$10,474
Private-school base
2026–27 amount for an accepted student attending a participating private school.
Texas Education Freedom Accounts · 2026–27
Texas TEFA funding calculator
See how much an accepted student could receive through a Texas Education Freedom Account for 2026–27. For students attending a participating private school, Texas may add special education funding based on the child's district of residence and the instructional setting code in the child's IEP.
Based on the official 2026–27 TEFA Special Education Funding Table.
Up to $30,000
Private school + qualifying IEP
Total annual TEFA award after the special education add-on. The amount varies by district and instructional setting code.
$2,000
Homeschool / other
2026–27 amount for an accepted student in the homeschool/other funding category.
These are award amounts for accepted TEFA participants. The calculator does not determine admission to the program.
How Texas TEFA special education funding works
1. Start with $10,474
For 2026–27, an accepted child attending a participating private school receives a $10,474 base TEFA amount.
2. A qualifying IEP may increase the amount
For a student with a qualifying IEP on file with the state, Texas adds the special education amount that corresponds to the child's district of residence and instructional setting code.
3. The total cannot exceed $30,000
The official TEFA table contains the special education add-on — not the final award. Add it to $10,474, then apply the $30,000 annual cap.
$10,474 base + district/code special education amount = estimated TEFA award, capped at $30,000
2026–27 TEFA special education funding by district
Texas publishes a different special education add-on for each resident school district and instructional setting code. Search a district below. The amounts shown are added to the $10,474 private-school base, subject to the $30,000 total cap.
Select a district from the official 2026–27 list to view funding amounts.
What is a Texas instructional setting code?
Texas school districts report an instructional setting code for students receiving special education. The code reflects the instructional arrangement used for state reporting. For the 2026–27 TEFA special education table, Texas uses that code together with the child's resident district to calculate the additional amount.
The ARD committee and school district determine and report the instructional setting code. This calculator only reads the code you select; it does not decide what code a child should have.
Why does the table say "+ speech"?
Texas reports speech therapy differently depending on the student's instructional arrangement. Code 00 is used when speech therapy is the reported instructional setting and the student is not receiving another special education instructional setting. When a student receives speech therapy plus another special education instructional setting, the TEFA table publishes a separate "+ speech" amount for that setting.
My child has a disability but no current IEP. What does that mean for TEFA?
For the 2026–27 TEFA program, disability documentation and IEP documentation serve different purposes. Approved proof of disability can establish disability status for application priority. It does not by itself establish the higher special education award. TEFA requires qualifying IEP information on file with the state for the additional funding amount.
Texas also created an evaluation and EFA IEP process
Texas law allows a parent of a child who is not enrolled in a school district or charter school to request a full individual and initial evaluation for special education eligibility and TEFA disability purposes. If the child is found eligible, the district develops an IEP for this purpose. TEA guidance refers to an EFA IEP for certain children outside public school who need IEP information reported for TEFA.
The 2026–27 TEFA application period is already closed. This information explains the Texas process; it does not reopen the current application or guarantee future funding. Future TEFA deadlines and procedures should be checked against the current Comptroller and TEA guidance.
Find a Texas special education advocate
An advocate can help a parent prepare for an evaluation or ARD meeting and understand what is documented in an IEP. Advocates do not assign TEFA awards or instructional setting codes.
Before choosing a private school
Texas law requires TEFA families of children with disabilities to receive notice that a private school is not subject to federal and state special education laws in the same manner as a Texas school district or open-enrollment charter school. Review the official TEFA Families/resources page and the school's policies before making an enrollment decision.
What can TEFA funds pay for?
Texas law allows TEFA funds to be used for approved education-related expenses through preapproved providers or vendors. Categories include private-school tuition and fees, instructional materials, certain classes and assessments, tutoring, transportation to approved providers, certain educational therapies, and qualifying education technology. Restrictions apply.
Private-school tuition and fees
Textbooks and instructional materials
Tutoring
Assessments
Transportation to approved providers
Certain educational therapies
Qualifying technology
Questions about the IEP behind the number?
A Texas special education advocate can help you prepare for an evaluation or ARD meeting, review records, and understand what the school documented in the IEP. The school district reports the instructional setting information, and TEFA determines the official award.
Frequently asked questions
Texas Education Freedom Accounts are state-funded education savings accounts administered by the Texas Comptroller. Accepted families can use account funds for approved education-related expenses through the program.
For 2026–27, the private-school base is $10,474. A qualifying private-school student with an IEP on file with the state may receive additional special education funding, up to a $30,000 total award. TEFA lists $2,000 for the homeschool/other funding category.
No. $30,000 is the maximum. For 2026–27, the special education add-on varies by the child's resident school district and instructional setting code. TEFA says most students receiving additional special education funding receive less than the maximum.
Texas calculates the 2026–27 special education add-on using the school district where the child lives. The amount reflects the state special education funding associated with that district and the instructional setting code reported for the child.
Not by itself. Approved disability documentation can establish disability status for TEFA prioritization, but the Comptroller states that the Disability Certification Form does not establish the increased award amount. The additional special education amount requires qualifying IEP information on file with the state.
The 2026–27 funding table contains separate "+ speech" amounts for students whose reported instructional setting is another code and who also receive speech therapy. Code 00 is the speech-therapy-only instructional setting and does not use a second "+ speech" column.
Check the finalized IEP/ARD records for the instructional arrangement/setting information. If you cannot locate it, ask the school district which instructional setting code was reported for the IEP. This calculator does not assign the code.
No. The current TEFA site says the 2026–27 application window ran from February 4 through March 31, 2026. This page is a funding calculator and reference tool, not an application.
Not unless it has been updated with the next official funding method. TEA says 2026–27 is a transition year: instructional arrangement/setting reporting continues for 2026–27, but the instructional-arrangement funding formula will not be used for 2027–28.
This calculator is specific to 2026–27
Texas is transitioning public-school special education funding to an eight-tier intensity-of-services model with service-group add-ons. TEA says districts will continue instructional arrangement/setting reporting during the 2026–27 transition year, but the instructional-arrangement funding formula will no longer be used for 2027–28. We will update this tool when official TEFA funding guidance for the next school year is available.
Official Texas TEFA resources
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Current program information, application status, funding and FAQs.
educationfreedom.texas.gov2026–27 Special Education Funding Table
Official district-by-instructional-code add-on amounts used by this calculator.
Download PDFTEFA Special Education Funding
Comptroller explanation of IEP requirements, district/code calculation and appeals.
Special education fundingTEA ESA/IEP Guidance
TEA guidance to school systems on IEP and EFA IEP information used for TEFA.
TEA guidanceSources last reviewed August 29, 2026.
Find Parent Advocates is an independent directory and educational resource and is not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, the Texas Education Agency, or Odyssey. This calculator estimates 2026–27 TEFA funding from the official published funding table. It does not determine program eligibility, admission, IEP eligibility, instructional setting, or the official award amount. Always verify the final amount in the family's TEFA account or award notice.