January 22, 2026
Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), also called Texas school vouchers, will open applications on February 4, 2026.
If you are a Texas dentist with children in private school or considering the switch, TEFA can help offset tuition and approved education expenses for the 2026–27 school year.
This guide summarizes key program details, the application timeline, and provides a practical checklist so you can apply confidently by the March 17, 2026, deadline.
Here are the biggest updates since our October article.
1) The official TEFA website is live and includes planning tools
The Comptroller’s office has launched an official TEFA site that includes a parent preparation checklist and a school finder tool, with new participating schools being added regularly. This is where the application will be when it is available, starting February 4, 2026, so go ahead and bookmark it now.
2) The application window is confirmed
The state’s official TEFA timeline lists the parent application window as February 4, 2026, through March 17, 2026, with funding notifications beginning in early April 2026.
3) The annual “standard” award amount is set for 2026–27
The TEFA site reflects that the Texas Education Agency’s set amount for 2026–27 is $10,474 for eligible students attending an approved private school (or approved pre-K/kindergarten program).
4) Funding is staged (not all at once)
The official timeline shows:
5) Prioritization rules are clearer, especially for higher-income households
Year 1 prioritization confirms that families at or above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level are in the last priority category.
In Texas, 500% of the Federal Poverty Level is approximately:
Most dentists fall into this category. The state caps funding for this group at 20% of total program funds.
Within this group, children who were enrolled in a Texas public/charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year are prioritized.
TEFA Application Guide and Parent Checklist
Step 1: Before February 4, confirm your plan and your school.
Start by confirming whether your child’s private school is approved to accept TEFA funds (or plans to participate). The state’s TEFA website includes a school finder tool that allows schools to confirm their participation status and timing.
If you’re applying for a student with a disability and you want to be considered for additional funding, begin the IEP process as early as possible. The state guidance emphasizes that an IEP must be on file by the end of the application period to qualify for the higher funding amount.
Step 2: Build your “upload folder” now (so the application feels easy).
Gather these items before you start your application. The official TEFA Parent Application Checklist recommends these documents.
All applicants
If your driver’s license or state ID can’t be verified, be ready to upload one of the following to prove Texas residency: a utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or voter registration certificate.
If your child’s SSN can’t be verified, be ready to upload proof of lawful status (for example: a birth certificate, report of birth abroad, certificate of naturalization, certificate of citizenship, or other official documentation affirming lawful admission).
Optional Documents (prioritization and disability-related items)
If you are using an IEP for additional funding, you may need your child’s Texas unique student identification number, which can be obtained from your child’s school district.
Step 3: Apply during the window and don’t assume “first come, first served.”
Applications open on February 4, 2026, and close on March 17, 2026. Funding decisions are made after the close of the application window to allow for priority determinations. The state notes that awards are not made on a first-come, first-served basis.
Also, if eligible applications exceed available funding, participation may be determined by a lottery process.
Step 4: Watch for confirmations and your funding status.
After you apply, private school students will indicate the school they are enrolled in, and the private school will confirm enrollment. Funding notifications are expected to begin in early April 2026.
Step 5: Map TEFA cash flow to your tuition plan.
TEFA funding is staged. Expect at least 25% of funds by July 1, 2026, more by October 1, and the remainder by April 1, 2027. Build your tuition plan using these deposit dates; don’t expect all funds at once.
Eligibility
TEFA includes most Texas school-age children, including those already in private school, as long as the student doesn’t also enroll in a Texas public or charter school while participating.
What TEFA funds can cover (and a few limits to know).
TEFA funds can be used only for approved expenses. For many dentist families, the primary benefit is reducing net private school tuition, but the program can also cover other education-related costs.
Common approved expenses (confirm eligibility in the portal before purchase):
Important limits: TEFA funds can’t be used to pay a family member for services, and unused funds generally roll over as long as the student remains eligible.
Next Steps for Parents
Step 1: Decide whether you’re applying as a “tuition offset” family or a “priority tier” family.
If your household income is above the 500% Federal Poverty Level threshold, apply anyway, but expect a possible waitlist because your category is the lowest priority in Year 1 and is limited to 20% of funds.
Step 2: Confirm whether your child’s school is (or intends to be) TEFA-approved.
Not every private school will participate. Use the official TEFA school finder tool at https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/ and/or ask the school directly.
Step 3: Gather documents now so February is “click and upload,” not “scramble and guess.”
Follow the state’s parent checklist, here: Texas Education Freedom Accounts - Parent Application Checklist to gather the required documents.
Step 4: If your child may qualify under the disability priority category, focus on the IEP timing.
The TEFA site distinguishes between disability documentation for prioritization and eligibility for the higher award amount (up to $30,000). It indicates that, to qualify for the higher amount, the student must have an IEP on file by the end of the application period.
Step 5: Plan around the TEFA calendar (and your private school’s calendar).
Many private schools have admissions and re-enrollment deadlines that may fall before TEFA decisions come out. Secure your school seat on the school’s timeline and treat TEFA as funding that may later reduce the net cost.
Not sure where to start? Contact us today!
References
Best Place for Students. (n.d.). Best Place for Students! https://bestplace4students.com/.
Best Place for Students. (n.d.). FAQs. https://bestplace4students.com/faqs/.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (2025, October 6). Acting Texas Comptroller announces Texas Education Freedom Accounts program, selects implementation partner. https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20251006-texas-comptroller-announces-texas-education-freedom-accounts-as-program-name-for-school-choice-program-selects-implementation-partner-1759758132101.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (2025, November 25). Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock announces final rules, key dates for Texas Education Freedom Accounts program. https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20251125-acting-texas-comptroller-kelly-hancock-announces-final-rules-and-key-dates-for-texas-education-freedom-accounts-program-1764103747312.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (2025, December 22). Hundreds of Texas schools already enrolled in Education Freedom Accounts program. https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20251222-hundreds-of-texas-schools-already-enrolled-in-education-freedom-accounts-program-1766422819758.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (n.d.). Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/.
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. (n.d.). TEFA parent application checklist [PDF]. https://educationfreedom.texas.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TEFA-Parent-Application-Checklist.pdf.
Texas Education Agency. (2025, November 20). Senate Bill 2: Education savings accounts and children with disabilities [Letter]. https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/news-and-multimedia/correspondence/taa-letters/senate-bill-2-education-savings-accounts-and-children-with-disabilities.
Texas Education Agency. (2026, January 15). Actions required of school systems for education savings accounts [Letter]. https://tea.texas.gov/sites/default/files/taa-2026-01-16-actions-required-of-school-systems-for-education-savings-accounts.pdf.
Texas Legislature Online. (2025). S.B. 2, 89th Leg., R.S. (Tex. 2025) (enrolled) [Bill text]. https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00002F.htm.