A lot is happening in the world of homeschooling right now. From record-breaking school choice programs in Texas and Tennessee to parental rights decisions at the Supreme Court, this week’s roundup covers the biggest stories across the country. Whether you’re actively homeschooling or just watching for legislative changes that could affect your family, here’s what you need to know.

Texas Launches the Nation’s Largest ESA Program

Texas made history this spring with the launch of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, the largest Education Savings Account initiative ever attempted in the United States. Funded with $1 billion in initial state funding, the program opened applications on February 4 and closed March 31 — and received more than 274,000 applications.

Here’s what Texas families can expect:

• Private school students: $10,474 per year (85% of statewide per-pupil funding)
• Students with disabilities (active IEP): up to $30,000 per year
• Homeschool families: up to $2,000 per year

Funding distributions begin July 1, 2026. If you applied and are approved, the first disbursement covers 25% of your annual award, with additional payments on October 1 and April 1.

Learn more at the official program site: educationfreedom.texas.gov 

A to Z for Moms Like Me is an approved vendor! Look for us in Odyssey once the program starts.

Tennessee Adds 15,000 More Education Freedom Scholarships

On May 7, 2026, Governor Bill Lee signed legislation expanding Tennessee’s Education Freedom Scholarship program by 15,000 additional seats for the 2026-27 school year, bringing total available awards to 35,000 students. Each scholarship is worth $7,530 and can be used at nearly 300 participating private schools across the state.

Demand continues to outpace supply — more than 56,440 families applied this cycle (a 31.8% increase over last year), with 17,735 families currently on a waitlist. If you’re in Tennessee and on the waitlist, the expanded seats may open a spot for your family. Watch for notification from the Tennessee Department of Education.

Official Tennessee DOE announcement

Federal 529 Plans Now Cover More Homeschool Expenses

This one affects homeschool families in every state. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed in 2025, made the largest federal expansion of 529 education savings plans in the program’s history — and the changes take effect for tax year 2026.

Key changes for homeschoolers:

• The annual K-12 withdrawal limit doubled from $10,000 to $20,000 per student
• Qualified expenses now include: books, instructional materials, online educational programs, tutoring, standardized test fees, dual-enrollment fees, and educational therapies for students with disabilities
• For the first time, federal law explicitly recognizes homeschool-related expenses as eligible 529 withdrawals (in states that recognize homeschooling as private schooling)

Important note: states must choose to conform to the federal definition for your state 529 plan to allow these withdrawals. Check with your state’s 529 administrator before making withdrawals. Utah’s my529 and West Virginia’s SMART529 have both published updated guidance.

Utah my529 guidance | Saving For College: 529 rule changes overview

Supreme Court Ruling Strengthens Parental Rights in Education

Though decided in June 2025, the impact of Mahmoud v. Taylor is being felt now as schools set curriculum for the 2026-27 year. In a 6-3 decision authored by Justice Alito, the Supreme Court ruled that Montgomery County, Maryland’s refusal to allow parents to opt their elementary-age children out of LGBTQ-themed curriculum unconstitutionally burdened their free exercise of religion.

The Court established that when the government substantially interferes with the religious development of a child, or poses a serious threat to the religious beliefs a parent is trying to instill, that action is subject to strict scrutiny, even if the policy appears neutral on its face.

For homeschool families, this ruling reinforces the constitutional backbone that has protected home education for over a century, rooted in Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)  which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. HSLDA calls the Mahmoud ruling “a significant reaffirmation of parental authority over the moral and religious formation of their children.”

HSLDA: Pierce at 100 and what Mahmoud means for homeschoolers

Watch List: Connecticut and Nebraska Tighten Homeschool Rules

Not all the news this month is good. Two states have passed legislation that adds government oversight to the homeschooling process, and homeschool advocates are watching closely.

Connecticut HB 5468 — Awaiting Governor’s Signature

The Connecticut legislature passed HB 5468 on May 4, 2026  and it’s now on Governor Ned Lamont’s desk. If signed, it would make Connecticut’s homeschool law one of the most restrictive in the country:

• Parents would be required to appear in person annually at their school district office to file a notice of intent to homeschool, something no other state currently requires
• A Department of Children and Families (DCF) records check on every adult in the household would be required before a withdrawal is approved
• Families with any open DCF investigation, or anyone on the child abuse/neglect registry, could be denied permission to homeschool

HSLDA notes that roughly 25% of Connecticut children will at some point live in a household with an open DCF case, many opened on unsubstantiated reports. If you’re a Connecticut homeschool family or know someone who is, now is the time to contact Governor Lamont’s office. HSLDA’s full analysis of HB 5468

Nebraska LB 937 — Already Signed into Law

Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen signed LB 937, which creates a 14-day waiting period before parents can withdraw a child from public school to homeschool if the family is currently under an active child welfare investigation. Nebraska joins California as the only states with a formal delay-to-withdraw provision tied to child welfare cases.

For most Nebraska homeschool families this won’t change anything. But it’s part of a growing trend worth watching: using child welfare frameworks as the entry point for broader homeschool oversight.

Stay Informed: Resources Worth Bookmarking

• HSLDA Legislation Tracker — active bills in all 50 states updated regularly
• Texas TEFA Program — Texas ESA information and application status
• Tennessee Department of Education — Education Freedom Scholarship updates
• Utah my529 — 529 plan guidance for homeschool expenses

We’ll keep bringing you these roundups every week so you have one place to check in on everything that matters for homeschool families across the country. If you heard about a law or program in your state that we didn’t cover, drop it in the comments or send us an email, we’d love to include it next week.

Sources: HSLDA, Tennessee Department of Education, Texas Comptroller, Nebraska Legislature, Connecticut General Assembly, U.S. Supreme Court, Saving For College, Education Week.