TEFA Family Application Portal Opens Feb. 4, 2026 for Coryell County Parents

Families in Coryell County will be able to submit applications for Texas Education Freedom Accounts starting at 9 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2026, with the family application window scheduled to close on March 17, 2026. The program, managed by the Texas Comptroller’s Office under Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, is intended to fund alternative education options for the 2026–2027 school year and is backed by roughly $1 billion in legislative appropriations.

The comptroller’s office says the application portal is mobile-friendly and that most families can complete the form in less than 15 minutes. The portal will accept applications online through the comptroller’s Education Freedom application site, and the office is publishing a parent prep checklist and a list of participating schools to help families prepare. “Texas families are just days away from opening the door to new educational opportunities,” Hancock said. “We're launching the largest day‑one school choice program in the nation, and we want parents to feel confident and informed about the new choices you'll have ahead. Our goal is to make this process simple and focused on helping families find the learning path that works best for each of their children.”

State education funding rules determine award sizes. For students using TEFA funds at approved private schools or in pre-K or kindergarten, the Texas Education Agency has calculated an award equal to 85 percent of the statewide average state and local funding per student, a figure set at $10,474 for 2026–2027. Other outlets described the program in rounded terms as offering about $10,000 per student and positioned it as a pilot designed to serve roughly 100,000 students. Students with individualized education programs on file with TEA may qualify for larger awards. “A participating child with an individualized education program (IEP) that is on file with the Texas Education Agency and enrolled in an approved private school or in a pre‑K or kindergarten program may be eligible to receive up to $30,000.”

More than 1,400 private schools and education providers around Texas have registered so far, and school registration began Dec. 9, 2025 through the Odyssey portal. Schools must meet accreditation and administrative requirements such as TEPSAC recognition, completion of a financial review or audit, and administering a norm‑referenced test in grades 3–12. Teachers and tutors who register with the state can be paid for tutoring under allowable uses that include private tuition, textbooks and instructional materials, required uniforms, homeschooling expenses, career and technical education programs, and approved industry‑credential training.

The program is not first-come, first-served. If demand exceeds available funds, the comptroller’s office will use a lottery with statutory prioritization that places students with disabilities at the top of the list. First award notifications are expected in early April.

For Coryell County parents, the new application window creates immediate choices and paperwork. Families who may seek private tuition or specialized services should confirm accreditations, assemble documentation such as IEPs, and review participating-provider lists and the comptroller’s prep materials before Feb. 4. For questions about school registration or provider details, local contacts listed in state notices include Bill Hinz and Lee Gaines. As applications open, local school leaders and advocates say they will be watching implementation closely to ensure equity, transparency and that supports for students with disabilities are delivered as promised.