Texas Education Freedom Accounts

Texas Education Freedom Accounts give families new opportunities to choose a faith-filled education at Blessed Sacrament Catholic School.

TEFA APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN THROUGH MARCH 17, 2026!

If you’re ready, apply on the TEFA Application Site. There’s no rush to submit right away. Applications submitted anytime between February 4 and March 17 (by 11:59 p.m. CT) are treated the same, so take your time and apply when you’re ready. If you still have questions, we invite you to learn more below.

New to Blessed Sacrament Catholic School?

Thank you for considering Blessed Sacrament Catholic School for your family. We know choosing a school is an important and personal decision. With new opportunities made possible through the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program, more families can explore a faith-filled Catholic education. We invite you to schedule a tour and meet our principal and staff to see if Blessed Sacrament is the right fit for your family. Schedule a tour today!

What is an ESA and what is TEFA?

An Education Savings Account (ESA) is a program that gives families state funds to help pay for their child’s education. These funds can be used for approved expenses like private school tuition, tutoring, educational therapies, and other learning supports.

TEFA, which stands for Texas Education Freedom Account, is simply the name of Texas’s ESA program. In other words, TEFA is how Texas provides ESA funding to families. TEFA is not a voucher — the funds are placed in an account for families to use toward their child’s education, helping make school more affordable.

Who can apply for TEFA?

The Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program is open to Texas families with school-age children, and all families are encouraged to apply regardless of income.

TEFA eligibility requirements include:

Must be a Texas Resident
Must be a US citizen, US national, or lawfully admitted into the US
Must be eligible to enroll in a Texas public school (K-12)
Students in PK3-4 may be eligible if they qualify for the PreK4SA Program.

Who Is Eligible for TEFA Funding?

Who gets priority for TEFA funds?

Families will be placed into one of four categories for priority funding.

Tier 1: Children with disabilities (family income ≤500% of Federal Poverty Level)

A student with special needs (Tier/Priority 1) is defined as a child (age 21 or younger) with a disability listed in Texas Education Code §29.003 that requires special services to be adequately or safely educated in a public school.
A TEFA Disability Certification Form, completed and signed by a qualified licensed professional, may place a child in the disability priority group; however, additional disability-based funding can only be calculated if the child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP) on file.
Without an IEP, the student can still be reviewed in the disability priority group but may receive the standard $10,474 award.
Qualifying disabilities include: Autism, Deaf-Blindness, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, Emotional Disability, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, Orthopedic Impairment, Other Health Impairment, Specific Learning Disability, Speech Impairment, Traumatic Brain Injury

Tier 2: Families at or below 200% of FPL (~$64,300)

Tier 3: Families between 200–500% of FPL ($64,300–$160,750)

Tier 4: Families above 500% of FPL (>~$160,750)

How Are TEFA Funds Distributed and Used?

Through the Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program, approved families receive state education funds placed into a secure account for each eligible child. The amount awarded depends on the student’s situation:

Most students may receive $10,474
Students with disabilities may receive up to $30,000 per year
Homeschool participants may receive up to $2,000 per year

Sibling benefit: Once a child is selected and approved for TEFA, their siblings who applied are also awarded funding.

Funds are managed through the state’s TEFA system and can only be spent on approved education-related expenses.

What can TEFA funds can be used for?

TEFA funds may be used for approved education-related costs, including:

Private school tuition and fees, including Catholic schools
Instructional materials and uniforms
Tutoring and academic support
Educational therapies and services
Required technology, such as computers or software
Transportation services
School meals provided by private schools

How much funding can TEFA provide?

Be Prepared

We encourage parents to look over the Texas Education Freedom Account Website. There are several guides, checklists, and tutorials to help guide you through the application process.

Texas Education Freedom Accounts

TEFA Parent Application Guide

TEFA Parent Application Checklist

TEFA Disability Form

TEFA Disability Form Instructions

Odyssey Application Video & FAQs