What Is TEFA / Texas ESA Funding?

Texas has introduced the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program to give families more flexibility in choosing the learning environment that best fits their child.

TEFA funds are not government vouchers. Instead, they are state-funded education accounts that eligible families can use for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, uniforms, and other qualifying educational services.

The program is administered by the State of Texas and managed through a platform called Odyssey, which helps families access and use their awarded funds.

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Who Can Apply?

All Texas families may apply.
TEFA was established under Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) as a universal program, meaning every family is eligible to submit an application.

Funding priority is determined by the following categories:

• Category 1: Students with a current IEP or 504 Plan (from an ISD, charter school, or licensed professional)

• Category 2: Families with an Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) under 200% of the federal poverty level

• Category 3: Families with an AGI under 300%

• Category 4: All families above those income levels (Note: Category 4 awards are capped at no more than 20% of total program funding, making early application important.)

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Abiding Word & TEFA

Abiding Word Lutheran School has been approved to accept TEFA funds.
This means eligible families may apply their ESA awards toward tuition and qualifying educational expenses at Abiding Word.

Our Christ-centered, small-class environment aligns well with the goal of TEFA: giving families meaningful choice in their child’s education.

You do not need to be accepted into TEFA before applying for your children to attend Abiding Word. You can apply for TEFA and Abiding Word at the same time! If you want to apply for other Abiding Word scholarships, you must show you have also applied for TEFA.

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When Can Parents Apply?

Applications for the 2026–27 school year are no longer being accepted. We will update this pade with the infromation for 2027 applications as soon as it becomes available.

Parents can visit the TEFA website to:

• Sign up for program updates

• Download the official Family Application Checklist

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What Will Parents Need to Apply?

Families should be prepared to provide:

• Proof of Texas residency

• Citizenship documentation

• Income documentation

• IEP or 504 documentation, if applicable