Brighter Horizons Academy and Little Horizons Academy Seek Lawful Approval Under TEFA

March 11, 2026

Press Release
Garland, Texas 11 March 2026

Brighter Horizons Academy and Little Horizons Academy Seek Lawful Approval Under TEFA

Garland, TX 11 March 2026 – The Islamic Services Foundation (ISF), a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has formally requested that the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts issue a determination on its pending application for participation in the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program.

ISF operates two accredited private schools: Brighter Horizons Academy (1st-12th), and Little Horizons Academy (PK-KG). Both schools submitted complete applications for approval under Section 29.358 of the Texas Education Code on December 9, 2025.

Under Section 29.358(b), the Comptroller “shall approve” an education service provider that satisfies the statutory criteria. Both schools meet every requirement, including:

– Accreditation by a Texas Private School Accreditation Commission–recognized accrediting body

– Administration of nationally norm-referenced assessments

– Operation for the required statutory duration

Brighter Horizons Academy (BHA) & Little Horizons Academy (LHA) have neither received notice of any deficiency, request for additional documentation, nor formal denial.

“Brighter Horizons Academy and Little Horizons Academy have complied fully with the requirements established by the Legislature for participation in the TEFA program,” said Anas Aljumaily, President of the Islamic Services Foundation. “We are asking that the law be applied as written. Our institution has served Texas families for decades, and the parents we serve are Texas taxpayers who deserve the same opportunity as others to choose the school that is right for their children.”

BHA, founded in 1989, serves students in 1st-12th grade and maintains a 100% graduation rate. Its alumni have attended institutions including UT Austin, UTD, SMU, Texas A&M, Rice, University of Houston, MIT, and Yale, and have pursued careers in medicine, engineering, law, business, and public service. The school is recognized as an AP Honor School and maintains a dual-credit partnership with Dallas College. Little Horizons Academy, founded in 2023, provides pre-kindergarten and kindergarten education and currently serves 180 students.

More than 2,000 schools — including many faith-based institutions — have been approved to participate in TEFA. ISF seeks only what the statute provides: a lawful determination consistent with the criteria established by the Legislature. The statute sets objective requirements. When those requirements are met, approval is mandatory.

We ask to approve the applications of Brighter Horizons Academy and Little Horizons Academy in accordance with Section 29.358 of the Texas Education Code.

For media inquiries, please contact: Inquiries@islamicservices.org