The application window for Texas’s 2026–27 Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) closed at 11:59 p.m. on March 31, 2026. New applications for that school year are not being accepted. Families who applied should check the TEFA portal for their award or waitlist status; families who missed the deadline can join the interest list for updates about 2027–28, but joining it is not an application.
What families should do now
- If you applied: Sign in to the TEFA portal and check the student’s current application, award, or waitlist information. Individual status and next steps should be confirmed there.
- If you did not apply: Join the interest list for updates about the 2027–28 cycle. The next application window and its deadline have not been announced in the official information cited here.
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program’s lottery update says the window closed at 11:59 p.m. March 31 and that new applications cannot be accepted. An earlier deadline appeared in some program materials, but the Texas Comptroller’s March 30 last-chance bulletin named March 31 as the final deadline. The Comptroller also said applying earlier during the open period did not affect eligibility or the chance of receiving an account.
Was an account guaranteed to every eligible applicant?
No. Eligibility did not guarantee an award. When applications exceeded available funding, a lottery determined placements and waitlist order. Statutory priority groups included applicants with qualifying disability documentation and households at specified income levels; the highest-income category is subject to a statutory funding cap.
The TEFA program home page reports more than 274,000 applications and approximately 25,500 applicants found ineligible. It identifies common verification problems involving pre-K qualification, household income, citizenship or lawful presence, and Texas residency. These are program-wide figures, not a determination of any individual applicant’s case. See the official TEFA program page for program updates and portal access.
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How did 2026–27 award amounts vary?
Published 2026–27 amounts depended on the student’s education setting and, for the higher disability-related amount, the student’s IEP and applicable funding calculation. An award is not necessarily the same as a school’s tuition or a guarantee of admission.
| Education setting or circumstance | Published 2026–27 amount | Important conditions | Payment timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approved private school or qualifying pre-K/kindergarten program | $10,474 | The school or program must participate in TEFA. Pre-K eligibility is narrower than K–12 eligibility and follows additional free-public-pre-K criteria. | Private-school payments are made in installments and depend on confirmed enrollment. |
| Student with a qualifying IEP | Up to $30,000 | Not automatic: an IEP must be on file, and the amount depends on the applicable funding calculation. | Timing depends on the student’s setting and account circumstances. |
| Homeschool or other eligible student | $2,000 | Eligible expenses and provider participation rules still apply. | One installment. |
The program’s June 2026 funding schedule says private-school students receive an initial installment equal to 25% of the award after enrollment is confirmed, another 25% on October 1, and the remaining 50% on February 1. Students must remain enrolled to receive later installments. Confirm the current portal schedule for an individual account.
Who could qualify?
For the 2026–27 cycle, a child had to be a U.S. citizen or lawfully present and eligible to attend a Texas public school, charter school, or qualifying pre-K program. The parent had to be a Texas resident. Pre-K applicants also had to meet additional criteria tied to free public pre-K eligibility.
Application reviews could require documentation to verify residency, lawful presence or citizenship, household income, disability status, or pre-K eligibility, as applicable. The TEFA program page lists inability to verify these details among common reasons an applicant was found ineligible.
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What could TEFA funds pay for?
Allowable costs depend on the program rules and the student’s circumstances. The TEFA Families page lists computer hardware or software as an approved expense category, with spending in that category capped at 10% of the annual account transfer. That category-level approval does not mean every computer, vendor, or purchase qualifies; check current program rules before buying.
Private schools and other education-service providers must be approved to participate. The program provides a provider finder; online and out-of-state providers may participate if they apply and are accepted. A participating school’s tuition may exceed an account award, and TEFA does not guarantee a seat or full tuition coverage. The program is administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, with Odyssey supporting administration as the certified educational assistance organization under Comptroller oversight. The official site also says accounts and eligibility are subject to audits.
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When can families apply next?
The 2027–28 application dates, deadline, award amounts, and updated rules have not been established in the official information cited here. Joining the interest list is a way to receive updates, not a way to submit a TEFA application or reserve funding. Check the official program site for announcements.
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