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Quick answer
There is no income limit to apply for TEFA for kindergarten to 12th grade. A child can take part if they are a US citizen, national or lawfully present, could attend a Texas public school, and the family lives in Texas. Income only sets the order of awards when there is not enough money for everyone. For 2026-27, a TEFA account holds $10,474 for a child at a participating private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other settings, according to the Texas Comptroller. A child with a disability at a participating private school also gets their district’s IEP amount on top of the base. In that case your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most get less.
How much TEFA will my child get, and what tier are we?
Answer four questions to get an estimate of your child’s 2026-27 amount and priority tier. The calculator uses the Comptroller’s published amounts and income limits, and the full tables are further down this guide. It is not an award or an official decision: only the Texas Comptroller and Odyssey decide eligibility, tier and amount, and your official amount appears in your Odyssey account.
Loading the TEFA calculator. If it does not appear, use the amount and income tables below.
Who can get TEFA?
According to the Comptroller, your child can take part in TEFA if you can show all of these:
- Your child is a US citizen or national, or lawfully admitted to the US.
- Your child could attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school, or its pre-K program. For pre-K, your child must be at least 3, and no older than 5, by September 1.
- Your family lives in Texas. At least one parent must be a Texas resident. Active-duty military families can use orders placing them in Texas for the school year.
Your child can be enrolled in a public or charter school when you apply, and waitlisted students may stay enrolled while they wait. Your child cannot receive TEFA funding while enrolled in public school.
Only a parent can apply: a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act for the child. One application per household covers all your children. Applications are not first come, first served, so applying on the first or last day does not change your chances.
What are the TEFA income limits?
For kindergarten to 12th grade, income sets your child’s priority tier. It does not decide whether your child can apply. The Comptroller published these figures, titled “2026 Federal Poverty Level in Texas”, in its Parent Application Guide:
| Household size | 100% FPL | 200% FPL | 500% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $31,920 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $43,280 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $54,640 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $66,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $77,360 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $88,720 | $221,800 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $100,080 | $250,200 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $111,440 | $278,600 |
| Each extra person | +$5,680 | +$11,360 | +$28,400 |
TEFA measures income as federal adjusted gross income (AGI): the AGI of the parents, or of the parent who can claim the child. There is no asset test. For 2026-27 you needed a Form 1040 for tax year 2024 or 2025 claiming your child as a dependent, and the household size on your application should match it. Pay stubs, W-2s and benefit letters were not accepted. Federal poverty guidelines are set each year by the US Department of Health and Human Services, so the 2027-28 figures may differ.
How do the TEFA tiers work?
Tiers set the order of awards when there are more applicants than funding. Within each tier, a random lottery sets the order. For 2026-27, state law set these tiers:
| Tier | Who is in it | Family of four (2026 figures) | Eligible applicants (July 29, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Children with a disability, household at or below 500% FPL | $165,000 or less | 29,414 |
| Tier 2 | Household at or below 200% FPL | $66,000 or less | 79,652 |
| Tier 3 | Household above 200% and below 500% FPL | Above $66,000 and below $165,000 | 72,644 |
| Tier 4(a) | At or above 500% FPL, and attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year | $165,000 or more | 13,242 |
| Tier 4(b), sometimes called Tier 5 | At or above 500% FPL, all others | $165,000 or more | 53,760 |
Applicant counts are from the Comptroller’s Annual Demographic Report. Tier 4 covers both 4(a) and 4(b). The Comptroller says Tier 4(b) “may sometimes be referred to as Tier 5”, and Odyssey, the company that runs the portal, uses Tier 4 and Tier 5. This is the 90% rule: within Tier 4, children who spent at least 90% of the prior school year in a Texas public or charter school come first. State law also limits Tier 4 spending to 20% of the year’s program funding.
Three more rules shape the order:
- A disability above 500% FPL means Tier 4. A child with a disability in a household above 500% FPL is placed in Tier 4, not Tier 1.
- Tier 1 needs proof of disability. That means an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) when applications close, or program-approved proof such as the TEFA Disability Certification Form.
- Siblings move together. Siblings are placed with the household member in the highest tier and best lottery position. If one child is accepted, every eligible sibling who applied in the same period is accepted too.
As of October 1, 2026, about 6 in 10 participating students (62%) had household income at or below 200% FPL, and 18% had a documented disability, according to the Comptroller’s participant fact sheet.
Who can get TEFA for pre-K?
Pre-K children must be at least 3, and no older than 5, by September 1, and must also meet the criteria for free public pre-K. The Comptroller gives these routes:
- Your child cannot speak and understand English
- Household income below 185% of the federal poverty level, or your family receives SNAP or TANF
- Your child is homeless
- Your child’s parent is on active duty in the military, or was injured or killed on active duty
- Your child is in foster care now or was in the past
- Your child’s parent received a Star of Texas Award
- Your child’s parent is a public school classroom teacher in a district that offers free pre-K
Odyssey’s help center words the income route as “at or below” 185%, and the Comptroller’s guide does not print a dollar figure for it. Odyssey also says being in Early Childhood Special Education does not meet the pre-K criteria by itself. A child who turns 5 by September 1 can attend pre-K or kindergarten, and pre-K children can take part in a homeschool setting.
Why are some TEFA applications found ineligible, and can you appeal?
About 25,500 applicants were found ineligible in 2026-27, according to the Comptroller. The most common reasons were:
- The child did not meet the narrower pre-K criteria.
- Household income could not be confirmed.
- Citizenship or lawful presence could not be confirmed.
