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Up to $30,000 Available Updated March 2026

Texas Education Savings Accounts for Students with Disabilities

Your child may qualify for up to $30,000 to pay for private school, therapies, and curriculum. Most families don't know how to get it. We do.

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Based on Texas SB 2 March 31 Deadline IEP Strategy Experts

The Funding Gap You Need to Know

The state offers two different funding amounts. The difference between getting $10,500 and $30,000 comes down to one piece of paper: a developed IEP.

Standard TEFA
~$10,500
For general education students
Disability TEFA
Up to $30,000
For students with an IEP
The Catch: A 504 plan is usually not enough. You need a full public school evaluation and an Individualized Education Program (IEP).
Lottery Priority Order Confirmed
  • First: Disability + Income ≤500% FPL
  • Second: Income ≤200% FPL
  • Third: Income 201–500% FPL
  • Fourth: All other applicants

Does My Child Qualify?

To trigger the higher disability tier, your child needs an official diagnosis recognized by Texas and IDEA.

AutismADHD (OHI)DyslexiaSpeech ImpairmentIntellectual Disability

The 3 Non-Negotiables

1
Texas Resident
Must live in Texas and meet age requirements.
2
School Evaluation
Completed Full Individual Evaluation (FIE) from a public district.
3
Developed IEP
An active ARD committee document detailing services.

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Your Action Timeline

Districts are backlogged. If you don't start the evaluation process now, you will miss the application window.

1
Request Evaluation
Send a certified letter to your district.
2
45-Day Clock Legal Deadline
The district has 45 school days to evaluate.
3
ARD Meeting
Review results and develop the IEP.
4
Apply for TEFA Closes Mar 31
Submit your IEP to the state portal.

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The Hidden Traps

Districts lose funding when you take the TEFA voucher. Here is what to watch out for.

Private School 'Gotcha'
While an IEP gets you the money, private schools are NOT legally required to provide the services in it. You lose your IDEA rights.
The Backlog Delay
Districts push your evaluation past the 45-day mark, making you miss the TEFA window.
File a Due Process complaint
The Minimum IEP
They offer a bare-bones IEP that undersells your child's needs to save the district money.
Bring an advocate to ARD

Get the Free ESA Checklist

The 12 steps you must take before you apply to guarantee your $30,000 eligibility.

  • Evaluation request templates
  • IEP goal bank for max funding
  • Application timeline tracker
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Master the ESA Process

Everything you need to know to secure your funding and place your child in the right school.

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