FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nerd Academy Announces Decision Regarding ESA Participation for 2026–2027 School Year
Odessa, Texas — Nerd Academy has received multiple inquiries from parents and community members regarding whether the school will participate in the Texas Education Savings Account program next year.
After careful consideration, we have made the decision not to participate in the ESA program at this time.
This decision is rooted in two core principles: institutional independence and educational integrity.
Nerd Academy was founded as an alternative model, not as an extension of the traditional system. Our mission is literacy first. If a child cannot read fluently and confidently, nothing else matters. That focus requires flexibility. It requires the ability to slow down when mastery is not achieved. It requires freedom from pacing structures driven by external testing benchmarks.
While ESA funding may provide short-term financial assistance to some families, participation introduces regulatory variables that are still evolving. Government funding programs carry oversight, reporting requirements, and potential performance metrics that can change over time. As a young and growing institution, we are committed to protecting our autonomy and preserving the instructional model that defines us.
Additionally, we believe public schools, which serve the overwhelming majority of Texas students, must be fully and adequately funded. Nerd Academy exists as an independent solution to challenges related to overcrowding, literacy gaps, and system constraints. Accepting funds redirected from the public system does not align with our long-term position.
This decision is not a judgment on families who choose to pursue ESA options. Parents must make the best decision for their children. We respect that.
Our responsibility is to ensure that Nerd Academy remains mission-driven, literacy-focused, and structurally independent.
We will continue to:
- Prioritize early literacy and numeracy
- Maintain small class sizes
- Preserve curriculum pacing flexibility
- Operate free from external testing mandates that conflict with our instructional philosophy
For families who have questions about tuition, scholarships, or enrollment, we encourage direct conversations with our leadership team. Transparency remains a core value of our school.
Nerd Academy was built to be different. Protecting that difference matters.
For media inquiries or parent questions, please contact:
Abel Nunez
Co-Founder, Nerd Academy
thenerdacademy.com
(432) 271-6804