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As Fort Bend ISD prepares for a new school year, district officials are waiting to see how the new Texas Education Freedom Accounts affect enrollment.

The big picture: State lawmakers created the TEFA program in 2025, and accepted students will receive some funding for education opportunities that include: private school tuition and fees; tutoring and therapy; homeschooling; and other services.

Locally, Fort Bend ISD saw 8,429 students—the third highest in the state—apply for the TEFA program for the 2026-27 school year.

Zooming in: Over 2,700 private schools—including more than 40 Sugar Land-area schools—have been approved to accept TEFA funding alongside hundreds of tutoring groups, therapy centers and other service providers, per a map on the program website.

Stay tuned: Texas has the largest program waitlist in the nation with more than 121,000 eligible students waiting to join the program, according to the comptroller’s office.

Progress will resume on the Soldiers Field Extension and First Colony Roundabout Project after halting in December due to deficiencies.

What happened: At a July 21 meeting, Sugar Land City Council approved a takeover agreement with Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company as surety for the completion of the Soldiers Field Extension and First Colony Roundabout Project.

Amerisure will oversee the project progress by DG Medina Construction through its consultant JS Held LLC, which will administer the contract, coordinate with the city and monitor construction until completion, city officials said in an email.

About the project: The project will be completed according to the original plans, city officials said. 

The project scope includes:

• Extending Soldiers Field Drive to Hwy. 6 and adding a right-turn lane from Hwy. 6 to Soldiers Field Drive

• Removing the existing cul-de-sac on Soldiers Field Drive and reconstructing pavement

• Constructing a new roundabout at Soldiers Field Drive and First Colony Boulevard

Looking ahead: The takeover agreement establishes a new completion period of 223 calendar days beginning when the notice to proceed is issued. 

Lamar CISD students looking to continue their education beyond the standard classroom model will now have more opportunities with the district’s new career and technical education center this fall.

What to expect: District officials said the CTE center, located at 1155 Hartledge Road in Rosenberg, will give students access to specialized programs and industry-standard equipment aimed at furthering learning innovation and career preparation.

The 236,211-square-foot center—which will be used by 1,100 high school students districtwide in the first year—will offer hands-on learning experiences that meet workforce needs and educate students with career-ready skills, certifications and real-world experiences.

Some programs of study include:

• Architecture and construction
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Transportation, distribution and logistics
• Arts, audio-video technology and communications

Need to catch up on Community Impact’s coverage from last week? Check out six trending stories from the South Houston area from Aug. 3-7.

1. League City seeks to acquire Walter Hall Park from Galveston County

2. Pearland taco spot to close in August

3. What you need to know for back to school in Fort Bend ISD

4. Bakeries, breads, brand new tastes: Arôme’s traditional French galettes coming to Houston

5. Houston ISD students to begin 2026-27 school year Aug. 10

6. Tacodeli opens 3rd Greater Houston location in Katy