- Texas residency could not be confirmed.
For 2026-27, families needed a Texas driver license or state ID (or a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, voter registration card, government letter or notarized affidavit), a parent Social Security number or ITIN, the child’s Social Security number or another lawful-presence document, and the Form 1040.
Odyssey’s deadlines for appealing spring 2026 ineligibility, award and waitlist decisions have passed. The appeal still open is the Public School Enrollment Appeal, due November 2, 2026, according to Odyssey’s appeals page. If it applies to you, the option appears in your Odyssey account: open the Student Profile page and select Complete appeal. You do not need to email anyone first. Appeals cannot be used to add missing information or to get exceptions to deadlines.
How much is TEFA for 2026-27?
The amount depends on where your child learns and, for private school students, on whether your child has a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. These are the Comptroller’s 2026-27 amounts, as of October 2026:
| Where your child learns | Amount per year (2026-27) | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Participating private school (including participating private pre-K and kindergarten) | $10,474 | Three installments: 25%, 25%, then 50% |
| Participating private school, with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA | $10,474 plus your district’s IEP amount. Your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most get less. | Private school installments |
| Homeschool or other non-public setting | $2,000 | All at once |
| Homeschool or other, child has a disability or IEP | $2,000 | All at once |
State law sets the private school amount at 85% of the estimated statewide average state and local funding per student, as calculated by TEA, and TEA set it at $10,474 for 2026-27. The $2,000 is a cap written into the law for homeschool and other settings. Money paid into your child’s account is not taxable income to you, unless federal law or another state’s law says otherwise, and Odyssey may not charge you any fee for using the account.
In August 2026, about 67,000 participating students were at private schools (including about 7,300 with extra IEP funding) and more than 42,000 were in homeschool or other settings, according to the Comptroller’s budget request to the Legislature. In total, 116,574 students were taking part as of October 1, 2026.
Why do some children with a disability get more?
Only one group gets more than $10,474: students with a disability at a participating private school who have a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. Their account gets the base amount plus what their school district would receive for them under that IEP.
The extra amount depends on two things: the district where you live, and the instructional arrangement (setting) code on the IEP. TEA publishes a district-by-code funding table for 2026-27. The IEP amount in your award notice can change once your school district of residence is confirmed. In August 2026, about 7,300 students with documented disabilities at participating private schools received an average of over $5,000 on top of the base, according to the Comptroller’s budget request.
Four rules catch families out:
- Homeschool or other means $2,000, even with an IEP. The extra IEP funding is only for private school students.
- Some proof of disability gives priority only. The Disability Certification Form, an evaluation (FIIE), an out-of-state IEP or an expired IEP can move your child up the line, but none of them adds money.
- The IEP must be current and on file in time. For 2026-27 it had to be a Texas IEP from 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, on file with TEA by the end of the application period.
- Sources differ above 500% FPL. The Comptroller says a Tier 4 child with an IEP may still receive the extra amount if awarded. Odyssey’s help center says it is limited to households at or below 500% FPL. Ask Odyssey to confirm your child’s amount.
If your child has a current Texas IEP but got no extra funding, the program may not have matched it with TEA’s records. The Comptroller says to start an appeal through Odyssey, not TEA or your district, and give details to help locate the IEP. Our guide to TEFA for students with disabilities explains the IEP code and the funding table step by step.
When does the money arrive in your account?
Homeschool families get the full amount in one payment. Private school families get it in three installments, as long as the child stays enrolled in a participating private school.
| Payment | Private school | Homeschool or other |
|---|---|---|
| First | 25% on July 1, 2026, or mid-August if the school confirmed enrollment by July 31 | The full $2,000 on July 1, 2026 if you opted in by June 15, or mid-August if you opted in by July 31 |
| Second | 25% on October 1, 2026 | None |
| Third | 50% on February 1, 2027 | None |
Odyssey says funding dates can change based on guidance from the Comptroller, so watch your dashboard. An award amount on your student card does not mean the money is ready to spend. You must first opt your child in. For private school, the school also confirms enrollment and enters tuition and fees, which you then confirm in the portal. Odyssey cannot fund the account until those steps are done.
Awarded late in the year? The amount depends on when you finish opting in and confirming enrollment, according to the Comptroller’s funding timeline:
- Confirmed by September 15, 2026: 100% of the award.
- Confirmed after September 15, 2026: 75% of the award.
- Confirmed after January 15, 2027: 50% of the award.
Families awarded from the waitlist have four weeks from the award date to opt in and confirm. Awards reached Tier 3 in August 2026: nearly 15,000 the week of August 11 and nearly 4,500 more the week of August 28. The Comptroller says it will keep issuing awards from the waitlist until all available funding is allocated. More than 100,000 students were still on the waitlist in August 2026, according to the Comptroller’s August 13 release, and a waitlist position does not guarantee an award.
How far does TEFA go for tutoring and other costs?
You can spend the whole balance on approved expenses from approved vendors in the Odyssey marketplace. These limits shape how far the money goes:
- Tutoring has no separate cap. State law caps only technology. Tutoring is limited only by your child’s balance.
- Technology is capped at 10% of the year’s account amount. On a $2,000 homeschool account, that is $200.
- Odyssey caps musical instruments at $1,200 in the marketplace.
- Every purchase goes through the marketplace. There is no cash and no reimbursement for purchases made anywhere else.
- Vendors cannot charge you more. A provider may not charge a TEFA child more than its standard price.
You can pay out of pocket for anything the account does not cover. For the full list, read what TEFA can pay for, and for buying lessons, how to pay for tutoring with TEFA.
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Can you change settings and get a different amount?
Not upward in 2026-27. The setting you chose locked when applications closed on March 31, 2026.
After that, families could move from private school down to homeschool or other ($2,000), but not from homeschool up to private school. There is also no extra funding in 2026-27 for a later setting change or a new IEP. Your child can change approved private schools during the year: select the new school in the Odyssey Parent Portal, and Odyssey redirects future payments. Whether families can switch from homeschool to private school, or add a new IEP, for 2027-28 has not been announced.
What happens to money you don’t spend?
It rolls over to next year, as long as your child stays in the program.
Under the Comptroller’s rules, money left at the end of a program year (July 1 to June 30) carries forward if your child is still eligible, you have given notice that your child will continue, and your child has not been declared ineligible. Funds cannot be moved to a brother or sister. If your child leaves the program, the account closes once pending payments clear and the balance goes back to the state. Refunds from a school or vendor always go back to your child’s account, never to you.
What do we know about eligibility and amounts for 2027-28?
The basic rules are in state law, but 2027-28 dates and dollar figures had not been announced as of October 7, 2026. This is what is known:
- Current families do not reapply. Families in good standing confirm they want to continue and, where positions are available, are admitted before new applications are approved.
- The order of groups changes. From year 2, applicants are grouped first as siblings of participating children, then new applicants, then prior participants who left for public or charter school. Tiers 1 to 4 apply within each group.
- Waitlist positions do not carry over. Families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again.
- TEA sets the new private school amount by January 15, 2027.
- The Legislature sets total funding. The current $1 billion limit covers only the two years ending August 31, 2027. The Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request asks for $1,037,812,500 a year, plus a $113 million a year exceptional item.
- Income figures may change. Federal poverty guidelines are updated each year.
To hear when dates are set, join the 2027-28 interest list on educationfreedom.texas.gov. More than 44,000 children’s parents had joined by August 2026, according to the Comptroller’s budget request. See TEFA key dates, waitlist and renewal for what we know so far.
Bottom line
Any Texas child in kindergarten to 12th grade who is lawfully present and could attend a Texas public school can apply for TEFA, whatever the family earns. Income and disability set the order of awards. In 2026-27 the account holds $10,474 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other, with more for private school students with a current Texas IEP on file. Watch your Odyssey dashboard for installments, spend through the marketplace, and join the interest list for 2027-28.
How this guide was written
Written by Tutero’s Texas team. Tutero is an approved TEFA vendor. We check our guides against the Texas Comptroller’s official TEFA rules and program documents, and the Odyssey help center. Rules can change, so confirm details in your TEFA account before you buy.
Related guides: What TEFA can pay for, TEFA for students with disabilities and TEFA key dates, waitlist and renewal.
Your next step
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“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”
JillMom of Emma, 6th gradeQuick answer
There is no income limit to apply for TEFA for kindergarten to 12th grade. A child can take part if they are a US citizen, national or lawfully present, could attend a Texas public school, and the family lives in Texas. Income only sets the order of awards when there is not enough money for everyone. For 2026-27, a TEFA account holds $10,474 for a child at a participating private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other settings, according to the Texas Comptroller. A child with a disability at a participating private school also gets their district’s IEP amount on top of the base. In that case your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most get less.
How much TEFA will my child get, and what tier are we?
Answer four questions to get an estimate of your child’s 2026-27 amount and priority tier. The calculator uses the Comptroller’s published amounts and income limits, and the full tables are further down this guide. It is not an award or an official decision: only the Texas Comptroller and Odyssey decide eligibility, tier and amount, and your official amount appears in your Odyssey account.
Loading the TEFA calculator. If it does not appear, use the amount and income tables below.
Who can get TEFA?
According to the Comptroller, your child can take part in TEFA if you can show all of these:
- Your child is a US citizen or national, or lawfully admitted to the US.
- Your child could attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school, or its pre-K program. For pre-K, your child must be at least 3, and no older than 5, by September 1.
- Your family lives in Texas. At least one parent must be a Texas resident. Active-duty military families can use orders placing them in Texas for the school year.
Your child can be enrolled in a public or charter school when you apply, and waitlisted students may stay enrolled while they wait. Your child cannot receive TEFA funding while enrolled in public school.
Only a parent can apply: a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act for the child. One application per household covers all your children. Applications are not first come, first served, so applying on the first or last day does not change your chances.
What are the TEFA income limits?
For kindergarten to 12th grade, income sets your child’s priority tier. It does not decide whether your child can apply. The Comptroller published these figures, titled “2026 Federal Poverty Level in Texas”, in its Parent Application Guide:
| Household size | 100% FPL | 200% FPL | 500% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $31,920 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $43,280 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $54,640 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $66,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $77,360 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $88,720 | $221,800 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $100,080 | $250,200 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $111,440 | $278,600 |
| Each extra person | +$5,680 | +$11,360 | +$28,400 |
TEFA measures income as federal adjusted gross income (AGI): the AGI of the parents, or of the parent who can claim the child. There is no asset test. For 2026-27 you needed a Form 1040 for tax year 2024 or 2025 claiming your child as a dependent, and the household size on your application should match it. Pay stubs, W-2s and benefit letters were not accepted. Federal poverty guidelines are set each year by the US Department of Health and Human Services, so the 2027-28 figures may differ.
How do the TEFA tiers work?
