 4 and May 6, with families able to see award amounts and status updates in the program portal. This group builds on an earlier batch of awards that prioritized students with disabilities and their siblings.
Hancock’s office laid out the update in a press release from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, and the Governor’s office quickly boosted the news on X. State officials say this round covers Tier 2 applicants, meaning households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Award emails and portal messages will include each family’s funding amount along with instructions for appeals and next steps.
How winners were chosen
Because the available funding could not cover every eligible Tier 2 applicant, the state turned to a random lottery run by Odyssey, the certified educational assistance organization contracted for the program, with comptroller staff and outside auditors watching the process. Reporting on the rollout describes a system that assigned applicants sequential numbers, grouped siblings to keep families together in the results, and set a waitlist order in case more money becomes available. The Center Square has outlined how the selection steps and oversight worked.
Who got the awards and what they get
This newly announced batch goes to Tier 2 families, generally those at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which is about $66,000 a year for a family of four. It follows the initial awards reserved for students with disabilities and their siblings. According to the comptroller’s office, more than 274,000 students applied during TEFA’s first year, a record first‑year response that left the second priority tier oversubscribed. The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has provided the overall application numbers and priority breakdown.
Timeline and next steps for families
Families who receive awards now face a tight summer timeline. They must confirm private‑school enrollment, continue homeschooling, or opt out by July 15, and they have 30 days to appeal funding or eligibility decisions. Under current guidance, initial funding is expected to land in participant accounts on July 1, with additional disbursements scheduled for October and the following April. The TEFA website and the Odyssey portal remain the official hubs for award notices, appeal submissions, and school confirmation steps. Texas Education Freedom Accounts lays out the detailed timelines and disbursement calendar for the 2026–27 school year.
Legal challenges and equity concerns
The expansion is unfolding alongside legal and policy fights. Plaintiffs have sued state officials, arguing that accredited Islamic schools were wrongly left off the list of approved schools, and a federal judge temporarily extended the application deadline while those cases moved forward. K-12 Dive and The Dallas Morning News have detailed both the lawsuits and the court order that briefly altered the program calendar.
State officials say additional funding is likely to work its way down the waitlist as some families opt out or resolve appeals. At the same time, local coverage has highlighted worries that a compressed rollout and existing private‑school admissions deadlines may leave low‑income families scrambling to actually use their accounts. The Houston Chronicle and other outlets have noted those timing hurdles as the program shifts from application season to enrollment.
