TEFA Qualification Steps
Private School Students with Special Needs (Up to $30,000)
If your child is enrolled in an approved private school (or an approved pre-K/kindergarten program) and has special needs, they may be eligible to receive up to $30,000 through Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). To qualify, your child must have an individualized education program (IEP) that is on file with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) by the end of the TEFA application period.
The award amount is based on the funding your child’s local school district would receive to provide services under your child’s IEP.
How to get an IEP “on file” (simple step-by-step)
- Check what you already have.
If your child already has an IEP from a Texas public school district (or open-enrollment charter school), you may already be in a good place for this pathway. If you do not have an IEP, start with Step 2. - Request an evaluation from your local public school district (in writing).
Even if your child is currently in private school or homeschool, you can request a special education evaluation from your district of residence. A short written request is the best place to start. - Complete the evaluation and attend the ARD meeting.
If the evaluation supports eligibility, the district will hold an ARD meeting (Texas’s IEP team meeting) to determine eligibility and next steps. - Ensure an IEP is created (and submitted to TEA).
TEA guidance explains that districts evaluate, create the TEFA-specific IEP through the ARD process, and upload the evaluation/IEP information through a secure portal. For TEFA, the key is that an IEP is on file with TEA by the end of the application period. - Apply during the TEFA application window.
The official TEFA site shares the latest application timing and next steps.
If this feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Start with Step 2, take one step at a time, and keep copies of every email, form, and report along the way.