Comptroller Don Huffines announced new transparency measures for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, including a public data dashboard and an independent third-party audit.
The initiative is part of Huffines’ Taxpayer First Project, aiming to increase public access to information about state spending and strengthen oversight of taxpayer-funded programs.
“Texans deserve transparency to know how their tax dollars are being spent,” Huffines said. “This is another step to ensure Texans know where their hard-earned money is going.”
More than 100,000 students are enrolled in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, with another 100,000 on the waiting list.
An initial set of program data is set to be published this week, with an expanded interactive dashboard expected in the coming weeks.
The dashboard will include information on applications, funded accounts, waiting lists, household income distribution, and participation among students with disabilities.
It will also feature a map showing participation by school district and data on the program’s impact on public school enrollment.
According to the comptroller’s office, the dashboard will make program information publicly accessible while protecting students’ and families’ personal information.
A link to the agency’s whistleblower portal will allow Texans to anonymously report suspected fraud directly to investigators.
Huffines also announced plans for an independent, third-party audit of the program, separate from the ongoing review by the State Auditor’s Office.
According to the agency, preparations for the additional audit began shortly after Huffines took office this summer.
Combined with the comptroller’s internal oversight, the independent audit and State Auditor’s Office review will provide three separate layers of financial scrutiny and transparency.
The announcement follows several other Taxpayer First Project initiatives launched since August, including the creation of the Texas Fraud Investigation and Recovery Strike Team, expanded fraud reporting measures, and performance reviews of four school districts.
The comptroller’s office expects to release the school district performance review reports by the end of the year. Huffines’ office announced Tuesday that the on-site evaluation for Prosper ISD is complete.
