School Choice is here

Atlanta’s Champions Christian Academy (CCA) is gearing up to receive an influx of students beginning this next school year in August. Per President, Dr. Mark Hill, they are setting signs and banners across the county with a QR code for parents to pre-enroll their students with CCA.

In addition, 11,000 households in Cass County will receive a postcard with this information. CCA’s pre-enrollment application will be used to make sure parents don’t miss important application dates, assist parents in the application process, and allow CCA to prepare its staff and buildings for the influx in enrollment. CCA was established in 2011 and is the only accredited private school in Cass County and the only one eligible for parents to enroll their student(s) and receive the funding.

CCA became the first private school in Texas and the 2nd in the U.S. to achieve “Accreditation with Honors”, from the Association of Christian Teachers and Schools which is certified by Texas to perform private school accreditations. The academy was also designated as “Quality School” from ACE School of Tomorrow.

Beginning February 4, 2026, and running through March 17, 2026, parents can submit applications for School Choice funding. In Texas, School Choice or Parent’s Choice is officially known as the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program.

Education freedom accounts are designed to open doors, expand opportunities, and give each Texas child the chance to learn in the environment that fits them best. The awards will be available to participating children for the 2026-27 school year. Odyssey is the vendor that Texas has contracted with to administer the program. Odyssey has stated that parents will be notified in early April if their students have been selected to receive TEFA funds.

In 2025, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2 and provided $1 billion in funding to create the TEFA program and give parents greater freedom and flexibility in choosing the best educational environment for their children. TEFA is administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and is expected to be the largest dayone school choice initiative in the nation.

Through this program, parents who choose to enroll their children outside of the public school system – including a private school or homeschool and are accepted into the program can use their child’s TEFA funds to pay for approved education-related expenses through the program marketplace.

Section 29.368 of Senate Bill 2 established that no state agency may adopt a rule or take action that would: 1) limit or impose requirements that are contrary to their religious or institutional values, 2) limit their decision to choose methods of curriculum, 3) limit or restrict their admissions and enrollment policies, and 4) modify their religious practices, operations, conduct, policies, standards, assessments, or employment practices.

Approved education-related expenses include: tuition and fees at a private school, textbooks or other instructional materials, required uniforms, private tutoring, transportation to/from approved providers, educational therapies not covered by any federal, state, or local government benefits (i.e., Medicaid), computer hardware or software, and meals provided by private school.

State law sets the amount of per student funding at 85 percent of the statewide average amount of state and local funding per student in Texas public schools. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has determined the amount for the 2026-27 school year to be $10,474 per child if the student attends an approved and accredited private school. Students with disabilities who have an individualized education plan (IEP) may receive more — up to $30,000 per year. Homeschooled students may receive up to $2,000 per year.

CCA has been awarded the designation of a “Quality School” from the ACE School of Tomorrow. The academy’s chosen method of curriculum utilizes pace work, which are curriculum workbooks that build upon the sequential completion of the previous pace. Each student progresses at their own pace and must pass each pace with a minimum of 80 which shows an understanding of the material. Any parents that would like to meet with CCA staff to discuss TEFA, the ACE curriculum, or tour the facilities may contact them through their website at championsacademy. info or call 903-796-1805.