The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has awarded additional funding through the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program to nearly 3,800 students, expanding access to the state's newly created education savings account initiative.
TEFA was established through Senate Bill 2 during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. The program provides eligible families with state-funded education savings accounts that can be used for a range of educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring services, homeschool curriculum, educational therapies, and other approved costs.
Under the program, qualifying students may receive approximately $10,500 annually. Students with disabilities can qualify for awards of up to $30,000, while homeschooled students are eligible for up to $2,000.
The latest round of awards became possible after previously selected participants either withdrew from the program or changed their enrollment plans. In many cases, students who chose homeschooling reduced their funding allocation from the standard $10,500 award to the $2,000 homeschool amount, freeing up resources that could be redistributed to students on the waiting list.
More than 3,300 of the newly funded students were Tier 2 applicants who had previously been waitlisted. These students come from households with incomes at or below $66,000 annually for a family of four. The additional awards continue the state's effort to prioritize lower-income families seeking educational alternatives.
The expansion also included 294 additional students receiving special education services. Eligibility for these awards was determined using information verified through the Texas Education Agency. In addition, 183 siblings of newly awarded special education students were also approved for funding.
The latest awards build upon previous funding rounds conducted earlier this year. In April, the program awarded funds to approximately 42,600 students in the highest-priority category, which included students with disabilities and their siblings from households earning $165,000 or less annually for a family of four. A second round of awards later expanded access to roughly 53,000 Tier 2 students from lower-income households.
With the newest awards included, just under 100,000 students have now received TEFA funding offers. However, participation numbers remain fluid. Approximately 1,400 students have opted out of the program, leaving around 98,000 active awards currently in place.
State officials indicated that the waitlist will remain active as enrollment decisions continue and appeals are reviewed. Additional funding opportunities may become available throughout the summer as families finalize their educational plans and award allocations are adjusted.
Several important deadlines are approaching for participating families and schools. Parents must select their educational provider by July 15, while schools are required to confirm student enrollment by July 31.
Funding distribution is also set to begin soon. The first round of TEFA funds will start appearing in family accounts through the Odyssey platform on July 1. State officials expect the remaining first-round funding allocations to be fully available by mid-August, allowing families to begin using their awards for approved educational expenses ahead of the upcoming school year.
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