Apply from Feb 4 - Mar 17
Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) - Choose Catholic Schools
You are encouraged to apply for TEFA to get $10,000 or more toward a Catholic School or $2000 for homeschool students.
Starting in the 2026 school year, Texas will launch a brand-new Texas Education Freedom Accounts program with up to $1 billion in funding to help families cover educational expenses for students in PreK through 12th grade.
TEFA funds can be used to pay for private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, therapies, school lunch, transportation, school uniforms, technology (limited to 10% of funds received), and more.
You don't have to currently be in a Catholic school to apply. You can apply and then go to the school of your choice.
Online student applications open February 4, 2026 - March 17, 2026, on the Texas Education Freedom Accounts website educationfreedom.texas.gov
To learn more, visit choosecatholicschools.org/TEFA
Text is taken from choosecatholicschools.org/tefa
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Texas Education Freedom Accounts provide state funds that families can use for expenses such as private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, therapies, lunch, transportation, technology, and more.
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All Texas children can apply. 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. All eligible children are not guaranteed funding.
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Standard awarded accounts could be funded $10, 474 per year
Students with disabilities could get up to $30,000 annually based on their IEPs done by their school districts
Homeschooled students may receive up to $2,000 per year
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Applications open February 4, 2026 - March 17, 2026, for funds that will be available for the 2026–27 school year at the Texas Education Freedom Accounts website.
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There are four categories of prioritization for applicants:
Students with a disability (defined by Texas Educ. Code Sec. 29.003) whose family income is at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG)
Children whose family income is at or below 200% of the FPG
Children whose family income is between 201% and 500% of FPG
Everyone else, depending upon available funds. Students who move from public schools will be prioritized over currently enrolled private school students in this category only
For more eligibility information, please visit the Texas Education Freedom Accounts website
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The new Texas Education Freedom Accounts provide priority access to funds for children with special needs. To qualify for these funds, proof of eligibility to participate in a school district's special education program signed by one or more licensed professionals (licensed specialist in school psychology (LSSP)/school psychologist, educational diagnostician, or licensed or certified professional for a specific eligibility category) and an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) must be received before the application deadline for the TEFA. State law mandates that a public school district provide an IEP for any student seeking funding through the Texas Education Freedom Account, and the school district must finish the IEP in time for the student to apply for TEFA funds. (Education Code Sec. 29.3615)
Families may request evaluations from either the district that the child resides in or from the district where the private school is located.
Materials and evaluations done at the private school may be helpful for the district, so feel free to provide them.
The IEP does not have a time limit.
Out-of-state IEPs are acceptable.
To begin this process, visit: https://txcatholic.org/efa-how-to-get-an-iep-for-your-child/
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A private school is not subject to federal and state laws regarding the provision of educational services to a child with a disability in the same manner as a school district. Information regarding rights to which a child with a disability is entitled can be found at https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/individuals-disabilities/idea
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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.
If a child enrolls in the program after the beginning of the school year, the amount transferred is prorated based on the date of enrollment.
Any money remaining in a participating child’s account will be carried over to future years.
Funds in the account are not considered taxable income unless otherwise provided by federal or another state’s law.
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Parents must agree to:
Spend program money only for eligible expenses
Share the child's assessment results with Odyssey
Not sell an item purchased with program money and
Notify the Odyssey within 30 days of the child enrolling in public school, graduating from high school, or otherwise becoming ineligible to enroll in public school
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Approved educational expenses like:
Tuition and fees
Curriculum and learning materials
Private tutors and therapists
Transportation and meals
Technology (limited to 10% of funds)
NOT approved expenses:
Sports fees
Activity fees
Trip fees
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Learn about the advantages a Catholic education offers your child by downloading information on using Texas Education Freedom Account funds for your child’s education. Catholic School TEFA Information
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Texas Comptroller's webpage: Texas Education Freedom Accounts Program
The Comptroller's office has made it easy for different stakeholders to stay in the loop as implementation of the program progresses by setting up several email lists - click on the one(s) for which you wish to receive updates: