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Quick answer
TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) is the Texas education savings account program that began in the 2026-27 school year. Each participating child gets an account the parent spends on approved costs, such as tuition, curriculum and tutoring, through the Odyssey marketplace. For 2026-27 it is $10,474 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool, with extra funding for some private school students with an IEP. As of October 1, 2026, 116,574 students were taking part; 2027-28 dates are not announced.
To estimate your child’s amount and tier, try our TEFA calculator.
TEFA basics
What is TEFA?
TEFA stands for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the education savings account program created by Senate Bill 2 in 2025. It started with the 2026-27 school year, and your child’s account pays approved providers for tuition, tutoring, curriculum and more. How to use your funds.
Is TEFA a school voucher?
Many people call it a voucher, but the state never uses that word. Texas calls TEFA an education savings account. What TEFA pays for.
Where does TEFA money come from?
The Legislature provided $1 billion for the two years that began September 1, 2025, and must fund later years separately. Money put into your child’s account is not taxable income to you, unless federal or another state’s law says otherwise. What this means for 2027-28.
Who runs TEFA, and what is Odyssey?
The Texas Comptroller runs TEFA. Odyssey is the company it chose to help run the program; its platform is where you apply, manage the account and shop, with no fees to families. Contact Odyssey at help.tx@withodyssey.com or 737-379-2362, or the Comptroller at educationfreedom@cpa.texas.gov. Our Odyssey guide.
Has anyone actually been approved for TEFA?
Yes. According to the Comptroller, 116,574 students were taking part as of October 1, 2026: 62% had household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and 18% had a documented disability. Its August 2026 budget request said more than $270 million had reached accounts. Who TEFA covers.
Eligibility and tiers
Who qualifies for TEFA in Texas?
A child can take part if they are a US citizen, US national or lawfully admitted to the US, can attend a Texas public or open-enrollment charter school (or its pre-K), and at least one parent lives in Texas. Your child cannot receive TEFA money while enrolled in public school. Full eligibility guide.
What are the TEFA income limits?
For K to 12 there is no income cutoff; income sets your priority tier, measured as federal adjusted gross income on Form 1040, with no asset test. The Comptroller’s 2026 lines:
| Household size | 200% FPL (Tier 2 line) | 500% FPL (Tier 3 and 4 line) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $43,280 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $221,800 |
The lines change every year, so 2027-28 may differ. Every household size.
What are the tiers for TEFA?
Tiers only matter when applications exceed funding. For 2026-27, Tier 1 was children with a disability in households at or below 500% FPL, Tier 2 was at or below 200%, Tier 3 was above 200% and below 500%, and Tier 4 was at or above 500%. A random lottery set the order within each tier. More on tiers.
What is TEFA Tier 5, and what is the 90% rule?
Tier 5 is Odyssey’s name for the second half of Tier 4. The Comptroller splits Tier 4 into 4(a), children who attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year and are funded first, and 4(b), “which may sometimes be referred to as Tier 5”. State law caps Tier 4 spending at 20% of the year’s program money. How the tiers work.
What is the maximum income for TEFA pre-K?
Pre-K children must also meet free public pre-K rules. One route is household income below 185% of the federal poverty level (Odyssey says “at or below”), or getting SNAP or TANF; others include homelessness, military families and foster care. Early Childhood Special Education does not count by itself, and the Comptroller has not printed a dollar figure for the 185% line. Pre-K rules.
Will joining TEFA affect my child’s public school place?
State law calls TEFA a benefit “in addition to a free public education”. Your child can stay in public school while on the waitlist. Once funded, enrolling in a public or charter school ends TEFA eligibility. Staying in the program.
Amounts
How much is TEFA for 2026-27?
It depends on where your child learns, according to the Comptroller:
| Setting | 2026-27 amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Participating private school | $10,474 | 25% in July or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026, 50% on February 1, 2027 |
| Homeschool or other non-public setting | $2,000 | All at once |
| Private school student with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA | $10,474 plus your district’s IEP amount. Your child’s account can hold up to $30,000 | Same as private school |
Do parents get money for homeschooling in Texas?
Yes, through TEFA. A homeschool child’s account gets $2,000 a year in one installment, including for a child with a disability, because the extra IEP money applies only at a participating private school. Homeschool guide.
My child has an IEP. Why is my child’s TEFA account less than $30,000?
Your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year at a participating private school, and the Comptroller says most students receive less. The extra amount is what your district would get under the IEP, based on your district and the IEP’s instructional setting code; the August 2026 budget request reported an average of over $5,000 on top of $10,474. The amount in your award notice can change once your district of residence is confirmed. How the disability amount works.
My child has a Texas IEP but got no extra funding. What can I do?
The program may not have matched the IEP. If your child had a Texas IEP on file with TEA from 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, the Comptroller asks you to start an appeal through Odyssey to help find it. Appeals go through Odyssey, not TEA or your school district. Disability guide.
Disabilities and IEPs
What disabilities count for TEFA?
Any disability in the Texas special education eligibility categories (19 TAC 89.1040). Tier 1 proof can be a Texas IEP, a district evaluation (FIIE), a verified out-of-state IEP, an expired Texas IEP, or the Disability Certification Form. Disability guide.
What is the TEFA Disability Certification Form, and who can sign it?
It is the Comptroller’s form for families without a current Texas IEP. Its instructions say only a professional qualified for that category can sign: a speech impairment needs a licensed speech-language pathologist, while a visual impairment needs an eye doctor, a certified teacher of students with visual impairments and an orientation and mobility specialist. The form gives priority only and adds no money; questions go to DisabilityForm.TEFA@cpa.texas.gov. More on the form.
Do parents get extra money for a child with an IEP?
Only at a participating private school, and only with a current Texas IEP (2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26) on file with TEA by the end of the application period. Above 500% FPL, the Comptroller says a Tier 4 child with an IEP may still get the extra amount if awarded, but Odyssey’s help center limits it to households at or below 500%, so ask Odyssey to confirm in writing. Disability guide.
Where do I find my child’s Texas Unique Student ID (UID)?
Your child has a UID if they have ever been enrolled in a Texas public or charter school, or have an IEP on file with TEA; current and former public school families can look it up on TEA’s student lookup page. If your child has only attended private school, ask the district that wrote the IEP to enter it into TEA’s system. Only a validated IEP with a valid UID gets extra funding. IEPs and TEFA.
My child is not in public school. Can we still get an IEP?
Yes. Ask your school district for a full individual and initial evaluation. The district must finish it within 45 school days of your consent and, if your child is found eligible, write an IEP for TEFA purposes. How a new IEP will count for 2027-28 has not been announced. Disability guide.
What is the $1,500 grant for special needs children, and can we use it with TEFA?
That is PDSES, a one-time $1,500 from the Texas Education Agency for special education students enrolled in a Texas public school. TEA says a child who leaves public school loses PDSES eligibility, and TEFA funding requires being out of public school, so one child cannot use both at the same time. With unspent PDSES money, ask PDSEShelp@region10.org before leaving public school. TEFA vs PDSES.
Using funds and the Odyssey marketplace
What can TEFA be used for?
The Comptroller lists tuition and fees, textbooks and materials, required uniforms, academic assessments, private tutoring, transportation to approved providers, educational therapies not covered by insurance or benefits, private school meals, and computer hardware or software up to 10% of the year’s amount ($200 on a $2,000 homeschool account). You cannot withdraw cash or resell what you buy. Full list of eligible expenses.
Where do I log in to TEFA?
You log in to the Odyssey Parent Portal, the same platform used to apply and manage TEFA accounts. Each child has a Wallet, where you pay tuition and find the “Shop Marketplace” button. Step-by-step Odyssey guide.
How do I buy something in the Odyssey marketplace?
Odyssey’s steps are:
- Open your child’s Wallet in the Parent Portal and select “Shop Marketplace”.
- Use the Search bar or browse categories such as Tutoring, Curriculum or Speech Therapy, then open an offering to read the vendor and cancellation policy.
- Add it to your cart and choose your child from the dropdown, where their balance shows.
- Check out and complete the purchase.
- Track it in Order History. For a service, the vendor confirms the order and contacts you; if you hear nothing after a few business days, email Marketplace@withodyssey.com.
To find participating schools and services first, use the state’s finder at finder.educationfreedom.texas.gov. Full marketplace guide.
How do I pay a vendor, such as a curriculum company?
Order its product through the Odyssey marketplace. If it is not listed, email Odyssey to request the offering; the vendor must apply and be approved by the Comptroller first. Odyssey guide.
Can I buy outside the marketplace and get reimbursed?
No. The Comptroller says families will not be reimbursed for purchases made outside the TEFA Marketplace. Odyssey help articles about reimbursement are for other states. How spending works.
What do the statuses in my Odyssey parent portal mean?
“Approved - Awaiting Opt-In” means your child has an award and you need to opt in. “Approved” means you have opted in, and “Approved - On Hold” means spending is paused while Odyssey reviews the account. “Eligible” with no amount means the waitlist. For homeschool, an enrollment status of “Pending” is normal and needs no action. Every status explained.
My wallet says “Amount processing”. When will the money show up?
We could not find an official explanation of that label. Odyssey cannot fund an account until your child’s eligibility and, for private school, enrollment are confirmed, and funding dates can change. If it stays stuck, contact Odyssey at help.tx@withodyssey.com. Funding dates.
When does TEFA funding arrive?
In 2026-27, homeschool accounts got the full $2,000 at once, on July 1 or in mid-August depending on opt-in date, and later awards as soon as practicable. Private school accounts get 25% on July 1 or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026 and 50% on February 1, 2027. A late award confirmed after September 15, 2026 gets 75%, and after January 15, 2027 gets 50%. Key dates guide.
Can I return something I bought with TEFA funds?
Only damaged or wrong items, because Odyssey has a no-cancellation policy. Report them with photos of the item and packaging within 5 business days of delivery, and get a return authorization from returns@withodyssey.com before sending anything back. Approved returns must go back within 30 days, partial refunds are not supported, and a refund can take up to 6 weeks to reach your child’s account. If a vendor cancels an order, the money returns automatically. Marketplace guide.
Tutoring
Can I use TEFA for tutoring?
Yes. Senate Bill 2 lists “fees for services provided by a private tutor or teaching service” as an approved expense. State law caps only technology, at 10% of the year’s account amount, so tutoring has no separate limit beyond your child’s balance. Homeschool and private school families can both use it. How to pay for tutoring with TEFA.
Which tutors are approved for TEFA?
Only vendors the Comptroller approves: 2,160 on its vendor list on October 7, 2026, including 409 tutors and 155 teaching services. Under the Comptroller’s Educator Credential Policy, the lead educator must be a current or retired teacher at an accredited school or college, or hold a relevant credential such as a teaching license, a school district teaching permit, a method certification or a related degree. Everyone who works with your child must clear a TEFA fingerprint background check. Tutero is an approved TEFA vendor, listed as an online teaching service. Tutoring guide.
How do I choose a good TEFA tutor?
Treat approval as the minimum: the Comptroller says marketplace presence “does not constitute an endorsement”, and parents are responsible for making sure anyone paid to teach their child has the right skills. Ask who the lead educator will be, since that person must be present for every lesson, and whether that teacher shows as Approved in the vendor’s TEFA employee list. Tutoring guide.
Can I pay a relative to tutor my child?
No. TEFA money cannot pay anyone related to your child within the third degree by blood or marriage. A payment to a company is not a payment to the relative, unless it is the relative’s own sole proprietorship or partnership. What TEFA cannot pay for.
What happens if I need to cancel a tutoring order?
Odyssey cancels a service order only if the vendor agrees, and the money returns to your child’s account. Refunds for services not provided always go back to the account, and a vendor cannot charge TEFA families more than its standard price. Tutoring orders.
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
Homeschool
How can homeschoolers use TEFA?
A homeschool account gets $2,000, paid at once, for approved items such as curriculum, online classes, tutoring, therapies and up to $200 of technology. The Comptroller told homeschool applicants in March 2026 that it will not question your educational philosophy, pace, grade placement or religious instruction, and that TEFA “does not affect your legal rights as a homeschool family”. Homeschool guide.
Can I switch from homeschooling to a private school mid-year?
Not with extra funding in 2026-27. Settings locked when applications closed: families could move from private school to homeschool, and no later change added money. The Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request expects up to 4,200 children to switch to private school next biennium, but no rule yet says how. Homeschool guide.
Private school
Does a TEFA award get my child into a private school?
No. You apply to the school separately, and selecting a school in Odyssey does not enroll your child. Participating schools must be accredited by an organization TEPSAC or TEA recognizes, have operated a campus for at least two consecutive school years, and be located in Texas. Private school guide.
Can a private school charge more because of TEFA?
No. A school cannot charge a TEFA student more tuition because of the award, and general discounts still apply. In Odyssey, a school can request only six fee types: enrollment, registration, meals, educational services or tutoring, academic assessments and transportation. Other school goods go through the school’s own marketplace listing. School fees TEFA covers.
Does my child have to take a standardized test?
At a participating private school, yes for grades 3 to 12: the school gives a nationally norm-referenced test or STAAR each year, and you make sure the results reach Odyssey by the end of the program year (the school can send them with your permission). Homeschool students do not have to test. More on testing.
Waitlist and 2027-28
How does the TEFA waitlist work?
Waitlisted children show as “Eligible” with no amount. Awards go in tier order, then lottery position, and a household’s children are awarded together. More than 100,000 students were waiting in August 2026, according to the Comptroller; its August 2026 budget request to the Legislature counted 106,127. Waitlist guide.
I am in Tier 3 on the waitlist. What are my chances this year?
Nobody can give you odds. Awards reached Tier 3 in August 2026, and the Comptroller says it will keep awarding until all available funding is allocated, so later awards depend on opt-outs, switches to homeschool, missed deadlines and resolved appeals. If an award comes, confirming by January 15, 2027 gets 75% of it; after that, 50%. How the waitlist moves.
Does my waitlist spot carry over to 2027-28?
No. Families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again in a future cycle. Funding for them in 2027-28 depends on the Legislature; the Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request put the cost of funding the 106,127 waitlisted children at $980 million a year. Waitlist guide.
When do 2027-28 applications open?
Not announced yet. More than 44,000 children’s parents had joined the 2027-28 interest list by August 2026, and in 2026-27 applying on the first or last day made no difference. Join the list at educationfreedom.texas.gov/families to hear first. Key dates guide.
How much will TEFA be in 2027-28?
Not announced yet. TEA must set the private school base amount by January 15, 2027, and the Legislature sets total funding in its 2027 session. State law sets the homeschool amount at $2,000. Amounts guide.
Do we need to reapply every year?
No. Families in good standing, which the rules define as following all program requirements and the law, only confirm that their child will return during the application period. Returning children go before new applicants, to the extent places are available. The 2027-28 format and dates are not out yet. Renewal guide.
Losing eligibility, appeals and fraud
What happens to money we do not spend?
It carries forward to the next program year (July 1 to June 30) if your child stays eligible and you have confirmed they will continue. You cannot move it to another child, and when a child leaves the program the balance returns to the state. Renewal guide.
What happens if we move?
Moving out of Texas ends eligibility, and Odyssey says you must opt out in your Odyssey account within 30 days. If you move within Texas, update your address under Account Info. Extra IEP funding is tied to your school district, so ask Odyssey whether the move changes it. Staying eligible.
Why would an award be removed or an account suspended?
Odyssey audits the program on an ongoing basis and emails you if a review changes your child’s status. Its listed ineligibility reasons are unverified income, residency, citizenship or lawful presence, age outside the range and, for pre-K, the free pre-K criteria. Separately, missing a program requirement suspends the account: payments pause, and you get written notice and 30 days to fix it. Renewal guide.
How do I appeal a TEFA decision?
The spring appeal deadlines closed between May 23 and June 12, 2026. If your child was removed over public school enrollment, open the Student Profile page in Odyssey and select Complete appeal by November 2, 2026, Odyssey’s deadline. For any other new decision, the state rules give you 30 days from the notice: contact Odyssey Support at help.tx@withodyssey.com or 737-379-2362, or write to the Comptroller at P.O. Box 13407, Austin, TX 78711-3407. Appeals cannot add new information, and Odyssey says it decides them with the Comptroller’s office. More on appeals.
How do I report TEFA fraud?
The Comptroller asks parents, school staff and the public to report concerns about fraud or unlawful activity to tefa.watchdog@cpa.texas.gov, and the TEFA contact page links a fraud, waste or abuse form. Misused money can be recovered, and evidence of fraud goes to the local county or district attorney. What can end an account.
More on TEFA tutoring: TEFA tutoring in Texas and TEFA tutoring for students with an IEP.
Bottom line
TEFA gives your child an account for approved education costs, spent only through the Odyssey marketplace. 2027-28 dates, amounts and waitlist funding depend on the Comptroller and the Legislature, so join the interest list, keep your Form 1040 and any IEP ready, and confirm details in your account before you buy.
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: How to use your TEFA funds in the Odyssey marketplace, TEFA eligibility, income limits and account amounts 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: How to pay for tutoring with TEFA →
“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”
JillMom of Emma, 6th gradeQuick answer
TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) is the Texas education savings account program that began in the 2026-27 school year. Each participating child gets an account the parent spends on approved costs, such as tuition, curriculum and tutoring, through the Odyssey marketplace. For 2026-27 it is $10,474 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool, with extra funding for some private school students with an IEP. As of October 1, 2026, 116,574 students were taking part; 2027-28 dates are not announced.
To estimate your child’s amount and tier, try our TEFA calculator.
TEFA basics
What is TEFA?
TEFA stands for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the education savings account program created by Senate Bill 2 in 2025. It started with the 2026-27 school year, and your child’s account pays approved providers for tuition, tutoring, curriculum and more. How to use your funds.
Is TEFA a school voucher?
Many people call it a voucher, but the state never uses that word. Texas calls TEFA an education savings account. What TEFA pays for.
Where does TEFA money come from?
The Legislature provided $1 billion for the two years that began September 1, 2025, and must fund later years separately. Money put into your child’s account is not taxable income to you, unless federal or another state’s law says otherwise. What this means for 2027-28.
Who runs TEFA, and what is Odyssey?
The Texas Comptroller runs TEFA. Odyssey is the company it chose to help run the program; its platform is where you apply, manage the account and shop, with no fees to families. Contact Odyssey at help.tx@withodyssey.com or 737-379-2362, or the Comptroller at educationfreedom@cpa.texas.gov. Our Odyssey guide.
Has anyone actually been approved for TEFA?
Yes. According to the Comptroller, 116,574 students were taking part as of October 1, 2026: 62% had household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and 18% had a documented disability. Its August 2026 budget request said more than $270 million had reached accounts. Who TEFA covers.
Eligibility and tiers
Who qualifies for TEFA in Texas?
A child can take part if they are a US citizen, US national or lawfully admitted to the US, can attend a Texas public or open-enrollment charter school (or its pre-K), and at least one parent lives in Texas. Your child cannot receive TEFA money while enrolled in public school. Full eligibility guide.
What are the TEFA income limits?
For K to 12 there is no income cutoff; income sets your priority tier, measured as federal adjusted gross income on Form 1040, with no asset test. The Comptroller’s 2026 lines:
| Household size | 200% FPL (Tier 2 line) | 500% FPL (Tier 3 and 4 line) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $43,280 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $221,800 |
The lines change every year, so 2027-28 may differ. Every household size.
What are the tiers for TEFA?
Tiers only matter when applications exceed funding. For 2026-27, Tier 1 was children with a disability in households at or below 500% FPL, Tier 2 was at or below 200%, Tier 3 was above 200% and below 500%, and Tier 4 was at or above 500%. A random lottery set the order within each tier. More on tiers.
What is TEFA Tier 5, and what is the 90% rule?
Tier 5 is Odyssey’s name for the second half of Tier 4. The Comptroller splits Tier 4 into 4(a), children who attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year and are funded first, and 4(b), “which may sometimes be referred to as Tier 5”. State law caps Tier 4 spending at 20% of the year’s program money. How the tiers work.
What is the maximum income for TEFA pre-K?
Pre-K children must also meet free public pre-K rules. One route is household income below 185% of the federal poverty level (Odyssey says “at or below”), or getting SNAP or TANF; others include homelessness, military families and foster care. Early Childhood Special Education does not count by itself, and the Comptroller has not printed a dollar figure for the 185% line. Pre-K rules.
Will joining TEFA affect my child’s public school place?
State law calls TEFA a benefit “in addition to a free public education”. Your child can stay in public school while on the waitlist. Once funded, enrolling in a public or charter school ends TEFA eligibility. Staying in the program.
Amounts
How much is TEFA for 2026-27?
It depends on where your child learns, according to the Comptroller:
| Setting | 2026-27 amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Participating private school | $10,474 | 25% in July or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026, 50% on February 1, 2027 |
| Homeschool or other non-public setting | $2,000 | All at once |
| Private school student with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA | $10,474 plus your district’s IEP amount. Your child’s account can hold up to $30,000 | Same as private school |
Do parents get money for homeschooling in Texas?
Yes, through TEFA. A homeschool child’s account gets $2,000 a year in one installment, including for a child with a disability, because the extra IEP money applies only at a participating private school. Homeschool guide.
My child has an IEP. Why is my child’s TEFA account less than $30,000?
Your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year at a participating private school, and the Comptroller says most students receive less. The extra amount is what your district would get under the IEP, based on your district and the IEP’s instructional setting code; the August 2026 budget request reported an average of over $5,000 on top of $10,474. The amount in your award notice can change once your district of residence is confirmed. How the disability amount works.
My child has a Texas IEP but got no extra funding. What can I do?
The program may not have matched the IEP. If your child had a Texas IEP on file with TEA from 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, the Comptroller asks you to start an appeal through Odyssey to help find it. Appeals go through Odyssey, not TEA or your school district. Disability guide.
Disabilities and IEPs
What disabilities count for TEFA?
Any disability in the Texas special education eligibility categories (19 TAC 89.1040). Tier 1 proof can be a Texas IEP, a district evaluation (FIIE), a verified out-of-state IEP, an expired Texas IEP, or the Disability Certification Form. Disability guide.
What is the TEFA Disability Certification Form, and who can sign it?
It is the Comptroller’s form for families without a current Texas IEP. Its instructions say only a professional qualified for that category can sign: a speech impairment needs a licensed speech-language pathologist, while a visual impairment needs an eye doctor, a certified teacher of students with visual impairments and an orientation and mobility specialist. The form gives priority only and adds no money; questions go to DisabilityForm.TEFA@cpa.texas.gov. More on the form.
Do parents get extra money for a child with an IEP?
Only at a participating private school, and only with a current Texas IEP (2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26) on file with TEA by the end of the application period. Above 500% FPL, the Comptroller says a Tier 4 child with an IEP may still get the extra amount if awarded, but Odyssey’s help center limits it to households at or below 500%, so ask Odyssey to confirm in writing. Disability guide.
Where do I find my child’s Texas Unique Student ID (UID)?
Your child has a UID if they have ever been enrolled in a Texas public or charter school, or have an IEP on file with TEA; current and former public school families can look it up on TEA’s student lookup page. If your child has only attended private school, ask the district that wrote the IEP to enter it into TEA’s system. Only a validated IEP with a valid UID gets extra funding. IEPs and TEFA.
My child is not in public school. Can we still get an IEP?
Yes. Ask your school district for a full individual and initial evaluation. The district must finish it within 45 school days of your consent and, if your child is found eligible, write an IEP for TEFA purposes. How a new IEP will count for 2027-28 has not been announced. Disability guide.
What is the $1,500 grant for special needs children, and can we use it with TEFA?
That is PDSES, a one-time $1,500 from the Texas Education Agency for special education students enrolled in a Texas public school. TEA says a child who leaves public school loses PDSES eligibility, and TEFA funding requires being out of public school, so one child cannot use both at the same time. With unspent PDSES money, ask PDSEShelp@region10.org before leaving public school. TEFA vs PDSES.
Using funds and the Odyssey marketplace
What can TEFA be used for?
The Comptroller lists tuition and fees, textbooks and materials, required uniforms, academic assessments, private tutoring, transportation to approved providers, educational therapies not covered by insurance or benefits, private school meals, and computer hardware or software up to 10% of the year’s amount ($200 on a $2,000 homeschool account). You cannot withdraw cash or resell what you buy. Full list of eligible expenses.
Where do I log in to TEFA?
You log in to the Odyssey Parent Portal, the same platform used to apply and manage TEFA accounts. Each child has a Wallet, where you pay tuition and find the “Shop Marketplace” button. Step-by-step Odyssey guide.
How do I buy something in the Odyssey marketplace?
Odyssey’s steps are:
- Open your child’s Wallet in the Parent Portal and select “Shop Marketplace”.
- Use the Search bar or browse categories such as Tutoring, Curriculum or Speech Therapy, then open an offering to read the vendor and cancellation policy.
- Add it to your cart and choose your child from the dropdown, where their balance shows.
- Check out and complete the purchase.
- Track it in Order History. For a service, the vendor confirms the order and contacts you; if you hear nothing after a few business days, email Marketplace@withodyssey.com.
To find participating schools and services first, use the state’s finder at finder.educationfreedom.texas.gov. Full marketplace guide.
How do I pay a vendor, such as a curriculum company?
Order its product through the Odyssey marketplace. If it is not listed, email Odyssey to request the offering; the vendor must apply and be approved by the Comptroller first. Odyssey guide.
Can I buy outside the marketplace and get reimbursed?
No. The Comptroller says families will not be reimbursed for purchases made outside the TEFA Marketplace. Odyssey help articles about reimbursement are for other states. How spending works.
What do the statuses in my Odyssey parent portal mean?
“Approved - Awaiting Opt-In” means your child has an award and you need to opt in. “Approved” means you have opted in, and “Approved - On Hold” means spending is paused while Odyssey reviews the account. “Eligible” with no amount means the waitlist. For homeschool, an enrollment status of “Pending” is normal and needs no action. Every status explained.
My wallet says “Amount processing”. When will the money show up?
We could not find an official explanation of that label. Odyssey cannot fund an account until your child’s eligibility and, for private school, enrollment are confirmed, and funding dates can change. If it stays stuck, contact Odyssey at help.tx@withodyssey.com. Funding dates.
When does TEFA funding arrive?
In 2026-27, homeschool accounts got the full $2,000 at once, on July 1 or in mid-August depending on opt-in date, and later awards as soon as practicable. Private school accounts get 25% on July 1 or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026 and 50% on February 1, 2027. A late award confirmed after September 15, 2026 gets 75%, and after January 15, 2027 gets 50%. Key dates guide.
Can I return something I bought with TEFA funds?
Only damaged or wrong items, because Odyssey has a no-cancellation policy. Report them with photos of the item and packaging within 5 business days of delivery, and get a return authorization from returns@withodyssey.com before sending anything back. Approved returns must go back within 30 days, partial refunds are not supported, and a refund can take up to 6 weeks to reach your child’s account. If a vendor cancels an order, the money returns automatically. Marketplace guide.
Tutoring
Can I use TEFA for tutoring?
Yes. Senate Bill 2 lists “fees for services provided by a private tutor or teaching service” as an approved expense. State law caps only technology, at 10% of the year’s account amount, so tutoring has no separate limit beyond your child’s balance. Homeschool and private school families can both use it. How to pay for tutoring with TEFA.
Which tutors are approved for TEFA?
Only vendors the Comptroller approves: 2,160 on its vendor list on October 7, 2026, including 409 tutors and 155 teaching services. Under the Comptroller’s Educator Credential Policy, the lead educator must be a current or retired teacher at an accredited school or college, or hold a relevant credential such as a teaching license, a school district teaching permit, a method certification or a related degree. Everyone who works with your child must clear a TEFA fingerprint background check. Tutero is an approved TEFA vendor, listed as an online teaching service. Tutoring guide.
How do I choose a good TEFA tutor?
Treat approval as the minimum: the Comptroller says marketplace presence “does not constitute an endorsement”, and parents are responsible for making sure anyone paid to teach their child has the right skills. Ask who the lead educator will be, since that person must be present for every lesson, and whether that teacher shows as Approved in the vendor’s TEFA employee list. Tutoring guide.
Can I pay a relative to tutor my child?
No. TEFA money cannot pay anyone related to your child within the third degree by blood or marriage. A payment to a company is not a payment to the relative, unless it is the relative’s own sole proprietorship or partnership. What TEFA cannot pay for.
What happens if I need to cancel a tutoring order?
Odyssey cancels a service order only if the vendor agrees, and the money returns to your child’s account. Refunds for services not provided always go back to the account, and a vendor cannot charge TEFA families more than its standard price. Tutoring orders.
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
Homeschool
How can homeschoolers use TEFA?
A homeschool account gets $2,000, paid at once, for approved items such as curriculum, online classes, tutoring, therapies and up to $200 of technology. The Comptroller told homeschool applicants in March 2026 that it will not question your educational philosophy, pace, grade placement or religious instruction, and that TEFA “does not affect your legal rights as a homeschool family”. Homeschool guide.
Can I switch from homeschooling to a private school mid-year?
Not with extra funding in 2026-27. Settings locked when applications closed: families could move from private school to homeschool, and no later change added money. The Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request expects up to 4,200 children to switch to private school next biennium, but no rule yet says how. Homeschool guide.
Private school
Does a TEFA award get my child into a private school?
No. You apply to the school separately, and selecting a school in Odyssey does not enroll your child. Participating schools must be accredited by an organization TEPSAC or TEA recognizes, have operated a campus for at least two consecutive school years, and be located in Texas. Private school guide.
Can a private school charge more because of TEFA?
No. A school cannot charge a TEFA student more tuition because of the award, and general discounts still apply. In Odyssey, a school can request only six fee types: enrollment, registration, meals, educational services or tutoring, academic assessments and transportation. Other school goods go through the school’s own marketplace listing. School fees TEFA covers.
Does my child have to take a standardized test?
At a participating private school, yes for grades 3 to 12: the school gives a nationally norm-referenced test or STAAR each year, and you make sure the results reach Odyssey by the end of the program year (the school can send them with your permission). Homeschool students do not have to test. More on testing.
Waitlist and 2027-28
How does the TEFA waitlist work?
Waitlisted children show as “Eligible” with no amount. Awards go in tier order, then lottery position, and a household’s children are awarded together. More than 100,000 students were waiting in August 2026, according to the Comptroller; its August 2026 budget request to the Legislature counted 106,127. Waitlist guide.
I am in Tier 3 on the waitlist. What are my chances this year?
Nobody can give you odds. Awards reached Tier 3 in August 2026, and the Comptroller says it will keep awarding until all available funding is allocated, so later awards depend on opt-outs, switches to homeschool, missed deadlines and resolved appeals. If an award comes, confirming by January 15, 2027 gets 75% of it; after that, 50%. How the waitlist moves.
Does my waitlist spot carry over to 2027-28?
No. Families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again in a future cycle. Funding for them in 2027-28 depends on the Legislature; the Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request put the cost of funding the 106,127 waitlisted children at $980 million a year. Waitlist guide.
When do 2027-28 applications open?
Not announced yet. More than 44,000 children’s parents had joined the 2027-28 interest list by August 2026, and in 2026-27 applying on the first or last day made no difference. Join the list at educationfreedom.texas.gov/families to hear first. Key dates guide.
How much will TEFA be in 2027-28?
Not announced yet. TEA must set the private school base amount by January 15, 2027, and the Legislature sets total funding in its 2027 session. State law sets the homeschool amount at $2,000. Amounts guide.
Do we need to reapply every year?
No. Families in good standing, which the rules define as following all program requirements and the law, only confirm that their child will return during the application period. Returning children go before new applicants, to the extent places are available. The 2027-28 format and dates are not out yet. Renewal guide.
Losing eligibility, appeals and fraud
What happens to money we do not spend?
It carries forward to the next program year (July 1 to June 30) if your child stays eligible and you have confirmed they will continue. You cannot move it to another child, and when a child leaves the program the balance returns to the state. Renewal guide.
What happens if we move?
Moving out of Texas ends eligibility, and Odyssey says you must opt out in your Odyssey account within 30 days. If you move within Texas, update your address under Account Info. Extra IEP funding is tied to your school district, so ask Odyssey whether the move changes it. Staying eligible.
Why would an award be removed or an account suspended?
Odyssey audits the program on an ongoing basis and emails you if a review changes your child’s status. Its listed ineligibility reasons are unverified income, residency, citizenship or lawful presence, age outside the range and, for pre-K, the free pre-K criteria. Separately, missing a program requirement suspends the account: payments pause, and you get written notice and 30 days to fix it. Renewal guide.
How do I appeal a TEFA decision?
The spring appeal deadlines closed between May 23 and June 12, 2026. If your child was removed over public school enrollment, open the Student Profile page in Odyssey and select Complete appeal by November 2, 2026, Odyssey’s deadline. For any other new decision, the state rules give you 30 days from the notice: contact Odyssey Support at help.tx@withodyssey.com or 737-379-2362, or write to the Comptroller at P.O. Box 13407, Austin, TX 78711-3407. Appeals cannot add new information, and Odyssey says it decides them with the Comptroller’s office. More on appeals.
How do I report TEFA fraud?
The Comptroller asks parents, school staff and the public to report concerns about fraud or unlawful activity to tefa.watchdog@cpa.texas.gov, and the TEFA contact page links a fraud, waste or abuse form. Misused money can be recovered, and evidence of fraud goes to the local county or district attorney. What can end an account.
More on TEFA tutoring: TEFA tutoring in Texas and TEFA tutoring for students with an IEP.
Bottom line
TEFA gives your child an account for approved education costs, spent only through the Odyssey marketplace. 2027-28 dates, amounts and waitlist funding depend on the Comptroller and the Legislature, so join the interest list, keep your Form 1040 and any IEP ready, and confirm details in your account before you buy.
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: How to use your TEFA funds in the Odyssey marketplace, TEFA eligibility, income limits and account amounts 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: How to pay for tutoring with TEFA →
“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”
JillMom of Emma, 6th grade
Quick answer
TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) is the Texas education savings account program that began in the 2026-27 school year. Each participating child gets an account the parent spends on approved costs, such as tuition, curriculum and tutoring, through the Odyssey marketplace. For 2026-27 it is $10,474 for private school and $2,000 for homeschool, with extra funding for some private school students with an IEP. As of October 1, 2026, 116,574 students were taking part; 2027-28 dates are not announced.
To estimate your child’s amount and tier, try our TEFA calculator.
TEFA basics
What is TEFA?
TEFA stands for Texas Education Freedom Accounts, the education savings account program created by Senate Bill 2 in 2025. It started with the 2026-27 school year, and your child’s account pays approved providers for tuition, tutoring, curriculum and more. How to use your funds.
Is TEFA a school voucher?
Many people call it a voucher, but the state never uses that word. Texas calls TEFA an education savings account. What TEFA pays for.
Where does TEFA money come from?
The Legislature provided $1 billion for the two years that began September 1, 2025, and must fund later years separately. Money put into your child’s account is not taxable income to you, unless federal or another state’s law says otherwise. What this means for 2027-28.
Who runs TEFA, and what is Odyssey?
The Texas Comptroller runs TEFA. Odyssey is the company it chose to help run the program; its platform is where you apply, manage the account and shop, with no fees to families. Contact Odyssey at help.tx@withodyssey.com or 737-379-2362, or the Comptroller at educationfreedom@cpa.texas.gov. Our Odyssey guide.
Has anyone actually been approved for TEFA?
Yes. According to the Comptroller, 116,574 students were taking part as of October 1, 2026: 62% had household income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level and 18% had a documented disability. Its August 2026 budget request said more than $270 million had reached accounts. Who TEFA covers.
Eligibility and tiers
Who qualifies for TEFA in Texas?
A child can take part if they are a US citizen, US national or lawfully admitted to the US, can attend a Texas public or open-enrollment charter school (or its pre-K), and at least one parent lives in Texas. Your child cannot receive TEFA money while enrolled in public school. Full eligibility guide.
What are the TEFA income limits?
For K to 12 there is no income cutoff; income sets your priority tier, measured as federal adjusted gross income on Form 1040, with no asset test. The Comptroller’s 2026 lines:
| Household size | 200% FPL (Tier 2 line) | 500% FPL (Tier 3 and 4 line) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | $43,280 | $108,200 |
| 3 | $54,640 | $136,600 |
| 4 | $66,000 | $165,000 |
| 5 | $77,360 | $193,400 |
| 6 | $88,720 | $221,800 |
The lines change every year, so 2027-28 may differ. Every household size.
What are the tiers for TEFA?
Tiers only matter when applications exceed funding. For 2026-27, Tier 1 was children with a disability in households at or below 500% FPL, Tier 2 was at or below 200%, Tier 3 was above 200% and below 500%, and Tier 4 was at or above 500%. A random lottery set the order within each tier. More on tiers.
What is TEFA Tier 5, and what is the 90% rule?
Tier 5 is Odyssey’s name for the second half of Tier 4. The Comptroller splits Tier 4 into 4(a), children who attended a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year and are funded first, and 4(b), “which may sometimes be referred to as Tier 5”. State law caps Tier 4 spending at 20% of the year’s program money. How the tiers work.
What is the maximum income for TEFA pre-K?
Pre-K children must also meet free public pre-K rules. One route is household income below 185% of the federal poverty level (Odyssey says “at or below”), or getting SNAP or TANF; others include homelessness, military families and foster care. Early Childhood Special Education does not count by itself, and the Comptroller has not printed a dollar figure for the 185% line. Pre-K rules.
Will joining TEFA affect my child’s public school place?
State law calls TEFA a benefit “in addition to a free public education”. Your child can stay in public school while on the waitlist. Once funded, enrolling in a public or charter school ends TEFA eligibility. Staying in the program.
Amounts
How much is TEFA for 2026-27?
It depends on where your child learns, according to the Comptroller:
| Setting | 2026-27 amount | How it is paid |
|---|---|---|
| Participating private school | $10,474 | 25% in July or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026, 50% on February 1, 2027 |
| Homeschool or other non-public setting | $2,000 | All at once |
| Private school student with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA | $10,474 plus your district’s IEP amount. Your child’s account can hold up to $30,000 | Same as private school |
Do parents get money for homeschooling in Texas?
Yes, through TEFA. A homeschool child’s account gets $2,000 a year in one installment, including for a child with a disability, because the extra IEP money applies only at a participating private school. Homeschool guide.
My child has an IEP. Why is my child’s TEFA account less than $30,000?
Your child’s TEFA account can hold up to $30,000 a year at a participating private school, and the Comptroller says most students receive less. The extra amount is what your district would get under the IEP, based on your district and the IEP’s instructional setting code; the August 2026 budget request reported an average of over $5,000 on top of $10,474. The amount in your award notice can change once your district of residence is confirmed. How the disability amount works.
My child has a Texas IEP but got no extra funding. What can I do?
The program may not have matched the IEP. If your child had a Texas IEP on file with TEA from 2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26, the Comptroller asks you to start an appeal through Odyssey to help find it. Appeals go through Odyssey, not TEA or your school district. Disability guide.
Disabilities and IEPs
What disabilities count for TEFA?
Any disability in the Texas special education eligibility categories (19 TAC 89.1040). Tier 1 proof can be a Texas IEP, a district evaluation (FIIE), a verified out-of-state IEP, an expired Texas IEP, or the Disability Certification Form. Disability guide.
What is the TEFA Disability Certification Form, and who can sign it?
It is the Comptroller’s form for families without a current Texas IEP. Its instructions say only a professional qualified for that category can sign: a speech impairment needs a licensed speech-language pathologist, while a visual impairment needs an eye doctor, a certified teacher of students with visual impairments and an orientation and mobility specialist. The form gives priority only and adds no money; questions go to DisabilityForm.TEFA@cpa.texas.gov. More on the form.
Do parents get extra money for a child with an IEP?
Only at a participating private school, and only with a current Texas IEP (2023-24, 2024-25 or 2025-26) on file with TEA by the end of the application period. Above 500% FPL, the Comptroller says a Tier 4 child with an IEP may still get the extra amount if awarded, but Odyssey’s help center limits it to households at or below 500%, so ask Odyssey to confirm in writing. Disability guide.
Where do I find my child’s Texas Unique Student ID (UID)?
Your child has a UID if they have ever been enrolled in a Texas public or charter school, or have an IEP on file with TEA; current and former public school families can look it up on TEA’s student lookup page. If your child has only attended private school, ask the district that wrote the IEP to enter it into TEA’s system. Only a validated IEP with a valid UID gets extra funding. IEPs and TEFA.
My child is not in public school. Can we still get an IEP?
Yes. Ask your school district for a full individual and initial evaluation. The district must finish it within 45 school days of your consent and, if your child is found eligible, write an IEP for TEFA purposes. How a new IEP will count for 2027-28 has not been announced. Disability guide.
What is the $1,500 grant for special needs children, and can we use it with TEFA?
That is PDSES, a one-time $1,500 from the Texas Education Agency for special education students enrolled in a Texas public school. TEA says a child who leaves public school loses PDSES eligibility, and TEFA funding requires being out of public school, so one child cannot use both at the same time. With unspent PDSES money, ask PDSEShelp@region10.org before leaving public school. TEFA vs PDSES.
Using funds and the Odyssey marketplace
What can TEFA be used for?
The Comptroller lists tuition and fees, textbooks and materials, required uniforms, academic assessments, private tutoring, transportation to approved providers, educational therapies not covered by insurance or benefits, private school meals, and computer hardware or software up to 10% of the year’s amount ($200 on a $2,000 homeschool account). You cannot withdraw cash or resell what you buy. Full list of eligible expenses.
Where do I log in to TEFA?
You log in to the Odyssey Parent Portal, the same platform used to apply and manage TEFA accounts. Each child has a Wallet, where you pay tuition and find the “Shop Marketplace” button. Step-by-step Odyssey guide.
How do I buy something in the Odyssey marketplace?
Odyssey’s steps are:
- Open your child’s Wallet in the Parent Portal and select “Shop Marketplace”.
- Use the Search bar or browse categories such as Tutoring, Curriculum or Speech Therapy, then open an offering to read the vendor and cancellation policy.
- Add it to your cart and choose your child from the dropdown, where their balance shows.
- Check out and complete the purchase.
- Track it in Order History. For a service, the vendor confirms the order and contacts you; if you hear nothing after a few business days, email Marketplace@withodyssey.com.
To find participating schools and services first, use the state’s finder at finder.educationfreedom.texas.gov. Full marketplace guide.
How do I pay a vendor, such as a curriculum company?
Order its product through the Odyssey marketplace. If it is not listed, email Odyssey to request the offering; the vendor must apply and be approved by the Comptroller first. Odyssey guide.
Can I buy outside the marketplace and get reimbursed?
No. The Comptroller says families will not be reimbursed for purchases made outside the TEFA Marketplace. Odyssey help articles about reimbursement are for other states. How spending works.
What do the statuses in my Odyssey parent portal mean?
“Approved - Awaiting Opt-In” means your child has an award and you need to opt in. “Approved” means you have opted in, and “Approved - On Hold” means spending is paused while Odyssey reviews the account. “Eligible” with no amount means the waitlist. For homeschool, an enrollment status of “Pending” is normal and needs no action. Every status explained.
My wallet says “Amount processing”. When will the money show up?
We could not find an official explanation of that label. Odyssey cannot fund an account until your child’s eligibility and, for private school, enrollment are confirmed, and funding dates can change. If it stays stuck, contact Odyssey at help.tx@withodyssey.com. Funding dates.
When does TEFA funding arrive?
In 2026-27, homeschool accounts got the full $2,000 at once, on July 1 or in mid-August depending on opt-in date, and later awards as soon as practicable. Private school accounts get 25% on July 1 or mid-August, 25% on October 1, 2026 and 50% on February 1, 2027. A late award confirmed after September 15, 2026 gets 75%, and after January 15, 2027 gets 50%. Key dates guide.
Can I return something I bought with TEFA funds?
Only damaged or wrong items, because Odyssey has a no-cancellation policy. Report them with photos of the item and packaging within 5 business days of delivery, and get a return authorization from returns@withodyssey.com before sending anything back. Approved returns must go back within 30 days, partial refunds are not supported, and a refund can take up to 6 weeks to reach your child’s account. If a vendor cancels an order, the money returns automatically. Marketplace guide.
Tutoring
Can I use TEFA for tutoring?
Yes. Senate Bill 2 lists “fees for services provided by a private tutor or teaching service” as an approved expense. State law caps only technology, at 10% of the year’s account amount, so tutoring has no separate limit beyond your child’s balance. Homeschool and private school families can both use it. How to pay for tutoring with TEFA.
Which tutors are approved for TEFA?
Only vendors the Comptroller approves: 2,160 on its vendor list on October 7, 2026, including 409 tutors and 155 teaching services. Under the Comptroller’s Educator Credential Policy, the lead educator must be a current or retired teacher at an accredited school or college, or hold a relevant credential such as a teaching license, a school district teaching permit, a method certification or a related degree. Everyone who works with your child must clear a TEFA fingerprint background check. Tutero is an approved TEFA vendor, listed as an online teaching service. Tutoring guide.
How do I choose a good TEFA tutor?
Treat approval as the minimum: the Comptroller says marketplace presence “does not constitute an endorsement”, and parents are responsible for making sure anyone paid to teach their child has the right skills. Ask who the lead educator will be, since that person must be present for every lesson, and whether that teacher shows as Approved in the vendor’s TEFA employee list. Tutoring guide.
Can I pay a relative to tutor my child?
No. TEFA money cannot pay anyone related to your child within the third degree by blood or marriage. A payment to a company is not a payment to the relative, unless it is the relative’s own sole proprietorship or partnership. What TEFA cannot pay for.
What happens if I need to cancel a tutoring order?
Odyssey cancels a service order only if the vendor agrees, and the money returns to your child’s account. Refunds for services not provided always go back to the account, and a vendor cannot charge TEFA families more than its standard price. Tutoring orders.
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
Homeschool
How can homeschoolers use TEFA?
