TX Educational Freedom Accounts

Q: Who is eligible to apply for a TEFA?

To qualify, the student must be a U.S. citizen, a legal resident, or otherwise allowed to attend a Texas public school.

Q: Does my child qualify if they already attend a private or Catholic school?

Yes. Students who are currently enrolled in private or Catholic schools are eligible for and are encouraged to apply for a TEFA.

Q: How is priority given to applicants?

Priority is given to children from low-income families and those with special learning needs. The law specifically prioritizes families with household incomes less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).

Applications will be prioritized in the following order:

1. Students with a disability and a family income at or below 500% of the FPG.
2. Students whose family income is at or below 200% of the FPG.
3. Students whose family income is between 201% and 500% of the FPG.
4. All other applicants, depending on available funding. Within this tier, students transitioning from a public school to a private school are prioritized over students already enrolled in a private school.

Q: How much money can a family receive?

Each child awarded a TEFA may receive approximately $10,000 to $12,000 per year.

Q: Is there more funding for students with disabilities?

Yes. Students with qualifying disabilities may be eligible for up to $30,000 per year.

Q: How much is available for homeschool students?

Homeschooled students may be eligible for up to $2,000 per year.

Q: What happens if we don't use all the funds in one year?

Unused funds roll over from one year to the next. This continues as long as the student remains in the program and until they graduate or complete high school.

Q: Who qualifies as a "child with disabilities?" 

A student may qualify as a child with a disability if they are at least three years old but not more than 21 years old and have an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or one or more of the following conditions that prevent them from being adequately or safely educated in public school without special services:

• Visual or auditory impairment
• Physical disability
• Intellectual or developmental disability
• Emotional disturbance
• Learning disability
• Autism
• Speech disability
• Traumatic brain injury

Q: How does a child qualify for priority group one placement?

To qualify for priority group 1 placement, families are required to provide:

• A written diagnosis from a licensed physician verifying one of the listed disabilities, or
• An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) issued by a Texas public school district or open-enrollment charter school. An IEP must be provided to qualify for additional funding up to $30,000 per year.

Q: Do all schools accommodate children with disabilities?

Services and resources vary by school. Parents should speak directly with the school to learn more about specific services offered.

Q: What accommodations can St. Pius X provide?                                                                                                                                               

With a professional diagnosis or IEP, St. Pius X will tailor appropriate accommodations to each individual's needs.

Q: Who can I contact for help with CCISD/UID Numbers?

The CCISD Special Education Office is diligently working to assist our families filing for TEFA. Please share the attached one-pager with any families needing IEPs uploaded and encourage prompt action. Timeliness will be essential.

CCISD also clarified the following:

• IEP uploads into APEX occur at the district level.

• All requests must go through Erin Priour.

• The deadline for IEP submission requests is March 9, 2026.

• Erin’s contact information:

 [email protected]

 (361) 878-2160