TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Accounts) is a Texas state program that provides eligible families with education funding accounts to help pay for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition.

Families may qualify if their child is:

• a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully admitted into the United States.
• eligible to attend a public school or open-enrollment charter school or be eligible to enroll in a public or open-enrollment charter school’s pre-K or kindergarten program.
• a resident in the state of Texas.

Visit the Texas Education Freedom Accounts website to apply.

Application periods are announced by the state program each year. For the 2026-2027 school year, applications are open from February 4th through March 17th, 2026. Please note that these funds are NOT on a first come, first serve basis. 

The Early Learning Program and Primary School Program are eligible for TEFA. Please note that the Morning Program at The DoSeum, Saturday Language Classes, and Language Camps are NOT eligible. 

TEFA funding may help reduce education costs but families are responsible for any tuition or fees that exceed the awarded amount.

Yes, families must apply to ISSA separately from TEFA. Families must still complete ISSA’s admissions process and receive acceptance independently of TEFA funding.

It is best to contact Odyssey's support team for questions about your TEFA application. You can also find answers to questions on their support page. 

In order to be eligible for TEFA as a preschool (ISSA Early Learning) student, the child must be 3 to 5 years old as of September 1st of the upcoming school year. They must also meet ONE of the following conditions:

• Qualifies for free or reduced lunch (Educationally Disadvantaged)
• Emerging bilingual (they are unable to speak or understand English well enough to fully participate in an English-language classroom)
• Parent is active duty military
• One parent is military MIA/injured or killed in the line of duty
• Foster Care
• Homeless
• Parent is a Star of Texas Recipient
• Parent is a public-school teacher at the school in which the child will attend

No, participants who remain in good standing do not need to reapply each year. Families only need to confirm if they wish to continue.