San Antonio parents are seeing a tangible impact from the state‑funded Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program as families use the money to keep children in private, faith‑based schools. Ashley Valdez, a mother of five, explained that without TEFA her children would have faced a switch to public schools because the cost of staying at Holy Name Catholic School exceeded $25,000 a year.
TEFA provides a choice for faith‑centered education
When the Valdez family was removed from the TEFA waitlist, they received the funds and immediately contacted Holy Name Catholic School on the West Side. “When we received it, we were just over the moon,” Valdez said. “The relief that our kids could stay in the private school they have known for all these years is priceless.”
For Valdez, the program represents more than financial assistance; it safeguards a pillar of faith in her children’s upbringing. “To be able to choose a private Catholic school to help with that pillar in faith as they go through life is just so important,” she added.
Support for a child with a learning disability
Valdez’s second‑grade daughter, Zoe, has a learning disability. TEFA funds will cover professional support, tutoring and any remaining balance after tuition. The additional resources give Zoe access to interventions that the family says were previously out of reach.
School sees enrollment surge
Holy Name Catholic School principal Jennifer Sisk reported a more than 30 % increase in enrollment since TEFA participation began. The campus is welcoming 65 new families, with 55 returning families using TEFA dollars. “We’ve hired an interventionist to serve students with dyslexia or other special‑education needs,” Sisk said. “We’ve always tried to meet IEP accommodations, and now we’re gaining extra resources to do so more effectively.”
TEFA participation across San Antonio districts
Within San Antonio, the Northside Independent School District leads the region with 2,271 students using TEFA, followed by North East ISD with 1,536 participants and San Antonio ISD with 972. As the new school year begins, families like the Valdezes say the program is reshaping what is financially possible for private‑school education.
The TEFA program, created by the Texas Legislature, allows parents to direct state education dollars toward tuition, textbooks, tutoring and other approved expenses at private schools, charter schools or public schools. Advocates argue it expands parental choice and supports families who prioritize faith‑based instruction.
Critics of the program contend that public funds should remain within the public‑school system. Nonetheless, the growing enrollment numbers at schools such as Holy Name suggest that many Texas families view TEFA as a viable path to maintain religious education while meeting special‑needs requirements.
For San Antonio parents weighing tuition costs, special‑needs services and faith considerations, TEFA appears to be an increasingly important tool. As more districts report rising participation, the program’s influence on local school choice dynamics is likely to continue growing throughout the state.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