Tiers set the order of awards when there are more applicants than funding. Within each tier, a random lottery sets the order. For 2026-27, state law set these tiers:
| Tier | Who is in it | Family of four (2026 figures) | Eligible applicants (July 29, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Children with a disability, household at or below 500% FPL | $165,000 or less | 29,414 |
| Tier 2 | Household at or below 200% FPL | $66,000 or less | 79,652 |
| Tier 3 | Household above 200% and below 500% FPL | Above $66,000 and below $165,000 | 72,644 |
| Tier 4(a) | At or above 500% FPL, and attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year | $165,000 or more | 13,242 |
| Tier 4(b), sometimes called Tier 5 | At or above 500% FPL, all others | $165,000 or more | 53,760 |
Applicant counts are from the Comptroller’s Annual Demographic Report. Tier 4 covers both 4(a) and 4(b). The Comptroller says Tier 4(b) “may sometimes be referred to as Tier 5”, and Odyssey, the company that runs the portal, uses Tier 4 and Tier 5. This is the 90% rule: within Tier 4, children who spent at least 90% of the prior school year in a Texas public or charter school come first. State law also limits Tier 4 spending to 20% of the year’s program funding.
Three more rules shape the order:
- A disability above 500% FPL means Tier 4. A child with a disability in a household above 500% FPL is placed in Tier 4, not Tier 1.
- Tier 1 needs proof of disability. That means an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) when applications close, or program-approved proof such as the TEFA Disability Certification Form.
- Siblings move together. Siblings are placed with the household member in the highest tier and best lottery position. If one child is accepted, every eligible sibling who applied in the same period is accepted too.
As of October 1, 2026, about 6 in 10 participating students (62%) had household income at or below 200% FPL, and 18% had a documented disability, according to the Comptroller’s participant fact sheet.
Who can get TEFA for pre-K?
Pre-K children must be at least 3, and no older than 5, by September 1, and must also meet the criteria for free public pre-K. The Comptroller gives these routes:
- Your child cannot speak and understand English
- Household income below 185% of the federal poverty level, or your family receives SNAP or TANF
- Your child is homeless
- Your child’s parent is on active duty in the military, or was injured or killed on active duty
- Your child is in foster care now or was in the past
- Your child’s parent received a Star of Texas Award
- Your child’s parent is a public school classroom teacher in a district that offers free pre-K
Odyssey’s help center words the income route as “at or below” 185%, and the Comptroller’s guide does not print a dollar figure for it. Odyssey also says being in Early Childhood Special Education does not meet the pre-K criteria by itself. A child who turns 5 by September 1 can attend pre-K or kindergarten, and pre-K children can take part in a homeschool setting.
Why are some TEFA applications found ineligible, and can you appeal?
About 25,500 applicants were found ineligible in 2026-27, according to the Comptroller. The most common reasons were:
- The child did not meet the narrower pre-K criteria.
- Household income could not be confirmed.
- Citizenship or lawful presence could not be confirmed.
- Texas residency could not be confirmed.
For 2026-27, families needed a Texas driver license or state ID (or a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, voter registration card, government letter or notarized affidavit), a parent Social Security number or ITIN, the child’s Social Security number or another lawful-presence document, and the Form 1040.
Odyssey’s deadlines for appealing spring 2026 ineligibility, award and waitlist decisions have passed. The appeal still open is the Public School Enrollment Appeal, due November 2, 2026, according to Odyssey’s appeals page. If it applies to you, the option appears in your Odyssey account: open the Student Profile page and select Complete appeal. You do not need to email anyone first. Appeals cannot be used to add missing information or to get exceptions to deadlines.
How much is TEFA for 2026-27?
The amount depends on where your child learns and, for private school students, on whether your child has a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. These are the Comptroller’s 2026-27 amounts, as of October 2026:
| Where your child learns | Amount per year (2026-27) | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Participating private school (including participating private pre-K and kindergarten) | $10,474 | Three installments: 25%, 25%, then 50% |
| Participating private school, with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA | $10,474 plus your district’s IEP amount. Your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most get less. | Private school installments |
| Homeschool or other non-public setting | $2,000 | All at once |
| Homeschool or other, child has a disability or IEP | $2,000 | All at once |
State law sets the private school amount at 85% of the estimated statewide average state and local funding per student, as calculated by TEA, and TEA set it at $10,474 for 2026-27. The $2,000 is a cap written into the law for homeschool and other settings. Money paid into your child’s account is not taxable income to you, unless federal law or another state’s law says otherwise, and Odyssey may not charge you any fee for using the account.
In August 2026, about 67,000 participating students were at private schools (including about 7,300 with extra IEP funding) and more than 42,000 were in homeschool or other settings, according to the Comptroller’s budget request to the Legislature. In total, 116,574 students were taking part as of October 1, 2026.
Why do some children with a disability get more?
Only one group gets more than $10,474: students with a disability at a participating private school who have a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. Their account gets the base amount plus what their school district would receive for them under that IEP.
The extra amount depends on two things: the district where you live, and the instructional arrangement (setting) code on the IEP. TEA publishes a district-by-code funding table for 2026-27. The IEP amount in your award notice can change once your school district of residence is confirmed. In August 2026, about 7,300 students with documented disabilities at participating private schools received an average of over $5,000 on top of the base, according to the Comptroller’s budget request.
Four rules catch families out:
- Homeschool or other means $2,000, even with an IEP. The extra IEP funding is only for private school students.
- Some proof of disability gives priority only. The Disability Certification Form, an evaluation (FIIE), an out-of-state IEP or an expired IEP can move your child up the line, but none of them adds money.
