Get a Jump on TEFA: Important Funding Opportunities for Your Son

Texas Senate Bill 2 has established Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA)—a state initiative launching for the 2026–2027 school year. These accounts provide publicly funded Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to help families cover private school tuition and educational costs.

While applications are expected to open on February 4, 2026, we want to highlight a critical priority for our families: enhanced funding for children with disabilities.

Why This Matters Now

Students with recognized disabilities are a top priority and may be eligible for significantly higher funding than general education students. To qualify, your son must have a disability recognized by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), such as:

Specific learning differences (including dyslexia and dysgraphia)
Autism or ADHD-related impairments
Speech, language, hearing, or visual impairments
Intellectual, orthopedic, or emotional disturbances

The Required Next Step

To access this specific funding, the state requires a Full and Individual Initial Evaluation (FIIE) conducted by a public school district. Private evaluations are generally not sufficient for TEFA eligibility.

Because these evaluations take time to schedule and complete, we recommend starting the process now. You may request this free evaluation through:

The public school district in which you reside, OR
SAISD, the district where San Antonio Academy is located.

Public districts are legally required to provide these evaluations at no cost under the "Child Find" process.

San Antonio Academy is closely monitoring TEFA developments and will share more information as the state releases further guidance. In the meantime, securing a district evaluation is the best way to ensure your family is prepared for the February application window.

If you have questions about starting the process of requesting an evaluation through the public schools, you can reach out to Dr. Atkerson or Dr. Cox.

If you want to learn about the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA), you can visit these websites:

Official TEFA Parent Portal (EducationFreedom.Texas.Gov): This is the state’s primary resource for families. It contains the Parent Application Checklist, detailed FAQs, and the portal where applications will open on February 4, 2026.
Texas Education Agency (TEA) - SB 2 Correspondence: This official page specifically addresses the implementation of Senate Bill 2 regarding special education requirements. It provides guidance on the mandatory public school evaluations (FIIE) and the "Child Find" process required for children with disabilities to receive enhanced funding.
Texas Private Schools Association (TPSA): This site provides a comprehensive guide for parents choosing to move from public to private education. It includes a School Finder tool to locate private schools in San Antonio and elsewhere that are already registered to participate in the TEFA program.

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts: As the agency responsible for managing the $1 billion fund, the Comptroller's media center offers official news updates on program rules, funding amounts (such as the $10,474 base amount for 2026), and administrative timelines.