Texas Christian Education Alliance: Demand Validation Strategy
Date: December 28, 2025
Author: Gary Sheng
Purpose: Test the hypothesis that Christian parents in San Antonio are actively seeking alternative education pathways for their children, using a $100 Facebook ad spend to validate demand before investing in building solutions.
Executive Summary
Run a 1-week Facebook ad campaign targeting Christian parents in San Antonio, driving them to a quiz that assesses their situation and delivers a personalized report on TEFA funding options. The goal is to validate demand with minimal investment before committing resources to launching a Christian microschool.
Budget: $100 Timeline: 1 week Success Threshold: 25+ completed quizzes Key Deadline: February 4, 2026 (TEFA application opens)
The Hypothesis
Christian parents in San Antonio are interested in alternative education pathways for their children and would take action to learn about funding options (TEFA) for values-aligned schooling.
What we're testing:
- Is there latent demand for Christian alternative education?
- Are parents aware of TEFA funding ($10k standard / $30k IEP)?
- Will they trade contact info for personalized guidance?
Brand & Organization
Name: Texas Christian Education Alliance (TCEA)
Positioning: A free resource helping Texas Christian families navigate school choice and TEFA funding options.
Tone: Helpful, trustworthy, parent-focused. Not salesy. Not preachy.
Domain Options:
- txchristianeducation.org
- texaschristianeducation.org
Tech Stack:
- Full Stack: Replit (landing page + quiz logic)
- Report Generation: Gemini 2.0 Flash (or similar fast LLM)
- Email Delivery: Resend (premium account)
The Funnel
Facebook Ad → Landing Page → Quiz (8-10 questions) → Personalized Report via Email
Step 1: Facebook Ad
Targeting:
- Location: San Antonio, TX (25-mile radius)
- Age: 28-55
- Interests: Christianity, Christian parenting, homeschooling, private schools, family values, specific churches/denominations
- Behaviors: Parents with children ages 4-17
Ad Creative Options:
Option A (Question Hook):
"Texas is giving families up to $30,000 for education. Do you qualify?"
Take our free 2-minute quiz to find out which Christian school options fit your family—and how to access TEFA funding for Fall 2026.
[Take the Quiz →]
Option B (Pain Point):
"Frustrated with what your kids are learning in school?"
Texas families can now access $10,000-$30,000 for private Christian education. Find out your options.
Free personalized report based on your family's situation.
[Get Your Report →]
Option C (Opportunity Frame):
"New Texas law: Up to $30K for your child's education"
Christian families in San Antonio have more options than ever. Take our 2-minute quiz to see what fits your family.
[See Your Options →]
Ad Format: Single image or simple video (talking head explaining the opportunity)
Budget Allocation:
- $100 total over 5-7 days
- Start with Option A, pivot if CTR < 1%
Step 2: Landing Page
URL: txchristianeducation.org (or chosen domain)
Headline:
Texas Families Can Now Access Up to $30,000 for Christian Education. What Are Your Options?
Subheadline:
Take our free 2-minute quiz. Get a personalized report on TEFA funding and school options for your family.
Body Copy:
Starting Fall 2026, Texas families can use TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Account) funding for private education:
- $10,000/year for most families
- $30,000/year for students with learning differences (IEP/special needs)
But navigating your options can be overwhelming. Which schools accept TEFA? What if no existing school fits your values? What about microschools?
We'll help you figure it out—for free.
Take our quick quiz and get a personalized report based on your child's needs, your location, and your family's values.
CTA Button: "Take the 2-Minute Quiz →"
Trust Elements:
- "No spam. No sales calls. Just helpful information."
- "Your information stays private."
Step 3: Quiz Questions
Platform: Custom quiz built in Replit
Quiz Flow:
Q1: What grade will your child be entering in Fall 2026?
- Pre-K / Kindergarten
- 1st - 3rd Grade
- 4th - 6th Grade
- 7th - 8th Grade
- 9th - 12th Grade
- Multiple children (different grades)
Q2: Does your child have an IEP, 504 plan, or documented learning difference?
- Yes, they have an IEP or 504 plan
- Yes, they have learning challenges but no formal plan
- No
- I'm not sure
[Branching: If yes → flag for Special Needs track, $30k messaging]
Q3: What type of school does your child currently attend?
- Public school
- Charter school
- Private school (non-religious)
- Private Christian school
- Catholic school
- Homeschool
- Other (allow them to fill this in)
Q4: What's your zip code? [Open text field]
[Used for: geographic targeting, future school placement]
Q5: How important is Christian faith formation in your child's education?
- Essential - it should be central to everything
- Very important - but academics come first
- Somewhat important - I want values but not heavy religious instruction
- Not a priority
Q6: Does your family regularly attend church?