- The IEP must be current and on file in time. For 2026-27 it had to be a Texas IEP from 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, on file with TEA by the end of the application period.
- Sources differ above 500% FPL. The Comptroller says a Tier 4 child with an IEP may still receive the extra amount if awarded. Odyssey’s help center says it is limited to households at or below 500% FPL. Ask Odyssey to confirm your child’s amount.
If your child has a current Texas IEP but got no extra funding, the program may not have matched it with TEA’s records. The Comptroller says to start an appeal through Odyssey, not TEA or your district, and give details to help locate the IEP. Our guide to TEFA for students with disabilities explains the IEP code and the funding table step by step.
When does the money arrive in your account?
Homeschool families get the full amount in one payment. Private school families get it in three installments, as long as the child stays enrolled in a participating private school.
| Payment | Private school | Homeschool or other |
|---|---|---|
| First | 25% on July 1, 2026, or mid-August if the school confirmed enrollment by July 31 | The full $2,000 on July 1, 2026 if you opted in by June 15, or mid-August if you opted in by July 31 |
| Second | 25% on October 1, 2026 | None |
| Third | 50% on February 1, 2027 | None |
Odyssey says funding dates can change based on guidance from the Comptroller, so watch your dashboard. An award amount on your student card does not mean the money is ready to spend. You must first opt your child in. For private school, the school also confirms enrollment and enters tuition and fees, which you then confirm in the portal. Odyssey cannot fund the account until those steps are done.
Awarded late in the year? The amount depends on when you finish opting in and confirming enrollment, according to the Comptroller’s funding timeline:
- Confirmed by September 15, 2026: 100% of the award.
- Confirmed after September 15, 2026: 75% of the award.
- Confirmed after January 15, 2027: 50% of the award.
Families awarded from the waitlist have four weeks from the award date to opt in and confirm. Awards reached Tier 3 in August 2026: nearly 15,000 the week of August 11 and nearly 4,500 more the week of August 28. The Comptroller says it will keep issuing awards from the waitlist until all available funding is allocated. More than 100,000 students were still on the waitlist in August 2026, according to the Comptroller’s August 13 release, and a waitlist position does not guarantee an award.
How far does TEFA go for tutoring and other costs?
You can spend the whole balance on approved expenses from approved vendors in the Odyssey marketplace. These limits shape how far the money goes:
- Tutoring has no separate cap. State law caps only technology. Tutoring is limited only by your child’s balance.
- Technology is capped at 10% of the year’s account amount. On a $2,000 homeschool account, that is $200.
- Odyssey caps musical instruments at $1,200 in the marketplace.
- Every purchase goes through the marketplace. There is no cash and no reimbursement for purchases made anywhere else.
- Vendors cannot charge you more. A provider may not charge a TEFA child more than its standard price.
You can pay out of pocket for anything the account does not cover. For the full list, read what TEFA can pay for, and for buying lessons, how to pay for tutoring with TEFA.
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Use your TEFA funds for 1-on-1 tutoring
- Approved TEFA vendor
- The same teacher every week
- A plan built from your child’s schoolwork
★★★★★4.9 from 250 Google reviews$0out of pocket, paid from your TEFA account
Can you change settings and get a different amount?
Not upward in 2026-27. The setting you chose locked when applications closed on March 31, 2026.
After that, families could move from private school down to homeschool or other ($2,000), but not from homeschool up to private school. There is also no extra funding in 2026-27 for a later setting change or a new IEP. Your child can change approved private schools during the year: select the new school in the Odyssey Parent Portal, and Odyssey redirects future payments. Whether families can switch from homeschool to private school, or add a new IEP, for 2027-28 has not been announced.
What happens to money you don’t spend?
It rolls over to next year, as long as your child stays in the program.
Under the Comptroller’s rules, money left at the end of a program year (July 1 to June 30) carries forward if your child is still eligible, you have given notice that your child will continue, and your child has not been declared ineligible. Funds cannot be moved to a brother or sister. If your child leaves the program, the account closes once pending payments clear and the balance goes back to the state. Refunds from a school or vendor always go back to your child’s account, never to you.
What do we know about eligibility and amounts for 2027-28?
The basic rules are in state law, but 2027-28 dates and dollar figures had not been announced as of October 7, 2026. This is what is known:
- Current families do not reapply. Families in good standing confirm they want to continue and, where positions are available, are admitted before new applications are approved.
- The order of groups changes. From year 2, applicants are grouped first as siblings of participating children, then new applicants, then prior participants who left for public or charter school. Tiers 1 to 4 apply within each group.
- Waitlist positions do not carry over. Families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again.
- TEA sets the new private school amount by January 15, 2027.
- The Legislature sets total funding. The current $1 billion limit covers only the two years ending August 31, 2027. The Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request asks for $1,037,812,500 a year, plus a $113 million a year exceptional item.
- Income figures may change. Federal poverty guidelines are updated each year.
To hear when dates are set, join the 2027-28 interest list on educationfreedom.texas.gov. More than 44,000 children’s parents had joined by August 2026, according to the Comptroller’s budget request. See TEFA key dates, waitlist and renewal for what we know so far.
Bottom line
Any Texas child in kindergarten to 12th grade who is lawfully present and could attend a Texas public school can apply for TEFA, whatever the family earns. Income and disability set the order of awards. In 2026-27 the account holds $10,474 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other, with more for private school students with a current Texas IEP on file. Watch your Odyssey dashboard for installments, spend through the marketplace, and join the interest list for 2027-28.
