The short answer
A Houston student accepted into TEFA and enrolled at a participating private school receives $10,474 for 2026-27. With an IEP, the account can reach $30,000. Homeschool and other students receive $2,000.
Year one, in numbers
More than 274,000 Texas students applied. By late August more than 109,000 were funded and nearly 50,000 had come off the waitlist. Houston ISD led every district in Texas with 3,327 funded students in July.
Who gets priority
When applications exceed funding, students are selected by lottery within priority tiers. In year two, siblings of participants come first, then new eligible applicants, then former participants returning from public school. Current participants do not reapply.
How to be ready for 2027-28
Join the state interest list, keep your 2025 or 2026 federal Form 1040 (pay stubs are not accepted), make sure your Texas driver license shows your current address, and shortlist two or three participating schools now.
What TEFA does not cover
Before- and after-school care, capital campaign fees, parent organization dues and tuition above the award. That gap is where school aid, the Archdiocese, the 2027 federal scholarship and our partner fund come in.
Next step
Take the two-minute funding check. A School Funding Advisor will map every source your family qualifies for and give you the dates.