- Yes, weekly or more
- Yes, a few times a month
- Occasionally (holidays, special occasions)
- Rarely or never
Q7: What church or denomination, if any, does your family affiliate with? [Open text field, optional]
[Used for: understanding religious background, potential church partnerships]
Q8: What matters most to you in choosing a school? (Select top 2)
- Strong academics / college prep
- Christian worldview and faith formation
- Small class sizes / individual attention
- Support for learning differences
- Affordable cost / financial assistance
- Flexible schedule
- Community and relationships
Q9: Have you heard of Texas TEFA funding before today?
- Yes, I know about it
- I've heard of it but don't know details
- No, this is new to me
Q10: Where should we send your personalized report?
- First and Last Name: [text]
- Email: [text]
- Phone: [text]
Step 4: Personalized Reports
Based on quiz answers, deliver one of three report tracks via email:
Track 1: Special Needs Christian Microschool Trigger: Q2 = IEP/504 or learning challenges
Report Contents:
- Explanation of $30,000 TEFA funding for IEP students
- What a Christian special needs microschool looks like
- Why small settings often work better for learning differences
- Current options in San Antonio (if any exist)
- "New microschools launching Fall 2026" teaser
- Next steps: Join waitlist / schedule call to learn more
Track 2: Christian Microschool (Standard) Trigger: Q2 = No IEP, AND Q8 includes "small class sizes" or "individual attention" or "Christian worldview"
Report Contents:
- Explanation of $10,000 TEFA funding
- What a Christian microschool is (small, personalized, faith-integrated)
- Benefits vs. traditional private school
- Current options in San Antonio
- "New microschools launching Fall 2026" teaser
- Next steps: Join waitlist / schedule call
Track 3: Existing Christian Private Schools Trigger: Default / preference for traditional structure
Report Contents:
- Explanation of $10,000 TEFA funding (or $30k if IEP)
- List of established Christian private schools in San Antonio
- How to evaluate fit (academics, denomination, cost)
- Questions to ask during tours
- TEFA application timeline and process
- Next steps: Links to school directories, application deadlines
Success Metrics
| Metric | Weak Signal | Moderate | Strong Signal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz Completions | <10 | 10-25 | 25+ |
| Cost per Completion | >$10 | $4-10 | <$4 |
| IEP/Special Needs % | <10% | 10-20% | 20%+ |
| "Essential" faith formation | <30% | 30-50% | 50%+ |
Primary Success Threshold: 25+ completed quizzes in $100 spend
Secondary Signals:
- High % of IEP families = validates special needs microschool thesis
- High % "never heard of TEFA" = information gap opportunity
- High % weekly church attendance = warm leads for church partnerships
What Success Unlocks
If 25+ completions:
- Present data to Ida Villavicencio: "X families in San Antonio want this. Here's their profile."
- Present to Mike Ajouz: "Validated demand with $100. Here's the pilot."
- Follow up with quiz respondents: invite to webinar or waitlist for Fall 2026 microschool
- Approach churches in high-response zip codes about hosting
If <10 completions:
- Test different ad creative/hook
- Expand targeting (other Texas cities?)
- Reconsider whether Facebook is right channel (maybe church partnerships first?)
Timeline
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Dec 29-30 | Purchase domain, set up landing page, build quiz in Tally |
| Dec 31 | Create ad creative, set up Facebook campaign |
| Jan 1-7 | Run ads ($100 over 7 days) |
| Jan 8 | Analyze results, compile report |
| Jan 9+ | Follow up with leads, present data to Ida/Mike |
| Feb 4 | TEFA applications open - warm leads ready to apply |
Costs
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Domain (1 year) | ~$12 |
| Replit | Free tier |
| Resend | Already subscribed |
| Facebook ads | $100 |
| Total | ~$112 |
Open Questions
- Report creation: Who writes the 3 personalized reports? (Gary first draft, refine with Ida later?)
- Follow-up capacity: If 50 people want to "schedule a call," who takes those calls?
- Microschool reality: Is there actually a Fall 2026 microschool to point people toward, or is this purely demand validation?
- Church partnerships: Should we reach out to San Antonio churches in parallel to amplify organic reach?
Appendix: TEFA Quick Facts
- Program: Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA)
- Launch: Fall 2026-2027 school year
- Application Opens: February 4, 2026
- Standard Amount: ~$10,000/year per student
- IEP/Special Needs Amount: ~$30,000/year per student
- Eligible Uses: Private school tuition, microschool tuition, approved educational expenses
- Requirement: Must use at approved/accredited provider
"Run cheap experiments before dedicating your life to something." — Marina Onopriichuk, Dec 28, 2025