How this guide was written
Written by Tutero’s Texas team. Tutero is an approved TEFA vendor. We check our guides against the Texas Comptroller’s official TEFA rules and program documents, and the Odyssey help center. Rules can change, so confirm details in your TEFA account before you buy.
Related guides: What TEFA can pay for, TEFA for students with disabilities and TEFA key dates, waitlist and renewal.
Your next step
See how families use TEFA for tutoring
Expert teachers, 1-on-1 and online, paid from your TEFA account with $0 out of pocket. How TEFA tutoring works.
Or keep reading: What TEFA can pay for →
“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”
JillMom of Emma, 6th grade
Quick answer
There is no income limit to apply for TEFA for kindergarten to 12th grade. A child can take part if they are a US citizen, national or lawfully present, could attend a Texas public school, and the family lives in Texas. Income only sets the order of awards when there is not enough money for everyone. For 2026-27, a TEFA account holds $10,474 for a child at a participating private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other settings, according to the Texas Comptroller. A child with a disability at a participating private school also gets their district’s IEP amount on top of the base. In that case your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most get less.
How much TEFA will my child get, and what tier are we?
Answer four questions to get an estimate of your child’s 2026-27 amount and priority tier. The calculator uses the Comptroller’s published amounts and income limits, and the full tables are further down this guide. It is not an award or an official decision: only the Texas Comptroller and Odyssey decide eligibility, tier and amount, and your official amount appears in your Odyssey account.
Loading the TEFA calculator. If it does not appear, use the amount and income tables below.
Who can get TEFA?
According to the Comptroller, your child can take part in TEFA if you can show all of these:
- Your child is a US citizen or national, or lawfully admitted to the US.
- Your child could attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school, or its pre-K program. For pre-K, your child must be at least 3, and no older than 5, by September 1.
- Your family lives in Texas. At least one parent must be a Texas resident. Active-duty military families can use orders placing them in Texas for the school year.
Your child can be enrolled in a public or charter school when you apply, and waitlisted students may stay enrolled while they wait. Your child cannot receive TEFA funding while enrolled in public school.
Only a parent can apply: a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act for the child. One application per household covers all your children. Applications are not first come, first served, so applying on the first or last day does not change your chances.
What are the TEFA income limits?
For kindergarten to 12th grade, income sets your child’s priority tier. It does not decide whether your child can apply. The Comptroller published these figures, titled “2026 Federal Poverty Level in Texas”, in its Parent Application Guide:
| Household size | 100% FPL | 200% FPL | 500% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $31,920 | $79,800 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $43,280 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $54,640 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $66,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $77,360 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $88,720 | $221,800 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $100,080 | $250,200 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $111,440 | $278,600 |
| Each extra person | +$5,680 | +$11,360 | +$28,400 |
TEFA measures income as federal adjusted gross income (AGI): the AGI of the parents, or of the parent who can claim the child. There is no asset test. For 2026-27 you needed a Form 1040 for tax year 2024 or 2025 claiming your child as a dependent, and the household size on your application should match it. Pay stubs, W-2s and benefit letters were not accepted. Federal poverty guidelines are set each year by the US Department of Health and Human Services, so the 2027-28 figures may differ.
How do the TEFA tiers work?
Tiers set the order of awards when there are more applicants than funding. Within each tier, a random lottery sets the order. For 2026-27, state law set these tiers:
| Tier | Who is in it | Family of four (2026 figures) | Eligible applicants (July 29, 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Children with a disability, household at or below 500% FPL | $165,000 or less | 29,414 |
| Tier 2 | Household at or below 200% FPL | $66,000 or less | 79,652 |
| Tier 3 | Household above 200% and below 500% FPL | Above $66,000 and below $165,000 | 72,644 |
| Tier 4(a) | At or above 500% FPL, and attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year | $165,000 or more | 13,242 |
| Tier 4(b), sometimes called Tier 5 | At or above 500% FPL, all others | $165,000 or more | 53,760 |
Applicant counts are from the Comptroller’s Annual Demographic Report. Tier 4 covers both 4(a) and 4(b). The Comptroller says Tier 4(b) “may sometimes be referred to as Tier 5”, and Odyssey, the company that runs the portal, uses Tier 4 and Tier 5. This is the 90% rule: within Tier 4, children who spent at least 90% of the prior school year in a Texas public or charter school come first. State law also limits Tier 4 spending to 20% of the year’s program funding.
Three more rules shape the order:
- A disability above 500% FPL means Tier 4. A child with a disability in a household above 500% FPL is placed in Tier 4, not Tier 1.
- Tier 1 needs proof of disability. That means an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) when applications close, or program-approved proof such as the TEFA Disability Certification Form.
- Siblings move together. Siblings are placed with the household member in the highest tier and best lottery position. If one child is accepted, every eligible sibling who applied in the same period is accepted too.
As of October 1, 2026, about 6 in 10 participating students (62%) had household income at or below 200% FPL, and 18% had a documented disability, according to the Comptroller’s participant fact sheet.
Who can get TEFA for pre-K?
