School Choice is now law.
What does that mean for Hill Country Families?
Frequently Asked Questions
Senate Bill 2 creates the Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program (TEFA), starting in the 2026–2027 school year. The program gives eligible families an estimated $10,000 per student each year in public funds to pay for private school tuition and other education costs. For students with disabilities, families can receive upwards of $30,000 per child. TEFA aims to make private education more affordable, especially for low-and middle-income families and students with special needs.
Hill Country is an accredited private school and meets the state’s eligibility standards. While not required, our school has decided to participate in a “soft-launch” of this program, as we monitor the state’s guidelines and practices. We will continue, provided we can participate without compromising our Christ-centered mission, curriculum, and autonomy.
A student must be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful resident eligible to attend a Texas public school. If applications exceed available funding, a lottery will decide placement.
Applicants are prioritized as follows:
- Students with a disability (defined by the TX Educ. Code Sec. 29.003) whose family income is at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).
- Children whose family income is at or below 200% of FPG
- Children whose family income is between 200% and 500% of FPG.
- All other students may qualify if funds remain, with no more than 20% of spots reserved for this group, and priority given to those switching from public schools.
- Siblings of children already in the program (after the first round of selections)
| Household | Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) yearly income | 200% of FPG yearly income | 500% of FPG yearly income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $31,300 | $78,250 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $42,300 | $105,750 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $53,300 | $133,250 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $64,300 | $160,750 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $75,300 | $188,250 |
| 6 | $42,150 | $83,920 | $215,750 |
To further understand these qualifications, we encourage families to read Texas Private Schools Association’s TEFA resource page.
The TEFA program will launch for the 2026–2027 school year. Families will be able to apply starting February 4, 2026. For additional details and updates please visit the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts TEFA Program website.
TEFA funds can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, and other approved education expenses. Hill Country will accept funds for tuition and services administered through our Academic Resource and Counseling Center (ARCC).
If a family receives and directs TEFA funds to Hill Country, the program can help cover tuition, but may not pay the full amount. The family is responsible for any remaining balance.
We encourage families who may need tuition help to apply to both the TEFA program and our Hill Country’s Tuition Assistance program. If a family receives aid from both, the financial aid award may be adjusted. In many cases, the TEFA award will be greater than the school tuition assistance award. By limiting the total award to the highest of the two, we are able to extend the access of tuition assistance dollars to as many qualified mission-aligned families as possible.
No. Our commitment is unwavering: we will not accept any funding that compromises our faith, admissions standards, or educational curriculum. We will participate only as long as the law continues to uphold religious freedom and school autonomy. Hill Country is an active member of the Texas Private Schools Association (TPSA), which has worked to ensure that religious protections are included in state law.
