Application Process for Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Applications for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) program open at 9 a.m. on February 4 and close at 11:59 p.m. on March 17. Eligible families can apply through the Odyssey portal, a New York-based company managing the program. The application takes approximately 15 minutes and requires detailed information including parent and student contact details, residency and income verification, educational history, and school choice for the 2026-27 school year. Families with multiple children must submit a single application listing all students. Applications can be modified and resubmitted up until the deadline.
Eligibility and Participation Requirements
To qualify for the program, students must reside in Texas, be U.S. citizens or lawful residents, and be eligible for enrollment in Texas public or open-enrollment charter schools or pre-kindergarten programs. Students currently enrolled in a public or open-enrollment charter school who accept funding must withdraw from those schools. Over 1,600 approved private schools and prekindergarten providers, mostly located in larger Texas cities including Austin, accept these education savings accounts for the upcoming school year, expanding educational options for families.
Funding and Lottery System Details
The $1 billion program, approved by Texas lawmakers in 2025, aims to provide families with alternatives to public schooling by offering thousands of dollars for private school tuition or homeschooling expenses for the 2026-27 academic year. Unlike a first-come, first-served system, the program uses a need-based lottery to prioritize applications, ensuring equitable access to funds regardless of submission time. Accepted families will continue to use the Odyssey portal to manage their accounts throughout their participation in the program.
