Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)
What is TEFA?
The Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program allows eligible Texas families to receive state-funded education dollars that can be used toward private school tuition and other approved educational expenses. The goal of TEFA is to give families greater flexibility and choice in how their children are educated.
TEFA funds are not loans, do not need to be repaid, and applying does not obligate a family to accept funds if awarded.
How to Apply for the TEFA
Applications for TEFA open February 4th, 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year via an online portal managed by Odyssey, the CEAO, (certified educational assistance organization).
Here's a simple step-by-step guide:
1. Sign Up for Updates: Visit the Texas Comptroller's TEFA page to receive notifications on the exact dates and requirements. For more information about TEFA, click here
2. Gather Documentation for completing TEFA Application: Prepare proof of residency, income (if applicable), and disability verification for priority tiers.
3. Tour Temple Christian School: Contact our admissions office or schedule a tour through our online form. Click Here.
4. New Student Admissions Testing: We require entrance testing for all new students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Students must meet our testing requirements to be accepted. Testing will be scheduled once an application is submitted to TCS.
5. Submit Online Application for TEFA: Access the Odyssey portal to complete the TEFA application, including child details and educational goals.
6. Await Selection for TEFA: Approved families will be notified and gain access to their digital account in the month of April 2026.
7. Complete Temple Christian School’s Online Application: Complete the online application and pay the application fee. Click Here. (District Code is TEMPLE). Our office will schedule new student testing at Temple for all students entering Kindergarten -grade 12.
8. Complete Temple Christian School’s Online Enrollment Agreement: Once accepted, you will be sent an enrollment email with instructions on setting up your payment plan and finalize the financial agreement and pay the enrollment fee.
9. Transfer Funds from TEFA to Temple: Once the funds are securely in your account, contact our business office to apply TEFA funds toward tuition, we'll guide you through the process. We will need a copy of your CEAO correspondence stating the amount of approved funds or a screenshot from your CEAO showing the amount of approved funds.
Note: Private schools like Temple maintain independent admissions standards separate from TEFA funding decisions. Therefore, students must meet Temple's admission requirements for acceptance.
TEFA Eligibility
The program does not have a hard income cutoff that automatically disqualifies families. Household income is only used to prioritize applications if demand exceeds available funding, not to determine whether a family can apply. For example, a family of four (2 parents, 2 children), $150,000 total income is still within the commonly referenced income ranges used for prioritization, and even families above that level are not automatically excluded. The most important thing for families to understand is simple: if you do not apply, you cannot receive TEFA funds, so when in doubt, applying is always encouraged.
To qualify for the program, a student must:
• Be a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully admitted into the United States.
• Be eligible to attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school, including children of a parent who is an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces, or eligible to enroll in a Texas public or open-enrollment charter school’s free prekindergarten program.
• Live in the state of Texas.
A student’s eligibility ends if they:
• Enroll full-time in a Texas public school or charter school in a manner in which the child will be counted toward the district's or school's average daily attendance for purposes of the allocation of funding under the Foundation School Program.
• Move out of state.
• Graduate from high school.
• Withdraw from the program.
• Are no longer eligible to attend or enroll in a school district or open-enrollment charter school or free prekindergarten program.
• Are found to have provided inaccurate information during the application process, or the child is declared ineligible for the program by the Comptroller.
TEFA Priority 1: Students with a Disability
Under the TEFA program, Priority 1 applicants include students with a documented disability. These students are given first consideration for funding during the application process.
A student qualifies as Priority 1 if they have a disability that is formally documented through one of the following:
• An Individualized Education Program (IEP) from a public school
• A Section 504 Plan
• A formal medical or educational diagnosis that meets TEFA eligibility requirements
Students in this category may receive enhanced funding amounts to help cover educational expenses, which can include:
• Tuition and fees at an approved private school
• Specialized instruction or therapy services
• Educational materials, curriculum, or adaptive technology
Because Priority 1 applicants are served first, families with a child who has a disability are strongly encouraged to apply, even if they are unsure whether they will qualify. TEFA is designed to give these families greater flexibility and choice in selecting the educational environment that best meets their child’s needs.
TEFA Prioritization or Approvals
If the number of eligible applicants exceeds available funding, available positions will be filled through a lottery process. Senate Bill 2 designates the following priority order:
Year 1
For the 2026-27 school year:
1. Children with a disability whose household income is at or below 500% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
2. Children from households with income at or below 200% of the FPL.
3. Children from households with income between 200% and 500% of the FPL.
4. Children from households at or above 500% of the FPL, prioritized by those who attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year (this category may not exceed 20% of the amount of money appropriated from the program fund for the school year).
Note: If a child is accepted for participation during an application period, any eligible sibling of that child who applies during the same application period is also accepted for participation during that application period.
The remaining eligible applicants that are not selected during the lottery will be put on a waitlist in the same priority order as above.
For the 2027-28 school year and beyond, applicants will first be prioritized in the following order and then will be prioritized within each group in the order stated above:
1. Siblings of participating children.
2. New eligible program applicants.
3. Prior program participants who ceased program participation due to enrollment in a public or charter school.
Though TEFA offers a potential funding opportunity, it is not guaranteed.
For this reason, Temple Christian School strongly recommends that families also apply for TCS financial aid, regardless of TEFA intentions. It is also possible that a student approved for TEFA funds is also eligible for Temple's Financial Aid Program. To apply, click here for more information and the application.
TEFA Qualifying Expenses
TEFA funds must be used exclusively for approved educational purposes. Families enrolled in accredited private schools Temple can apply the full award toward tuition and fees, with any remainder for other expenses.
Common qualifying expenses include:
• Tuition and Fees: Private school tuition
• Instructional Materials: Textbooks, curriculum, and uniforms
• Tutoring and Therapies: Academic support or special needs services
• Technology and Transportation: Computers, software, or travel to educational activities
All transactions occur through the secure Odyssey e-commerce marketplace for transparency and compliance. Annual audits ensure funds are used appropriately.
TEFA Funding Amounts
• Standard Award: $10,474 per child annually for most participants
• Enhanced for Special Needs: Up to $30,000 for students with disabilities
These amounts are deposited into a digital wallet for easy management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are answers to common questions based on official guidelines:
• When does the TEFA start? The TEFA applications are set to open February 4th, 2026, with funds becoming available for the 2026–27 school year.
• Can current Temple families apply for TEFA? Yes! Existing Temple students are eligible; however, they must meet the current priority tiers set by TEFA to qualify. We strongly encourage ALL families to apply for the TEFA program. Based on historical data from other similar state programs, we believe TEFA will become universal (available for all Texas students) within 3 - 5 years. Family income should not be a deterrent to the application process. The funds used to support TEFA are taken from public education tax dollars you already pay and will continue to pay regardless of your selection for the TEFA program. Because of TEFA’s tiered priority system, another student who could not otherwise afford a private school, will not “miss out” on any opportunity.
• Is there testing required? Temple will continue to maintain high-level standards for admissions. All new students are required to take Temple's new student admissions test and meet our current academic requirements to be accepted.
• What if we're not selected for the TEFA? Priority tiers maximize access, but you can reapply annually. We do encourage families to apply for Temple’s Financial Aid in the event you were not approved for TEFA.
• Who covers the difference between the amount awarded by TEFA and Temple's tuition cost? Individual families are responsible for paying the difference between the awarded TEFA amount and Temple's tuition. This remaining amount can be divided into 11 monthly installments (July-May), as outlined in our tuition and fees document.