Sacred Heart TEFA

According to TEFA, families who applied for TEFA can expect the following timeline: 

• Beginning May 11, 2026
  • Participating parents will be able to log into their Odyssey portal to accept their TEFA funds and make their final school selection.
• June 1, 2026
  • Parents must confirm enrollment at a TEFA-participating private school.
• July 15, 2026
  • Final deadline for students who did not confirm placement by June 1 to select a private school.
• 2026–27 School Year
  • TEFA funds may first be used for approved educational expenses. 

Not necessarily. If applications exceed available funding, a lottery will decide placement. State law sets this priority order:

1. Siblings of children already in the program (after the first round of selections).

Children with a disability who are members of a household with income at or below 500 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL).

1. Children from households at or below 200 percent FPL.
2. Children from households above 200 percent and below 500 percent FPL.
3. Children from households at or above 500 percent FPL, prioritized by children who were enrolled in a Texas public school district or open-enrollment charter school for at least 90 percent of the preceding school year, according to the TEA. No more than 20 percent of total program funds may be spent on this category in a given school year.

If during an application period, there are more acceptable applications for admission than there are available positions, a wait list will be established based on the priority categories listed above.

• The state has budgeted $1 billion, which will serve approximately 90,000 students. The amount available to each student is based on their circumstances:
• Participants choosing Sacred Heart Catholic School receive 85% of the estimated statewide average amount of state and local funding per student for the most recent school year, which is approximately $10,474.
• A child with a disability may receive up to $30,000, according to the amount the child’s school district would receive if the child were enrolled in public school, based on the child’s individualized education program (IEP). Your child must have an IEP Plan prior to applying for TEFA; otherwise, you’re only eligible for the $10,474 funding.

Student must be a U.S. citizen, national, or lawful resident eligible to attend a Texas public school.

If applications exceed the limited number of available TEFA funding, it will be allocated by lottery.

• Priority group 1 – children with disabilities whose family income is equal or less than 500% of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) (see chart)
• Priority group 2 – children whose family income is equal or less than 200% of poverty guidelines
• Priority group 3 – children whose family income is between 200% and 500% of poverty guidelines
• Priority group 4 – all other eligible children
  • Group 4 prioritizes students switching from public school
  • Funding for Group 4 is capped at 20% of the total appropriation in the TEFA program

If a child is approved, so are the child’s siblings who applied.

No. Participants in good standing stay in the program automatically. Families only need to confirm they want to continue.

As defined by the State of Texas, a “child with a disability”:

Is not more than 21 years of age and has a visual or auditory impairment that prevents the student from being adequately or safely educated in public school without the provision of special services;

OR

Is at least three but not more than 21 years of age and has one or more of the following disabilities that prevents the student from being adequately or safely educated in public school without the provision of special services:

• physical disability;
• intellectual or developmental disability;
• emotional disturbance;
• learning disability, including dyslexia;
• autism;
• speech disability; or
• traumatic brain injury.

Note: A child with a disability may receive up to $30,000, according to the amount the child’s school district would receive if the child were enrolled in public school, based on the child’s individualized education program (IEP). Your child must have an IEP Plan prior to applying for TEFA; otherwise, you’re only eligible for the $10,800 funding.

Click for a printable resource on how to obtain an IEP for your child. 

• Tuition and fees for a private school, higher ed provider, online educational course or program, or a program that provides industry-based credential approved by TEA.
• Costs of breakfast or lunch provided during the school day by a private school.
• Purchase of instructional materials or uniforms.
• Fees for classes provided by a public school.
• Costs related to academic assessments.
• Fees for private tutor or teaching service.
• Fees for transportation provided by a fee-for-service transportation provider.
• Fees for educational therapies or services not covered by government benefits or private insurance.
• Costs of computer hardware and software and other technological devices required by a provider or prescribed by a physician (not to exceed in any year 10% of the total amount in the child’s TEFA funding for the year).
• Money may not be used to pay any person related to a program participant within the third degree of consanguinity.

• Parents must agree to:
• Spend program money only for eligible expenses
• Share child’s assessment results with EAO
• Not sell an item purchased with program money and
• Notify the EAO with in 30 days of child enrolling in public school, graduating high school, or otherwise becoming ineligible to enroll in public school

• The parent of a child not enrolled in public school MUST request a school district evaluate a child for determining eligibility for special education services and participation in the TEFA program as a child with a disability. Contact your local ISD to begin this process as soon as possible. Click for a printable resource on how to obtain an IEP for your child. 

• If the child is eligible, the school district must develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the child.

• The Certified Education Assistance Organization (CEAO) must provide notice to parents that a private school is not subject to federal and state laws regarding the provision of educational services to a child with a disability in the same manner as a public school.

• The Certified Education Assistance Organization (CEAO) must provide information regarding the rights to which a child with a disability is entitled if the child attends a public school.

• A public school must provide records to the parent of a child seeking to participate in the TEFA program or to a private school at the parent’s request.

• A school district, TEA, or charter school must provide information to the Certified Education Assistance Organization (CEAO) to verify a child’s eligibility to participate in the TEFA program.

• The Certified Education Assistance Organization (CEAO) may not retain information beyond the period necessary to determine eligibility.

• The Certified Education Assistance Organization (CEAO) must comply with confidentiality laws and may not sell or distribute information without a participant’s consent.

• A provider of supplemental special education services previously approved by TEA.

• A private school:

  • accredited by TEPSAC or TEA and

  • annually administers a nationally norm-referenced assessment in grades 3-12 and

  • has continuously operated a campus for at least two school years preceding the date the school seeks approval to participate in the program.

• A school district or charter school accredited by TEA and able to provide services or products to participating children in a manner that the children are not counted toward average daily attendance.

• A private tutor, therapist, or teaching service employee who:

  • is an educator employed by or a retired educator formerly employed by a school accredited by TEA, or an organization recognized by TEA or TEPSAC or

  • holds a relevant license or accreditation by a state, regional, or national certification or accreditation organization or

  • is employed in or retired from teaching or tutoring capacity at a higher education provider and

  • has provided a national criminal history record information review to the comptroller and is not on the Do Not Hire registry.

• A higher education provider that demonstrates nationally recognized postsecondary education accreditation.

• An education service provider or vendor who receives TEFA money is not a recipient of federal financial assistance and may not be considered a state actor.

• The state may not impose limits or requirements contrary to religious or institutional values of a provider, vendor, or participant regarding curriculum, admissions practices, operations, policies, standards, etc.

• Quarterly transfers into TEFA accounts will be made on the first day of July, October, January, and April.

• If a child enrolls in the program after the beginning of the school year, the amount transferred is prorated based on the date of enrollment.

• Any money remaining in a participating child’s account will be carried over to the next fiscal year.

• Transfers to an account are not considered taxable income unless otherwise provided by federal or another state’s law.

The initial application period opens February 4, 2026 and closed on March 31, 2026.