Fort Bend ISD could lose up to $12 million this school year after 8,429 local families applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the state's new voucher program. That's the third-highest application total of any district in Texas.
The district expects 700 to 1,100 students to leave for private schools or homeschooling as classes begin Tuesday, Aug. 11, according to Community Impact. Deputy Superintendent Jaretha Jordan projected the funding hit at $7.8 million to nearly $12 million for 2026-27.
As we reported Aug. 6, 2,024 FBISD students had already received TEFA funding as of July 29, ranking the district fourth statewide. Stafford Municipal School District had 43 funded participants.
The full picture won't come into focus for weeks.
"We won't know the full impact of the program until the enrollment stabilizes after school starts, no-shows are dropped and after the post-Labor Day employment period," Executive Director of Finance Kelly Schlacks said. "A more reliable enrollment number is expected mid- to late-September."
District launches seven new programs
FBISD is not waiting. The district is rolling out seven programs under its "Redesigned" initiative, aimed at keeping families enrolled after five years of flat or declining enrollment:
- A virtual high school, backed by a $4.2 million contract with Edmentum
- Middle school choice pathways in Aviation & Aerospace, Artificial Intelligence, Creative Arts & Innovation, EnviroTech and First Responders
- Dual-language and Mandarin immersion programs
- Limited open enrollment allowing families to choose campuses outside their zone
- Employee childcare
- Leadership pipelines
Superintendent Marc Smith said at a July 20 agenda review meeting that the district is being strategic and focused on its future as it responds to enrollment challenges that many districts across the state now face. Officials described the seven programs as the first phase of a multiyear process.
Financial pressure mounts
The voucher losses come on top of a $32.8 million budget shortfall the board approved in June and the closure of seven elementary schools in March. FBISD's board committed $64 million from its general fund balance at its June 15 meeting to cover potential losses in state revenue from multiple sources, including TEFA.
Each attendance percentage point equals roughly $6 million for the district, according to former Chief Financial Officer Bryan Guinn. Public school funding in Texas is tied to daily attendance, not enrollment, and the Texas Association of School Boards estimates districts lose $45 per child for every day missed.
Toni Templeton, a research scientist at the University of Houston Education Research Center, said pulling public school dollars away through programs like TEFA could reduce educational opportunities and create employment problems in communities where districts are major employers.
What TEFA offers families
The program, created by state lawmakers in 2025 and capped at $1 billion in its first year, provides $10,474 for private school students, $2,000 for homeschoolers and up to $30,000 for students with disabilities. More than 40 Sugar Land-area private schools have been approved to accept the funding.
Statewide, 57% of students selected for TEFA were already in private school or homeschooled before applying. The remaining 43% came from public schools.
The district expects its smallest kindergarten class in 18 years this fall. Some state lawmakers have signaled they may increase TEFA funding during the 2027 legislative session.
What's ahead
- Tuesday, Aug. 11: First day of school for FBISD students
- Mid- to late-September: District expects reliable enrollment numbers after no-shows are dropped and post-Labor Day period concludes
- 2027 legislative session: Possible expansion of TEFA funding at the state level
