Texas School Choice/Special ED Update
Dear Friend,
I want to share an important update regarding the Texas school choice program, now officially called Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA).
Application Timeline
- The parent application portal will open on February 4
- All applications must be submitted by March 17
The TEFA Disability Form for parents of students with disabilities has now been published.
Special Needs Documentation
Parents of children with special needs should reach out to the appropriate medical provider, as outlined in the application instructions, and submit the required forms during the application process.
Important reminders:
- You only need to submit the TEFA Disability medical form if your child does not have an IEP or will not receive one before the application deadline.
- If your child already has an IEP, there is no need to complete the medical form—you may simply upload the IEP during the application process.
- Students with a documented disability without an IEP may still qualify for Tier 1 priority if the appropriate medical provider signs the TEFA Disability Form.
Disability forms and detailed instructions can be found below.
Priority System
If the number of applicants exceeds available funds, a tiered priority system will be used (please see income chart below):
- Tier 1: Special education students from families earning less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- Tier 2: Students from families earning less than 200% FPL
- Tier 3: Students from families earning between 200%–500% FPL
- Tier 4: Students from families earning more than 500% FPL
Funding Amounts
- A standard TEFA is approximately $10,500 per student.
- A special education TEFA can be worth up to $30,000, depending on the student’s specific disability and only if the child has an IEP.
Upcoming Webinar
We are planning to host a webinar to walk families through the application process and answer any questions. More details and registration information will be shared soon.
Please keep an eye on your inbox for additional updates, and don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions in the meantime.
Click here to view/download the TEFA Disability Form and Instructions
All the best,
Ari Weisenfeld
Director, Office of State Relations
Agudath Israel of America