Pre-K children must be at least 3, and no older than 5, by September 1, and must also meet the criteria for free public pre-K. The Comptroller gives these routes:
- Your child cannot speak and understand English
- Household income below 185% of the federal poverty level, or your family receives SNAP or TANF
- Your child is homeless
- Your child’s parent is on active duty in the military, or was injured or killed on active duty
- Your child is in foster care now or was in the past
- Your child’s parent received a Star of Texas Award
- Your child’s parent is a public school classroom teacher in a district that offers free pre-K
Odyssey’s help center words the income route as “at or below” 185%, and the Comptroller’s guide does not print a dollar figure for it. Odyssey also says being in Early Childhood Special Education does not meet the pre-K criteria by itself. A child who turns 5 by September 1 can attend pre-K or kindergarten, and pre-K children can take part in a homeschool setting.
Why are some TEFA applications found ineligible, and can you appeal?
About 25,500 applicants were found ineligible in 2026-27, according to the Comptroller. The most common reasons were:
- The child did not meet the narrower pre-K criteria.
- Household income could not be confirmed.
- Citizenship or lawful presence could not be confirmed.
- Texas residency could not be confirmed.
For 2026-27, families needed a Texas driver license or state ID (or a utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, voter registration card, government letter or notarized affidavit), a parent Social Security number or ITIN, the child’s Social Security number or another lawful-presence document, and the Form 1040.
Odyssey’s deadlines for appealing spring 2026 ineligibility, award and waitlist decisions have passed. The appeal still open is the Public School Enrollment Appeal, due November 2, 2026, according to Odyssey’s appeals page. If it applies to you, the option appears in your Odyssey account: open the Student Profile page and select Complete appeal. You do not need to email anyone first. Appeals cannot be used to add missing information or to get exceptions to deadlines.
How much is TEFA for 2026-27?
The amount depends on where your child learns and, for private school students, on whether your child has a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. These are the Comptroller’s 2026-27 amounts, as of October 2026:
| Where your child learns | Amount per year (2026-27) | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Participating private school (including participating private pre-K and kindergarten) | $10,474 | Three installments: 25%, 25%, then 50% |
| Participating private school, with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA | $10,474 plus your district’s IEP amount. Your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most get less. | Private school installments |
| Homeschool or other non-public setting | $2,000 | All at once |
| Homeschool or other, child has a disability or IEP | $2,000 | All at once |
State law sets the private school amount at 85% of the estimated statewide average state and local funding per student, as calculated by TEA, and TEA set it at $10,474 for 2026-27. The $2,000 is a cap written into the law for homeschool and other settings. Money paid into your child’s account is not taxable income to you, unless federal law or another state’s law says otherwise, and Odyssey may not charge you any fee for using the account.
In August 2026, about 67,000 participating students were at private schools (including about 7,300 with extra IEP funding) and more than 42,000 were in homeschool or other settings, according to the Comptroller’s budget request to the Legislature. In total, 116,574 students were taking part as of October 1, 2026.
Why do some children with a disability get more?
Only one group gets more than $10,474: students with a disability at a participating private school who have a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. Their account gets the base amount plus what their school district would receive for them under that IEP.
The extra amount depends on two things: the district where you live, and the instructional arrangement (setting) code on the IEP. TEA publishes a district-by-code funding table for 2026-27. The IEP amount in your award notice can change once your school district of residence is confirmed. In August 2026, about 7,300 students with documented disabilities at participating private schools received an average of over $5,000 on top of the base, according to the Comptroller’s budget request.
Four rules catch families out:
- Homeschool or other means $2,000, even with an IEP. The extra IEP funding is only for private school students.
- Some proof of disability gives priority only. The Disability Certification Form, an evaluation (FIIE), an out-of-state IEP or an expired IEP can move your child up the line, but none of them adds money.
- The IEP must be current and on file in time. For 2026-27 it had to be a Texas IEP from 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, on file with TEA by the end of the application period.
- Sources differ above 500% FPL. The Comptroller says a Tier 4 child with an IEP may still receive the extra amount if awarded. Odyssey’s help center says it is limited to households at or below 500% FPL. Ask Odyssey to confirm your child’s amount.
If your child has a current Texas IEP but got no extra funding, the program may not have matched it with TEA’s records. The Comptroller says to start an appeal through Odyssey, not TEA or your district, and give details to help locate the IEP. Our guide to TEFA for students with disabilities explains the IEP code and the funding table step by step.
When does the money arrive in your account?
Homeschool families get the full amount in one payment. Private school families get it in three installments, as long as the child stays enrolled in a participating private school.
| Payment | Private school | Homeschool or other |
|---|---|---|
| First | 25% on July 1, 2026, or mid-August if the school confirmed enrollment by July 31 | The full $2,000 on July 1, 2026 if you opted in by June 15, or mid-August if you opted in by July 31 |
| Second | 25% on October 1, 2026 | None |
| Third | 50% on February 1, 2027 | None |
Odyssey says funding dates can change based on guidance from the Comptroller, so watch your dashboard. An award amount on your student card does not mean the money is ready to spend. You must first opt your child in. For private school, the school also confirms enrollment and enters tuition and fees, which you then confirm in the portal. Odyssey cannot fund the account until those steps are done.
Awarded late in the year? The amount depends on when you finish opting in and confirming enrollment, according to the Comptroller’s funding timeline:
- Confirmed by September 15, 2026: 100% of the award.
- Confirmed after September 15, 2026: 75% of the award.
- Confirmed after January 15, 2027: 50% of the award.
Families awarded from the waitlist have four weeks from the award date to opt in and confirm. Awards reached Tier 3 in August 2026: nearly 15,000 the week of August 11 and nearly 4,500 more the week of August 28. The Comptroller says it will keep issuing awards from the waitlist until all available funding is allocated. More than 100,000 students were still on the waitlist in August 2026, according to the Comptroller’s August 13 release, and a waitlist position does not guarantee an award.
