On December 11, 2025, Epiphany Lutheran Church and School hosted an informational meeting about the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, led by Principal Matt Schleicher and Dr. Bill Hinz, Director of School Ministry for Texas Lutheran schools.
The meeting provided families with detailed information about Texas’s new education savings account program beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, including funding amounts (approximately $11,000 per private school student, with up to $30,000 for students with disabilities who have an IEP), the four priority categories based on income and disability status, approved expenses, and critical application dates.
Dr. Hinz, who testified before the legislature in support of the bill and has overseen 122 Lutheran schools in Texas since 1997, emphasized that this program makes Texas the 35th state to offer such educational choice, with an estimated 70,000 students expected to benefit in the first year.
Families learned about required documentation including proof of citizenship and residency, the lottery system for oversubscribed categories, special provisions for students with qualifying disabilities, and Pre-K eligibility for certain populations. The meeting concluded with reminders that family applications open February 4, 2026, with Epiphany planning two additional sessions in February to assist families with the application process, and first deposits into digital wallets scheduled for July 1, 2026.
If you have any questions about this program or would like to discuss what this means specifically for your family, please contact the school office at 713-896-1843.
