<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2TOl0k_1EAg1RWn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TOl0k_1EAg1RWn00" width="1206" height="662" >TEXAS — Texas’ education savings accounts were created to give families money for their children to attend private school or be homeschooled.According to the state, over 2,700 schools signed up to accept these funds, and there are a few public school districts that are eligible to enroll in the program.They include Katy and Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School Districts near Houston and Azle Independent School District outside of Fort Worth.“I think that the first time somebody hears a school district is accepting voucher funds, it’s automatically like something doesn’t add up,” said Todd Smith, the superintendent at Azle ISD. The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program was not meant for traditional public schools. But at Azle ISD, there’s an exception: pre-K.“It’s an opportunity for us, is the way we see it,” said Smith.Azle ISD offers tuition-based pre-K, opening the door for TEFA funding.“Why not?” said Smith. “I mean it didn’t cost us anything to apply and the big picture we haven’t gotten any, but if we do, that’s 6,000 more dollars per student that we didn’t have that they’d be paying another provider.”One of the state’s largest school districts, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, is on board to accept state funding for pre-K students too.“It would give us an opportunity to offer pre-K to folks who are challenged financially but don’t quite meet those thresholds, and if they qualify for an ESA, then hey, we would be happy to have you and not have to pay,” said Doug Killian, the Cypress-Fairbanks ISD superintendent.New state data shows pre-K will have more voucher program participants than any other grade level for this upcoming school year, with more than 9,400 students funded.“It was overwhelming how many, and I can understand that,” said Killian. “Back when my boys were that age. I mean, it was tough.”Killian said Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is also accepting funds for its online classes. “Since we’re so large we have a lot of these things that some of the other smaller districts and some of the other smaller charters or homeschools or private schools don’t have,” said Killian. “It was an opportunity for us to bring in revenue and at the same time serve our community.”With registration still underway, Killian didn’t yet have an exact count of how many students had enrolled using the voucher program.Out of all of Azle ISD’s pre-K students, there’s only about 15 who are required to pay tuition because they don’t qualify for any other grant or scholarship.Currently, none of those students are using voucher money.“Most families probably already knew what they were going to do with voucher money before they realized that we were a provider,” said Smith. “Now, looking forward, I hope that this might grow.”If it does, Smith hopes it can turn a student into a lifelong Azle ISD Hornet. “What better way to get a student in there,” said Smith. “Especially with a family that is maybe a little unsure. Let them see the great things we have going on here at Azle ISD.”Districts get paid by the state for every student who attends class. It’s a little over $6,000 per kid. So fewer students means less money for a district, which is why keeping them in their public school district is a pro for so many superintendents.In Azle ISD, nearly 250 students accepted state funding through TEFA. Over in Cypress-Fairbanks, the third largest district in the state, over 1,500 accepted the funds. This count includes students who live within the district’s boundaries and already attended private school or homeschool before accepting state funding.</div></body>

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TEXAS — Texas’ education savings accounts were created to give families money for their children to attend private school or be homeschooled. According to the state, over 2,700 schools signed up to accept these funds, and there are a few public school districts that are eligible to enroll in the program.

A look at some public school districts accepting voucher program funds

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TEXAS — Texas’ education savings accounts were created to give families money for their children to attend private school or be homeschooled. According to 

A look at some public school districts accepting voucher program funds

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