TEFA

• Funds will be transferred into a Texas Education Freedom Account at predetermined intervals throughout the year. Families will then be able to approve payments from this account to cover certain education costs (private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, therapies, lunch, transportation, technology, etc.) through approved vendors (educational institutions, education service providers, etc.)
• Families do not have direct access to these funds, and the money cannot be withdrawn for cash.

Funds may be used for:

• Tuition and fees
• Curriculum and learning materials
• Private tutors and therapists
• Transportation and meals
• Technology (limited to 10% of funds)

1. Children with Disabilities

Children with a disability whose family income is at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Children with a disability include both children with an iep on file with TEA and children who submit a program-approved proof-of-disability form with their application.

2. Low-Income Families

Children whose family income is at or below 200% of the FPG, Children whose family income is between 201% and 500% of FPG

3. Everyone else

Students who move from public schools will be prioritized over currently enrolled private school students in this category only

Children are eligible to participate if they are U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the United States and are eligible to attend a Texas school district or open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program, including children of a parent who is an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces. The parent must be a Texas resident.

The amount depends on the child’s situation:
Private school students
State law sets the amount of the transfer at 85 percent of the statewide average amount of state and local funding per student in Texas public schools. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has determined the amount for the 2026-27 school year is $10,474 per child if the student attends an approved private school.

Students with disabilities who have an individualized education plan (IEP) on file with their school district
May receive more — up to $30,000 per year.

Homeschooled students
May receive up to $2,000 per year.

No. Participants in good standing stay in the program automatically. Families only need to confirm they want to continue.