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(AUSTIN) — Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock today announced the first round of student awards for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program.

St. John Neumann Parish in Austin has experienced steady growth in young families in recent years, and that growth has helped inspire a new educational initiative. Light of Christ Catholic Montessori School will open on the parish campus in mid-August, offering a faith-centered Montessori environment designed to support the physical, social-emotional, and spiritual development of young children.

Classrooms. Gymnasiums. Libraries. Offices. These are all commonly found in schools everywhere, but two Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin have recently added something new to their campuses: prayer spaces. Available for faculty, staff and students to use, these sacred spaces are proving quite popular.

(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today that applications for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program will be extended through 11:59 p.m. CT, March 31.

(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today that more than 42,000 students applied for Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) on Feb. 4, the first day of the program’s launch. The total represents a nationwide record for most enrollments for day one of a new school choice program, surpassing Tennessee’s 33,000 student applications in 2025.

(AUSTIN) — Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced today the successful launch of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program. Shortly after noon, more than 20,000 students had applied for the largest year-one school choice initiative in the nation, including nearly 8,000 in the first hour.

The annual Saints & Scholars Gala is once again poised to shine a bright spotlight on the transformative power of Catholic education across the Diocese of Austin. On January 17, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Austin, educators, families, community leaders, and benefactors will gather for an evening that celebrates mission, honors service, and strengthens access to Catholic schools throughout Central Texas.

The conversation around education in Texas has reached a pivotal moment with the introduction of the state’s school choice program: Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA). This initiative recognizes what the Catholic Church has always affirmed: parents are the first and primary educators of their children, and every family deserves the ability to choose the learning environment that best nurtures their child’s growth.

The challenges of teacher retention can be felt in schools all over the country, whether they are Catholic, public, or charter. In the Diocese of Austin, we are tackling this challenge by infusing collaboration and support through the Classroom Learning Lab. The Classroom Learning Lab (CLL) brings a cohort of teachers together each year to observe each other’s teaching, self-reflect on their instructional practices, and participate in collegial discussions as a reminder that we are not alone as Catholic school educators.

In an earlier blog post in this faith-formation series, I presented a challenge to PK–12 Catholic school educators. The challenge is to implement a discipling model of education and formation in Catholic schools. The word, “discipling,” is a verb that means to mentor someone who desires to become a disciple of Jesus.

As we welcome the 2025–2026 school year across the Diocese of Austin, our hearts are filled with hope, excitement, and a deep sense of purpose.

We’re proud to share that St. Joseph Catholic School, Bryan, TX is featured in the latest issue of the National Catholic Educational Association's Momentum Magazine! This special highlight recognizes the incredible impact of Catholic education in the Brazos Valley and the strong faith-filled community at St. Joseph.

Most Reverend Garcia will be the sixth bishop of Austin. The installation date will be announced at a later time.

Congratulations, Bishop Louis Reicher Catholic School for being voted Best Preschool, Best Private Elementary School, Best Private High School in the Best of Waco awards hosted by the WACOAN!

Congratulations on reaching this milestone in your journey! As you graduate from our Catholic schools, know that you are stepping forward not only with knowledge but also with a foundation of faith, integrity and mission.

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin have embraced the inspiring theme “Made for Greatness” for the 2024–2025 academic year. As described by Pope Benedict XVI, “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort; you were made for greatness.” This quote encapsulates a call to purpose that challenges Catholics to live beyond ordinary standards, striving for a higher calling that reflects Christ’s mission. Pope Benedict’s words are a reminder that each person is endowed with unique gifts meant to serve both God and others. The path to greatness isn’t about fame or success, but about dedicating oneself to faith and service, following Christ’s example

Each January, supporters of our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin come together to celebrate the goodness and beauty of Catholic schools and to recognize the unsung heroes at each school who tirelessly support the school’s mission. This event is also an opportunity to raise tuition assistance funds, 100% of which goes back to our schools.

The Encountering Christ Capital Campaign was the Diocese of Austin’s commitment to fulfilling the mission to create a path for enriching discipleship within the diverse ministries of our communities. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Austin are one of the many ministries that will continue to benefit from the capital campaign for years to come. The Beacon of Hope Endowment was begun using money set aside from the Encountering Christ Campaign with a specific purpose of providing tuition assistance for families who would otherwise struggle to provide their children with a Catholic education.

The seven themes of Catholic social teaching are core components within the religion curriculum of Catholic schools throughout our country. But how do we integrate these components into an intentional series of lived experiences for our students so they will become more engaged, compassionate servant leaders after their time with us? Two years ago, the Office of Catholic Schools began designing social teaching experiences that build on one another throughout the years students are in Catholic schools. This alignment of experiences is an ongoing and ever-developing project that has allowed our diocese to create a Catholic social teaching vision for our students.

As the new academic year kicks off, we welcome back our students, dedicated faculty and supportive families to our Catholic schools. I always enjoy new school years, as it is a time of renewed enthusiasm, fresh beginnings, and a reaffirmation of our commitment to providing an exceptional Catholic education rooted in faith, service and community.