832-544-1140Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)
TEFA Explained (Parents • Private Schools • Providers/Vendors)
Attorney Advertising. This page is provided by D’Amico Law PLLC (a private law firm). Attorney Evan E. D’Amico is located in Sugar Land, Texas and serves Greater Houston and Texas statewide. Not affiliated with the State of Texas, TEA, or any TEFA/ESA program administrator. Informational only; not legal advice.
Family apply window: Feb 4 – Mar 31, 2026
Funding notices: April 2026
Funds available: Jul 1 / Oct 1 / Apr 1
TEFA links (click to expand)
- Texas Education Freedom Accounts (official program site)
- Participating School Finder (official tool)
- Parent Application Prep Checklist (official PDF)
- Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) — bill text (official PDF)
- TEA guidance: TEFA + children with disabilities (official PDF)
- TEA Special Education evaluation timeline (official)
- TEPSAC (private school accreditation reference)
- Federal Poverty Guidelines (HHS/ASPE)
- Comptroller rollout update (official press release, Dec 22, 2025)
Start here (2 minutes)
If you do only 3 things today:
- Download the official Parent Prep Checklist and gather documents now.
- If disability funding matters: start the evaluation/IEP process early (timelines run in school days).
- Pick your path: private school vs homeschool, and confirm your school/providers are (or will be) TEFA-approved.
I’m a Parent
- Gather documents (checklist PDF)
- Confirm your school via the School Finder
- If needed: plan for IEP timing and services
I’m a Private School
- Confirm accreditation + 2-year operation requirement
- Prepare assessment plan (grades 3–12)
- Set up enrollment confirmation workflow
I’m a Provider/Vendor
- Confirm you can transact in Texas
- Prepare documentation + policies (billing/refunds)
Quick facts
Key dates
- Apply: Feb 4 – Mar 31, 2026
- Notifications: begin early April 2026
- Funding available: Jul 1 (≥25%), Oct 1 (≥50%), Apr 1 (remainder)
Award amounts (2026–27)
- Private school / eligible pre-K/K: $10,474
- Private school + disability: up to $30,000 (IEP on file with TEA by end of application period)
- Homeschool / other eligible students: $2,000
Amounts can change by school year; verify on the official TEFA site.
3 “don’t mess this up” rules
- Use funds only for approved expenses via the marketplace
- Funds can’t pay a family member
- Computer hardware/software is capped (10% of yearly funding)
Approved expenses (snapshot)
This is a plain-English snapshot; the official list controls.
Educational services/materials
- Private school tuition & fees; certain higher-ed / online courses / approved credential programs
- Textbooks & instructional materials
- Required uniforms
- Fees for certain district classes that don’t generate public-school ADA funding
Other approved expenses
- Academic assessments
- Private tutoring
- Transportation to/from approved providers
- Educational therapies not covered by government benefits (e.g., Medicaid)
- Meals provided by a private school
For Parents
Eligibility (high level)
- Child is a U.S. citizen/national or lawfully admitted
- Child is eligible to attend a Texas public/charter school (or eligible for public/charter pre-K/K)
- Child resides in Texas
- Important: if eligible applicants exceed funding, acceptance is by lottery with prioritization
Prioritization (Year 1, simplified)
- Disability + household income ≤500% FPL
- Household income ≤200% FPL
- Household income 200%–500% FPL
- Household income ≥500% FPL (capped category)
For “disability” prioritization, the official definition includes IEP-on-file and (for priority only) an approved proof-of-disability form.
What you’ll need to apply
- Parent SSN or ITIN
- Child SSN
- Form 1040 (2024 or 2025)
- Texas driver’s license/state ID (or alternate proof if it can’t be verified)
- If child SSN can’t be verified: lawful-status documentation
Disability funding (what actually matters)
- Up to $30,000 is tied to a Texas IEP on file with TEA by the end of the application period.
- A child can be prioritized as “disability” using the official prioritization definition—but increased funding is tied to IEP-on-file.
- A child does not have to enroll in public school to receive a special-education evaluation (TEA guidance).
Timing note: TEA’s standard timeline is up to 45 school days to complete the written evaluation report after consent, and the ARD meeting is generally within 30 calendar days after the report (with special rules around summer). Verify the timeline on TEA’s official page.
Want a clear plan? If you want help with documents, eligibility, disability-funding strategy, or school/provider issues, you can schedule a TEFA consult.
For Private Schools (and approved pre-K/K programs)
Approval requirements (official high-level)
- School must be located in Texas
- Accredited by TEPSAC-recognized accreditor or a TEA-recognized accreditor
- Proven operator: successfully run a campus for at least 2 years
- Annually administer a nationally norm-referenced assessment to participating students in grades 3–12
- Applications accepted on a rolling basis (initial window opened Dec 9, 2025)
School “readiness” checklist (practical)
- Point person for TEFA enrollment confirmations (parents indicate the school; schools confirm enrollment)
- Clear tuition/fees + refund/withdrawal policy (so parents understand costs and timing)
- Assessment logistics for grades 3–12 (what test, when, how you’ll track participating students)
- Parent communication: what you provide vs what you don’t (especially special-education services)
Special-education notice: private schools do not have the same legal obligations as public districts; families should confirm what services the school will (and won’t) provide.
School counsel support: participation readiness, policies, enrollment-confirmation workflows, vendor contracting, and compliance risk review.
Talk to us.
For Providers / Vendors
High level overview
- TEFA marketplace includes services/materials like tutoring, therapies, instructional materials, and more
- Currently accepting applications from PDSES vendors; other providers open in early 2026
- Applications are rolling
- Approved vendors must have the right to transact business in Texas and agree to comply with program requirements
Vendor “don’t get delayed” checklist
- Texas business status: entity/assumed name registrations as needed
- Clean pricing, invoicing, refunds/cancellations (written, consistent)
- Recordkeeping (keep what you would want in an audit)
- Marketing language: accurate, no “guarantees,” and consistent with TEFA rules
Fast FAQ (official-leaning answers)
Is TEFA first-come, first-served?
No. If applications exceed funding, selection is by lottery with prioritization categories.
Do families reapply every year?
No. Participants who remain in good standing generally stay in the program and confirm continuation.
If one child is accepted, are siblings accepted?
For the same application period, eligible siblings of an accepted child are also accepted (per the official TEFA site).
Can TEFA funds be used for online or out-of-state programs?
Yes—if the provider applies for approval and is accepted into the program.
How is the program monitored?
The Comptroller contracts for account/eligibility audits at least annually, and the State Auditor also performs periodic audits.
How we can help with legal support
Parents
- Application readiness + document strategy
- Disability funding + IEP timing/gameplan
- Eligibility issues, denials, and compliance guidance
Private Schools
- Participation readiness + policies
- Enrollment confirmation workflows
- Vendor contracting + risk management
Providers/Vendors
- Marketplace enrollment + documentation
- Contracts, refunds, billing controls
- Marketing language & compliance review