Last week the Texas Comptroller’s Office published the proposed rules for the Education Savings Account (ESA) program that will be available for the 2026-2027 school year. This program provides parents of students in non-public schools a publicly funded government savings account to help with their children’s education.
As parents with the primary responsibility for the education of your children in all aspects of their lives, you have the privilege of introducing them, most importantly, to the reality of God’s love, to the life of the Church and to the sacramental life. Our Catholic schools provide ongoing faith formation at all levels and integrate faith into every subject. They provide excellent academic formation and foster the development of each child’s God-given gifts and talents, helping each student find the unique path God calls him or her to follow in this life.
The ESA program provides additional opportunities for parents to exercise their right as the primary educators of their children, empowering and equipping parents to choose the learning environment that best fits the needs of each child.
For students accepted to the ESA program, the funds can be used to cover school tuition and additional therapies for students with special needs or disabilities. The ESA program is not exclusively for families wishing to send their children to private schools. It also provides support for homeschooling families throughout Texas.
My hope is that the ESA program makes Catholic education through our six Catholic schools more accessible for families in the Diocese of Tyler. Especially for those who have never considered a Catholic school as an option for their children because of the cost. The ESA program may now make Catholic education a possibility for many more families.
I am excited for the opportunities the ESA program can provide for our families right here in East Texas. Applications for the ESA program will open in January 2026. If you have a Catholic school in your area, I encourage you to reach out to them and begin to explore how this program might impact your family in a positive way.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Rev. Gregory Kelly
Bishop of Tyler
Resources:
To find a Catholic school near you visit: www.dioceseoftyler.org/schools
Resource for parents from the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops: ESA Program Explainer
