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Texas Education Freedom Accounts -
Stay Up to Date With the Latest Info on ESA
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Questions?
If you still have questions after reviewing these documents, email us at [email protected]
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What is a Texas Education Freedom Account?A Texas Education Freedom Account is an education savings account that provides parents state funds to pay for their child's education expenses in a private school or homeschool setting. Parents may choose the educational environment that best fits their child, and the educational savings account can be used for a variety of education-related costs, such as uniforms, breakfast and lunch, textbooks, or other instructional materials.
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Who qualifies?
- The student must be a U.S. citizen, legal resident, or otherwise allowed to attend public school in Texas. Priority is given to children from low-income families and those with special learning needs.
How much funding could my child receive?
- Each child may receive about $10,000-$12,000 per year. The amount will be 85% of the average of state and local funding per student for the most recent year.
- Students with disabilities may qualify for up to $30,000 per year.
- Home-schooled students may be eligible for up to $2,000 per year.
How can the ESA money be used?
- The ESA may be used to pay for Catholic school tuition and approved educationally-related expenses such as school breakfast and lunch, uniforms, school supplies, textbooks, transportation, tutoring, and more.
If I don't use all the funds in one year, will the money expire or roll over?
- Unused funds roll over from year to year as long as the student remains in the program and until he or she graduates or completes high school.
Is the money distributed to me or the school?
- Funds are deposited into a secure account managed by the state. Parents access the funds through the same online portal and direct payments for eligible expenses to the school or approved vendor for supplemental materials or services, such as school equipment or tutorial services.
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How do I apply?
- An online portal managed by Odyssey will open in January for a designated period of time. Interested parents must apply for each eligible child during this application window to be considered for an ESA to be used for the 2026-2027 school year. After the application period ends, parents will have to wait until the following school year to apply.
In what order will ESAs be awarded?
- Students with a disability and family income at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG).
- Students whose family income is at or below 200% of FPG.
- Students whose family income is between 201% and 500% of FPG.
- All other applicants, depending on available funding. Within this tier, those transitioning from public school to a private setting are prioritized over students already enrolled in private school.
- It is important to remember that once one child in the family is awarded an ESA, his or her siblings will also receive an ESA as long as each child was registered in the ESA portal. This helps keep families together.
Will my child be eligible for ESA if he/she already attends a Catholic school?
- Yes! Students currently enrolled in our Catholic schools are eligible to and are encouraged to apply for an ESA. The law prioritizes families with household incomes less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
- Yes! Students currently enrolled in our Catholic schools are eligible to and are encouraged to apply for an ESA. The law prioritizes families with household incomes less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
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If one of my children is approved, will their siblings be approved too?
- Yes. If one child is approved, any siblings who have also applied for an ESA will be approved as well. Parents must remember to register each child through the online application portal.
Must I apply for each of my children separately?
- Yes. You must apply for each child separately on the online application portal.
What if I apply but am not awarded an ESA this application cycle?
- Families who apply within the application window but do not receive an ESA will be placed on a wait list managed by the portal. In this situation, families will need to apply through the portal again the following year.
- Families who apply within the application window but do not receive an ESA will be placed on a wait list managed by the portal. In this situation, families will need to apply through the portal again the following year.
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Who qualifies as a child with disabilities?
- According to the State of Texas, a "child with a disability" is:
- A student under 22 with a visual or hearing impairment that makes it difficult or unsafe to be properly educated in a public school without special support; or
- A student between the ages of 3 and 21 has one or more of the following conditions that require special education services:
- Physical disability
- Intellectual or developmental disability
- Emotional disturbance
- Learning disability (including dyslexia)
- Autism
- Speech impairment
- Traumatic brain injury
- Parents of children with special needs who intend to apply for an ESA and seek additional funding for their child’s special needs should contact their ISD to begin the evaluation process. You will need to upload the IEP at the time of application to qualify for the funding associated with the disability.
- According to the State of Texas, a "child with a disability" is:
Do all Catholic schools accommodate children with special needs?
- Our Catholic schools strive to support students with special needs to the best of their ability, based on available resources. We recommend speaking directly with the school to learn more about the specific services they offer.
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Next Steps
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What should I do first?
- Start by visiting one or more of our Catholic schools to find the right fit for your child. Then, when you fill out the ESA application, be sure to list all the schools you're interested in - especially our Catholic schools. If you have multiple children, you must complete one application per child.
- Click here to find a Catholic school near you
When and where can I apply?
- In January 2026 an application portal will be launched by the Texas Comptroller's Office. Schools will readily assist families wishing to apply for an ESA.
How will I be notified if I am awarded an ESA?
- Soon after the application window closes, parents will be able to log into the online portal to see if an award was made to the family.
Do I need to apply for an ESA very year?
- No. Once your family is approved and receives an ESA, you do not need to reapply each year. The account will stay active as long as your child continues to meet the program's requirements.
Can my child get an ESA if they already receive a scholarship or tuition assistance?
- We encourage eligible families to apply for an ESA because the award amount is larger than local tuition assistance awards. ESA funds may also be used for additional services that tuition assistance will not cover.
Will I need to pay a deposit at a Catholic school and is it refundable if I don't qualify for an ESA?
- Most Catholic schools require a registration or enrollment fee to reserve a spot for your child. This fee helps cover administrative costs and is non-refundable, even if a family does not qualify for an ESA. Many schools are happy to work with families to explore tuition and fee assistance options.
- It is important to note that applying for an ESA and officially applying for admission at the school are separate processes. Official school applications may occur after ESA awards are made.
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