How far does TEFA go for tutoring and other costs?
You can spend the whole balance on approved expenses from approved vendors in the Odyssey marketplace. These limits shape how far the money goes:
- Tutoring has no separate cap. State law caps only technology. Tutoring is limited only by your child’s balance.
- Technology is capped at 10% of the year’s account amount. On a $2,000 homeschool account, that is $200.
- Odyssey caps musical instruments at $1,200 in the marketplace.
- Every purchase goes through the marketplace. There is no cash and no reimbursement for purchases made anywhere else.
- Vendors cannot charge you more. A provider may not charge a TEFA child more than its standard price.
You can pay out of pocket for anything the account does not cover. For the full list, read what TEFA can pay for, and for buying lessons, how to pay for tutoring with TEFA.
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Use your TEFA funds for 1-on-1 tutoring
- Approved TEFA vendor
- The same teacher every week
- A plan built from your child’s schoolwork
★★★★★4.9 from 250 Google reviews$0out of pocket, paid from your TEFA account
Can you change settings and get a different amount?
Not upward in 2026-27. The setting you chose locked when applications closed on March 31, 2026.
After that, families could move from private school down to homeschool or other ($2,000), but not from homeschool up to private school. There is also no extra funding in 2026-27 for a later setting change or a new IEP. Your child can change approved private schools during the year: select the new school in the Odyssey Parent Portal, and Odyssey redirects future payments. Whether families can switch from homeschool to private school, or add a new IEP, for 2027-28 has not been announced.
What happens to money you don’t spend?
It rolls over to next year, as long as your child stays in the program.
Under the Comptroller’s rules, money left at the end of a program year (July 1 to June 30) carries forward if your child is still eligible, you have given notice that your child will continue, and your child has not been declared ineligible. Funds cannot be moved to a brother or sister. If your child leaves the program, the account closes once pending payments clear and the balance goes back to the state. Refunds from a school or vendor always go back to your child’s account, never to you.
What do we know about eligibility and amounts for 2027-28?
The basic rules are in state law, but 2027-28 dates and dollar figures had not been announced as of October 7, 2026. This is what is known:
- Current families do not reapply. Families in good standing confirm they want to continue and, where positions are available, are admitted before new applications are approved.
- The order of groups changes. From year 2, applicants are grouped first as siblings of participating children, then new applicants, then prior participants who left for public or charter school. Tiers 1 to 4 apply within each group.
- Waitlist positions do not carry over. Families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again.
- TEA sets the new private school amount by January 15, 2027.
- The Legislature sets total funding. The current $1 billion limit covers only the two years ending August 31, 2027. The Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request asks for $1,037,812,500 a year, plus a $113 million a year exceptional item.
- Income figures may change. Federal poverty guidelines are updated each year.
To hear when dates are set, join the 2027-28 interest list on educationfreedom.texas.gov. More than 44,000 children’s parents had joined by August 2026, according to the Comptroller’s budget request. See TEFA key dates, waitlist and renewal for what we know so far.
Bottom line
Any Texas child in kindergarten to 12th grade who is lawfully present and could attend a Texas public school can apply for TEFA, whatever the family earns. Income and disability set the order of awards. In 2026-27 the account holds $10,474 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other, with more for private school students with a current Texas IEP on file. Watch your Odyssey dashboard for installments, spend through the marketplace, and join the interest list for 2027-28.
How this guide was written
Written by Tutero’s Texas team. Tutero is an approved TEFA vendor. We check our guides against the Texas Comptroller’s official TEFA rules and program documents, and the Odyssey help center. Rules can change, so confirm details in your TEFA account before you buy.
Related guides: What TEFA can pay for, TEFA for students with disabilities and TEFA key dates, waitlist and renewal.
Your next step
See how families use TEFA for tutoring
Expert teachers, 1-on-1 and online, paid from your TEFA account with $0 out of pocket. How TEFA tutoring works.
Or keep reading: What TEFA can pay for →
“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”
JillMom of Emma, 6th grade.svg)
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There is no income limit to apply for TEFA for kindergarten to 12th grade. Income sets your child’s priority tier: for a family of four in the Comptroller’s 2026 figures, 200% FPL is $66,000 and 500% FPL is $165,000. Families at or above 500% FPL are in Tier 4, the last group awarded.
A child who is a US citizen, national or lawfully present, could attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school, and has at least one parent living in Texas. Only a parent or legal guardian can apply, with one application per household. Pre-K children must also meet the free public pre-K criteria.
Tier 5 is another name for Tier 4(b): households at or above 500% FPL whose child did not spend at least 90% of the prior school year in a Texas public or charter school. The Comptroller calls it Tier 4(b), and Odyssey calls it Tier 5. It is the last group awarded.
For 2026-27, a TEFA account holds $10,474 for a child at a participating private school, paid 25% in July or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026 and 50% on February 1, 2027. Homeschool and other settings get $2,000, paid all at once, including children with a disability.
Usually not. The extra amount goes only to children at a participating private school who have a current Texas IEP on file with TEA. For those children, your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year, and most receive less. In August 2026, about 7,300 such students got an average of over $5,000 on top of the $10,474 base, according to the Comptroller’s budget request.
It depends on when you finish opting in and confirming enrollment. Confirm by September 15, 2026 and your child gets the full award, after September 15 your child gets 75%, and after January 15, 2027 your child gets 50%, according to the Comptroller. You have four weeks from the award date to confirm.
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