TEFA Eligibility: Who Qualifies

To participate in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, your child must meet specific eligibility requirements set by state law. If eligible applicants exceed available funding, a prioritization order determines who receives funds. This page covers the full eligibility criteria, prioritization tiers, Federal Poverty Level (FPL) context, and Pre-K eligibility rules.

Last updated: February 2026. Source: educationfreedom.texas.gov

Basic Eligibility Requirements

The parent must provide proof that the child meets all of the following:

Citizenship or lawful presence — The child must be a citizen or national of the United States or be lawfully admitted into the United States.
School eligibility — The child must be eligible to attend a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school, or be eligible to enroll in a public or charter school's pre-K or kindergarten program.
Texas residency — The child must reside in Texas.

The parent submitting the application must be a Texas resident. Under state law, "parent" includes a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of the child.

Ongoing Eligibility

Once accepted, a child remains eligible until one of the following occurs:

The child graduates from high school
The child is no longer eligible to attend a Texas public school, charter school, or pre-K/kindergarten program
The child enrolls in a Texas public or charter school
The child moves out of Texas

Participants in good standing do not need to reapply each year; families confirm continuation.

Pre-K Eligibility

Children ages 3–5 may be eligible for TEFA if they meet the pre-K/kindergarten eligibility criteria under Texas law. A child must be at least three years old and meet at least one of the following conditions:

Limited English proficiency — Unable to speak and comprehend the English language
Economic disadvantage — Eligible for the national free or reduced-price lunch program
Homelessness — Homeless, regardless of residence
Military family — Child of an active-duty member of the U.S. armed forces (including state military forces or reserve component) who is ordered to active duty
Military casualty — Child of a member of the armed forces who was injured or killed while serving on active duty
Foster care — Is or has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing, or in foster care in another state or territory while residing in Texas
Star of Texas Award — Child of a peace officer, firefighter, or emergency medical first responder who received the Star of Texas Award
Educator family — Child of a classroom teacher employed at a public primary or secondary school in the district that offers the pre-K or kindergarten program

Pre-K providers must be approved by the program. For the full list of pre-K eligibility criteria, refer to the Texas Education Code and the official TEFA site.

Prioritization: Who Gets Funds First

TEFA is not first-come, first-served. If eligible applicants exceed available funding, a lottery is used within each priority group. State law defines the order below.

Year 1 (2026-27 School Year)

Applicants are prioritized in this order:

Priority	Group
1	Children with a disability (IEP or program-approved proof-of-disability form) whose household income is at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level
2	Children whose household income is at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level
3	Children whose household income is between 200% and 500% of the Federal Poverty Level
4	Children whose household income is at or above 500% of the Federal Poverty Level. Within this group, children who were enrolled in a Texas public or charter school for at least 90% of the prior school year are prioritized first. Funds for children in this category may not exceed 20% of the amount appropriated for that school year.

Important: For prioritization, "children with a disability" includes both (a) children with an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency at the time the application period closes, and (b) children who submitted a program-approved proof-of-disability form. However, only children with an IEP on file who are accepted into the program are eligible for the increased funding amount (up to $30,000). Children with only a 504 plan or proof-of-disability form may be prioritized in tier 1 but receive the standard $10,474 amount. See our special needs funding page for details.

Year 2 and Beyond

After year 1, applicants are first grouped in this order:

Siblings of participating children
New eligible applicants
Prior participants who left the program due to enrollment in a public or charter school

Within each group, the year 1 prioritization order (income and disability) applies.

Sibling rule: If a child is accepted during an application period, any eligible sibling who applies during the same period is also accepted.

Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Guidelines

Prioritization uses the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines published annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The ASPE Federal Poverty Guidelines are updated each year.

Household size determines the threshold. For example, 200% of FPL for a family of four in 2025 is approximately $62,400; 500% is approximately $156,000. Exact figures vary by year and household size. The official TEFA site and application materials reference the current guidelines.

Children with Disabilities: Prioritization vs. Funding Amount

There is an important distinction:

Prioritization: A child with a disability (IEP or proof-of-disability form) may be placed in priority tier 1 if household income is at or below 500% FPL.
Funding amount: Only children with an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency by the end of the application period are eligible for the increased amount (up to $30,000). Children with a 504 plan or proof-of-disability form only receive the standard $10,474 if they attend private school.

For a full explanation of IEP vs. 504 and the EFA IEP process, see our special needs funding page.

Next Steps

If your child meets the eligibility requirements:

Review the application guide for the step-by-step process and required documents.
Check TEFA overview for funding amounts and approved expenses.
Use the funding calculator to estimate your potential amount.
Apply during the application window (February 4 – March 17, 2026) at educationfreedom.texas.gov.

Families in specific metro areas may find local context helpful. We provide TEFA resources for Austin, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Fort Worth, El Paso, Arlington, Plano, Lubbock, and Corpus Christi.

Frequently Asked Questions (Eligibility)

Who can apply for TEFA on behalf of a child?

The parent—defined as a Texas resident who is a natural or adoptive parent, managing or possessory conservator, legal guardian, custodian, or other person with legal authority to act on behalf of the child—may submit an application.

Is there an income limit to qualify for TEFA?

No. There is no income ceiling that disqualifies a family. However, if funding is limited, applicants are prioritized by income and other factors. Lower-income households and children with disabilities are prioritized first.

Do I need to reapply every year?

No. Participants in good standing remain in the program automatically. Families confirm they want to continue each year; a full new application is not required.

What if my child has a 504 plan but not an IEP?

A child with a 504 plan may qualify for prioritization as a "child with a disability" if you submit a program-approved proof-of-disability form. However, only children with an IEP on file with the Texas Education Agency are eligible for the increased funding amount (up to $30,000). A child with only a 504 plan would receive the standard $10,474 if attending private school. Learn more about special needs funding.

Are all eligible children guaranteed funding?

No. If eligible applicants exceed available funding, a lottery within each priority tier determines who receives funds. Applying does not guarantee acceptance.

TEFA Eligibility