Texas Families Urged to Apply for Texas Education Freedom Account Program Before March 17 Deadline 

DALLAS, TX – The American Federation for Children (AFC) is urging Texas families to apply for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program before the application window closes at 11:59 p.m. Central Time on March 17th. Families could receive $10,474 per eligible student (up to $30,000 for students with disabilities) to spend on private school tuition, tutoring, therapies, and other education-related expenses.

Importantly, TEFA is not a first-come, first-served program. Families who apply the day the application window closes have the same chance of success as families who applied the day the application window opened. Families who have not yet applied should do so immediately at educationfreedom.texas.gov.

Demand for TEFA is expected to exceed available first-year funding. If eligible applications exceed available funding, placement will be determined by lottery, with priority given to students with disabilities and students from low- and middle-income families.

The Texas Comptroller’s office has received more than 174,000 applications so far for the 2026-2027 school year, and the program is reaching the families it was designed to serve. According to recent data published by the office, about 71% so far of applicants come from households at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level, with 35% at or below 200% FPL. Eleven percent of applicants are children with disabilities.

Statement from Nathan Cunneen, Texas State Director, American Federation for Children:

“More than 174,000 applications from across the state prove that Texas families are hungry for education freedom, and there is still time to be a part of it.  TEFA is reaching exactly the people who need it most: low-income and working-class families and children with disabilities.

“If parents haven’t applied yet, we encourage them not to let the deadline pass by. The window closes March 17 at midnight, and interested families can apply in under 15 minutes by visiting educationfreedom.texas.gov.”

About the American Federation for Children:

The American Federation for Children is the nation’s largest school choice advocacy organization and a leading force in advancing education freedom. AFC has helped pass more than 200 school choice laws nationwide, empowering families with meaningful options and elevating parent voices in education policy. The organization’s affiliated Super PAC, AFC Victory Fund, is focused on electing education reform champions at state and federal levels.

ABOUT TEFA (see also: educationfreedom.texas.gov):

 

What is TEFA?

 

Created by the Texas Legislature in 2025 through Senate Bill 2, TEFA gives eligible families funding to use toward approved educational expenses outside the public school system, including private school tuition, tutoring, homeschool materials, therapies, and more. The program is administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, with Odyssey serving as the certified educational assistance organization helping families “apply, access their accounts, and pay for approved educational expenses.”

 

Who is eligible?

 

Any Texas family with a child who is a U.S. citizen or lawfully present in the U.S., resides in Texas, and is eligible to attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school. Pre-K students (ages 3–5) who meet certain criteria are also eligible.

 

How much funding is available?

• Private school students: $10,474 per child for the 2026-27 school year
• Students with disabilities (with an IEP on file with TEA): Up to $30,000 per child
• Homeschooled students: Up to $2,000 per child

Is it first-come, first-served?

 

No. A family that applies today has the same chance as a family that applied on February 4. If eligible applications exceed available funding, placement will be determined by lottery, with priority given to lower-income families and children with disabilities.

 

Who is prioritized in the lottery?

 

Year 1 (2026-27) priority order:

1. Children with disabilities in households at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (11% of current applicants)
2. Children in households at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (35% of current applicants)
3. Children in households between 200%-500% of the Federal Poverty Level (36% of current applicants)
4. Children who are members of a household whose total annual income is at or above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. Children who were enrolled in a Texas public school or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year will be prioritized within this group. Funds for children in this category may not exceed 20 percent of the amount of money appropriated from the program fund for that school year

Who is applying?

 

According to the Comptroller’s fact sheet (Feb. 4 – March 8, 2026):

• 163,362 total applications submitted (174,000 according to a social media post from the office March 11)
• 71% of applicants are from households at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level
• 11% are children with disabilities
• 79% plan to enroll in private school; 21% are homeschool or other
• Applications span every grade level, Pre-K through 12th grade
• More than 2,200 schools have signed up to participate

What can funds be used for?

 

Approved expenses include: private school tuition and fees, textbooks and instructional materials, tutoring, required uniforms, educational therapies, academic assessments, transportation to approved providers, and computer hardware/software (up to 10% of the account total).

 

How do families apply?

 

Online at educationfreedom.texas.gov before 11:59 p.m. CT on March 17, 2026. The application takes approximately 15 minutes, even for families with multiple children. Funding notifications will be sent beginning in early April 2026.