Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA): Complete Guide

What is TEFA?

TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Account) is Texas's first-ever Education Savings Account program, created by Senate Bill 2 and signed into law in May 2025. The program places state education funds into parent-controlled accounts that can be used for a wide range of educational expenses.

Unlike traditional school vouchers that pay schools directly, TEFA gives parents flexibility to customize their child's education by spending on multiple services — including private tutoring, educational therapy, curriculum materials, and more.

Funding Amounts

Who is Eligible?

Nearly all Texas students in Pre-K through 12th grade are eligible to apply, including:

• Students currently in public school
• Students already in private school
• Homeschooled students
• Pre-K students enrolled in public programs

Requirements: Students must be U.S. citizens or lawful residents eligible to attend Texas public schools.

Priority Groups

If demand exceeds available funding, students are prioritized in this order:

1. Students with disabilities from families earning up to 500% of federal poverty level
2. Low-income students (up to 200% FPL)
3. Moderate-income students (200-500% FPL)
4. Higher-income households (limited to 20% of total program funds)

★ Special needs families get top priority. Priority can be based on disability status, but the official TEFA special education funding increase is tied to a current IEP on file with the state.

Program Timeline

How TEFA Works

1. Apply to the program (applications for 2026-27 are closed; next window opens early 2027)
2. Receive your award notification via email
3. Access your Odyssey account — the online platform where funds are managed
4. Select approved vendors — schools, tutors, therapists, curriculum providers
5. Funds are paid directly to vendors — you never handle the money

Approved Expenses

TEFA funds can be used for:

• Private school tuition and fees
• Private tutoring by qualified tutors
• Educational therapies (speech, OT, etc.)
• Textbooks and instructional materials
• Online learning programs
• Technology (up to 10% of funds)
• Transportation to educational providers
• Dual enrollment tuition
• Standardized testing and assessments

Who Administers TEFA?

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts oversees the TEFA program. The official TEFA site and Odyssey workflow are the sources families should use to confirm the current application, account, and provider process.

The Odyssey platform is used to manage accounts, select vendors, and process payments.

Using TEFA for Special Needs Tutoring

TEFA is especially valuable for families of students with disabilities. Public TEFA guidance says some awarded students in participating private schools may receive up to $30,000 when they have a current IEP on file with the state.

We specialize in tutoring students with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences, and we help families understand how the official TEFA workflow applies to their tutoring plan.