How to Apply for TEFA: Step-by-Step Application Guide

The TEFA application window is open now and closes March 17, 2026. Applying is free, done entirely online, and takes most families 10–20 minutes.

This guide walks through every step — from creating an account to what happens after you submit.

Before You Start: What You'll Need

Gather these items before sitting down to apply. Having everything ready prevents delays and errors.

Required Documents and Information

Parent/guardian government-issued ID — Texas driver's license or state ID preferred
Parent's Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) — Required for all applicants
IRS Form 1040 for tax year 2024 or 2025 — Required for income verification and priority tier placement. Parents who do not submit a tax return may be placed in the lowest priority tier.
Child's birth certificate or legal documentation — Proves identity and age
Proof of Texas residency — Utility bill, lease agreement, mortgage statement, or Texas voter registration (must be current, typically within the last 60 days)
Child's Social Security number — Used for identity verification
Previous school information — If the child attended a Texas public school in the 2025–2026 school year, you'll need the school name and district
Special education documentation (if applicable) — IEP (Individualized Education Program) or ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) committee documentation
Military documentation (if applicable) — Active-duty orders or military ID for priority status
Email address — A working email you check regularly; all communications come through email and the portal

Choosing a School or Provider

You don't need to have selected a school before applying, but it helps. The application asks whether you plan to:

Enroll in a participating private school
Use TEFA for homeschool expenses
Use TEFA for approved educational services (tutoring, therapy, etc.)

More than 1,500 schools across Texas are currently registered as TEFA-participating institutions. You can browse them on this site or check the official Comptroller's list.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Go to the Official TEFA Portal

Navigate to educationfreedom.texas.gov.

This is the only official application portal. The platform is built and managed by Odyssey on behalf of the Texas Comptroller's office. Do not apply through any third-party website — no legitimate organization charges a fee to submit a TEFA application.

Step 2: Create Your Account

Click the button to create a new parent/guardian account. You'll provide:

Full legal name
Email address
Phone number
A secure password

You'll receive a verification email. Click the link to confirm your account before proceeding.

Tip: Use an email address you check daily. All application updates, approval notifications, and account communications go to this email.

Step 3: Enter Parent/Guardian Information

Once logged in, complete the parent/guardian profile:

Legal name (must match your government ID)
Date of birth
Texas residential address
Government ID number (driver's license or state ID)
Upload a copy of your ID if prompted

Step 4: Add Your Child's Information

For each child you're applying for, enter:

Full legal name (must match birth certificate)
Date of birth
Social Security number
Grade level for the upcoming school year
Current or most recent school attended (public, private, homeschool, or new to Texas)
Special circumstances — Check any that apply: disability/special education, active-duty military family, foster care, entering kindergarten

You can add multiple children in a single application. Each child is evaluated independently.

Step 5: Select Your Education Path

For each child, indicate how you plan to use TEFA funds:

Private school enrollment — Select from the list of participating schools, or indicate you're still deciding
Homeschool — Indicate you plan to use the $2,000 homeschool allocation for curriculum and materials
Educational services only — Tutoring, therapy, or other approved services without full-time private school enrollment

If you select a specific school, the application may show whether that school has confirmed TEFA participation and its tuition range.

Important: Your educational setting "locks" at the end of the application period. After the application window closes on March 17, you can change from private school to homeschool/other (receiving the lower $2,000 amount), but you cannot make a change that results in additional funding. Choose carefully — if you select homeschool, you cannot later switch to private school and receive the higher amount.

Step 6: Upload Required Documents

The portal will prompt you to upload:

Proof of Texas residency (scan or photo of utility bill, lease, etc.)
Child's birth certificate or equivalent legal document
Special education documentation (IEP/ARD), if claiming the special education funding tier
Military orders or ID, if claiming military family priority

Document tips:

Photos taken with a phone camera are accepted — just make sure the text is legible
PDFs, JPGs, and PNGs are typically supported
File size limits are usually posted on the upload screen
Make sure names on documents match what you entered in the application

Step 7: Review and Submit

Before submitting, you'll see a summary screen showing everything you entered. Review carefully:

Are all names spelled correctly and matching official documents?
Is the residential address current?
Did you select the right grade level?
Are all required documents uploaded?

Once you're satisfied, submit the application. You'll receive a confirmation email with an application reference number. Save this number.

Application Timeline

| Date | Event | |---|---| | February 4, 2026 | Application window opens | | March 17, 2026 | Application window closes (11:59 PM CT) | | After March 17 | Applications reviewed, eligibility verified, lottery conducted | | June 1, 2026 | Initial deadline for parents to select a school | | June 15, 2026 | Initial deadline for schools to confirm student enrollment | | July 1, 2026 | First round of funding deposited to approved accounts | | July 15, 2026 | Final deadline for school selection | | July 31, 2026 | Final deadline for schools to confirm enrollment | | Mid-August 2026 | Final deadline for first-round funding disbursement | | October 1, 2026 | Additional funding allocated (second round) | | April 1, 2027 | Additional funding allocated (third round) |

The application deadline is firm. Applications submitted after 11:59 PM Central Time on March 17, 2026 will not be accepted for this cycle. However, this is not first-come, first-served — an application submitted on February 5 has the same standing as one submitted on March 16.