A homeschool account gets $2,000, paid at once, for approved items such as curriculum, online classes, tutoring, therapies and up to $200 of technology. The Comptroller told homeschool applicants in March 2026 that it will not question your educational philosophy, pace, grade placement or religious instruction, and that TEFA “does not affect your legal rights as a homeschool family”. Homeschool guide.
Can I switch from homeschooling to a private school mid-year?
Not with extra funding in 2026-27. Settings locked when applications closed: families could move from private school to homeschool, and no later change added money. The Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request expects up to 4,200 children to switch to private school next biennium, but no rule yet says how. Homeschool guide.
Private school
Does a TEFA award get my child into a private school?
No. You apply to the school separately, and selecting a school in Odyssey does not enroll your child. Participating schools must be accredited by an organization TEPSAC or TEA recognizes, have operated a campus for at least two consecutive school years, and be located in Texas. Private school guide.
Can a private school charge more because of TEFA?
No. A school cannot charge a TEFA student more tuition because of the award, and general discounts still apply. In Odyssey, a school can request only six fee types: enrollment, registration, meals, educational services or tutoring, academic assessments and transportation. Other school goods go through the school’s own marketplace listing. School fees TEFA covers.
Does my child have to take a standardized test?
At a participating private school, yes for grades 3 to 12: the school gives a nationally norm-referenced test or STAAR each year, and you make sure the results reach Odyssey by the end of the program year (the school can send them with your permission). Homeschool students do not have to test. More on testing.
Waitlist and 2027-28
How does the TEFA waitlist work?
Waitlisted children show as “Eligible” with no amount. Awards go in tier order, then lottery position, and a household’s children are awarded together. More than 100,000 students were waiting in August 2026, according to the Comptroller; its August 2026 budget request to the Legislature counted 106,127. Waitlist guide.
I am in Tier 3 on the waitlist. What are my chances this year?
Nobody can give you odds. Awards reached Tier 3 in August 2026, and the Comptroller says it will keep awarding until all available funding is allocated, so later awards depend on opt-outs, switches to homeschool, missed deadlines and resolved appeals. If an award comes, confirming by January 15, 2027 gets 75% of it; after that, 50%. How the waitlist moves.
Does my waitlist spot carry over to 2027-28?
No. Families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again in a future cycle. Funding for them in 2027-28 depends on the Legislature; the Comptroller’s August 2026 budget request put the cost of funding the 106,127 waitlisted children at $980 million a year. Waitlist guide.
When do 2027-28 applications open?
Not announced yet. More than 44,000 children’s parents had joined the 2027-28 interest list by August 2026, and in 2026-27 applying on the first or last day made no difference. Join the list at educationfreedom.texas.gov/families to hear first. Key dates guide.
How much will TEFA be in 2027-28?
Not announced yet. TEA must set the private school base amount by January 15, 2027, and the Legislature sets total funding in its 2027 session. State law sets the homeschool amount at $2,000. Amounts guide.
Do we need to reapply every year?
No. Families in good standing, which the rules define as following all program requirements and the law, only confirm that their child will return during the application period. Returning children go before new applicants, to the extent places are available. The 2027-28 format and dates are not out yet. Renewal guide.
Losing eligibility, appeals and fraud
What happens to money we do not spend?
It carries forward to the next program year (July 1 to June 30) if your child stays eligible and you have confirmed they will continue. You cannot move it to another child, and when a child leaves the program the balance returns to the state. Renewal guide.
What happens if we move?
Moving out of Texas ends eligibility, and Odyssey says you must opt out in your Odyssey account within 30 days. If you move within Texas, update your address under Account Info. Extra IEP funding is tied to your school district, so ask Odyssey whether the move changes it. Staying eligible.
Why would an award be removed or an account suspended?
Odyssey audits the program on an ongoing basis and emails you if a review changes your child’s status. Its listed ineligibility reasons are unverified income, residency, citizenship or lawful presence, age outside the range and, for pre-K, the free pre-K criteria. Separately, missing a program requirement suspends the account: payments pause, and you get written notice and 30 days to fix it. Renewal guide.
How do I appeal a TEFA decision?
The spring appeal deadlines closed between May 23 and June 12, 2026. If your child was removed over public school enrollment, open the Student Profile page in Odyssey and select Complete appeal by November 2, 2026, Odyssey’s deadline. For any other new decision, the state rules give you 30 days from the notice: contact Odyssey Support at help.tx@withodyssey.com or 737-379-2362, or write to the Comptroller at P.O. Box 13407, Austin, TX 78711-3407. Appeals cannot add new information, and Odyssey says it decides them with the Comptroller’s office. More on appeals.
How do I report TEFA fraud?
The Comptroller asks parents, school staff and the public to report concerns about fraud or unlawful activity to tefa.watchdog@cpa.texas.gov, and the TEFA contact page links a fraud, waste or abuse form. Misused money can be recovered, and evidence of fraud goes to the local county or district attorney. What can end an account.
More on TEFA tutoring: TEFA tutoring in Texas and TEFA tutoring for students with an IEP.
Bottom line
TEFA gives your child an account for approved education costs, spent only through the Odyssey marketplace. 2027-28 dates, amounts and waitlist funding depend on the Comptroller and the Legislature, so join the interest list, keep your Form 1040 and any IEP ready, and confirm details in your account before you buy.
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: How to use your TEFA funds in the Odyssey marketplace, TEFA eligibility, income limits and account amounts 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: How to pay for tutoring with TEFA →
“With her teacher Lori, she’s focused. She never wants to miss a lesson.”
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TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) is the Texas education savings account program created by Senate Bill 2. It began in the 2026-27 school year and gives each participating child an account for approved costs such as private school tuition, homeschool curriculum and tutoring, spent through the Odyssey marketplace.
Parents log in to the Odyssey Parent Portal, the same platform used to apply and manage TEFA accounts. Each child has a Wallet with a Shop Marketplace button for buying approved items.
Open your child's Wallet in the Odyssey Parent Portal, select Shop Marketplace, find the item or service with the Search bar or categories, add it to your cart, choose your child and check out. Texas has no reimbursement, so every TEFA purchase goes through the marketplace.
For K to 12 there is no income cutoff; income sets your priority tier. For a family of four in 2026, 200% of the federal poverty level was $66,000 and 500% was $165,000, measured as federal adjusted gross income on Form 1040.
More than 100,000 students were on the TEFA waitlist in August 2026, according to the Texas Comptroller, and its August 2026 budget request to the Legislature counted 106,127 children. Waitlist positions do not carry over, so families not awarded in 2026-27 must apply again in a future cycle.
For 2026-27, TEFA is $10,474 for a participating private school and $2,000 for homeschool or other settings. Private school students with a current Texas IEP on file with TEA get extra funding based on their district, and most receive less than the maximum.
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