What Happens After You Submit

Eligibility Review

The Comptroller's office (through the Odyssey platform) verifies:

Texas residency
Student age and grade eligibility
Document authenticity
Priority category claims (special education, military, foster care, etc.)

If anything is missing or unclear, you may receive a request for additional documentation. Check your email and portal dashboard regularly.

The Lottery (If Oversubscribed)

TEFA has a $1 billion biennial budget cap. With over 100,000 applications already submitted, demand may exceed available funding.

If that happens, a randomized lottery determines who receives funding. Students are placed into four priority tiers based primarily on household income and disability status:

Tier 1: Students with qualifying disabilities + household income ≤ 500% FPL
Tier 2: Household income ≤ 200% FPL
Tier 3: Household income 200–500% FPL
Tier 4: Household income ≥ 500% FPL (capped at 20% of program funding)

Higher-tier applicants are funded first. This is not first-come, first-served. For full details on each tier, see the Eligibility guide.

Approval Notification

If approved, you'll receive notification through:

Email to the address on your account
Portal dashboard at educationfreedom.texas.gov

The notification will include:

The approved funding amount for each child
Instructions for accessing and using your TEFA account
Information about the Odyssey spending platform
Deadlines for school enrollment confirmation

If Not Selected

If the lottery doesn't select your application, you'll be notified and may be placed on a waitlist. If other families decline their spots or additional funding becomes available, waitlisted families are drawn in order.

Not being selected in the first round doesn't prevent you from applying again in future application windows.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

These are the most frequent issues that delay or disqualify applications:

1. Name Mismatches

The name on your application must exactly match the name on your government ID and your child's birth certificate. "Rob Smith" on the application but "Robert Smith" on the ID will flag a review. Use full legal names.

2. Expired or Unreadable Documents

Residency proof must be current (typically within 60 days). A blurry photo of a utility bill may be rejected. Take clear, well-lit photos or use a scanner.

3. Wrong or Missing School Information

If your child currently attends a Texas public school, provide the correct school name and district. This matters for priority categorization. Errors here can delay processing.

4. Missing the Deadline

The window closes March 17, 2026 at 11:59 PM CT. Don't wait until the last day — the portal may experience heavy traffic near the deadline. Submit at least a few days early.

5. Applying Through Unofficial Sites

The only legitimate application portal is educationfreedom.texas.gov. No third party should charge money to submit a TEFA application. If someone asks for payment to "help you apply," it's a scam.

6. Not Checking Email After Submitting

The Comptroller's office may request additional documents or clarification. If you don't respond in time, your application could be delayed or denied. Check the email you registered with — including spam/junk folders — regularly after submitting.

Applying for Multiple Children

You can apply for more than one child using the same parent/guardian account. Each child is:

Entered separately within the application
Evaluated independently for eligibility
Assigned their own funding amount based on their category (standard, special education, or homeschool)

There is no family maximum — if you have three eligible children, all three can receive funding.

Can You Change Your School Choice After Applying?

You can change which specific school you attend, as long as the new school is a registered TEFA-participating institution. However, your educational setting locks at the end of the application period. After March 17, you can switch from private school to homeschool (receiving the lower $2,000 amount), but you cannot switch in a direction that increases your funding.

Many families apply before finalizing their school decision. That's fine — the important thing is getting your application submitted before the deadline and selecting the right educational setting (private school vs. homeschool).

Getting Help with the Application

If you run into issues:

Portal help: The educationfreedom.texas.gov website has a help section and FAQ
Phone support: The Comptroller's office provides a TEFA helpline (check the portal for the current number)
School assistance: Many participating private schools have staff who can help families navigate the application process

Quick-Reference Checklist

Use this checklist before submitting:

[ ] Created account at educationfreedom.texas.gov
[ ] Entered parent/guardian information with legal name matching ID
[ ] Provided parent SSN or ITIN
[ ] Uploaded IRS Form 1040 (2024 or 2025) for income verification
[ ] Added each child with correct legal name, DOB, SSN, and grade
[ ] Indicated current/previous school enrollment accurately
[ ] Selected education path (private school, homeschool, or services) — this locks after March 17
[ ] Uploaded proof of Texas residency (current, legible)
[ ] Uploaded child's birth certificate
[ ] Uploaded special education or military documentation (if applicable)
[ ] Reviewed all information for accuracy
[ ] Submitted before March 17, 2026
[ ] Saved confirmation email and reference number

Browse TEFA-Eligible Schools — Find participating schools in your area →

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Application procedures and requirements are subject to change. Always verify details at educationfreedom.texas.gov for the most current information.