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TEFA homeschool track vs private school track

TEFA pays out very differently depending on whether your child homeschools or attends an approved private school. Here is how the two tracks compare, and how to choose. Last reviewed November 2, 2026.

The short answer The private school track pays about five times more, but most of it goes to tuition, and students in grades 3–12 take a yearly test. The homeschool track pays $2,000 all at once, has no test, and lets you choose every purchase yourself.

Side by side

	Homeschool track	Private school track
Yearly award (2026–27) Source	$2,000 per student	About $10,474 per student; up to $30,000 for students with a disability and an IEP on file
How it is paid Source	The full amount at once, at the start of the year	In installments during the school year
Testing Source	No test required	Grades 3–12 take a nationally norm-referenced or state-approved test each year
School enrollment Source	None. You teach at home and choose everything yourself	Enrolled in an approved private school, which receives most of the money as tuition
What the money buys Source	Curriculum, classes, tutoring, books, kits and limited technology from approved providers	Mainly private school tuition and fees, plus other approved expenses

Sources: Tutero: TEFA eligibility and amounts (vendor-published); Odyssey help center: testing and reporting for students; Odyssey help center: testing for participating schools; Outschool: private school vs homeschool track (vendor-published).

Which track fits your family

The homeschool track fits if you…

already homeschool, or want to teach at home
want to choose your own curriculum, classes and tutors
would rather not take a yearly standardized test
want the full award available at the start of the year

What the $2,000 can buy →

The private school track fits if you…

have chosen an approved private school, in person or online
want a school to handle teaching, grading and records
are fine with a yearly test in grades 3–12
need the larger award to cover tuition

Find approved schools in the state Finder →

What both tracks share

Money is spent only through the TEFA Marketplace run by Odyssey (Texas Comptroller, June 30, 2026).
Technology is capped at 10% of the year's award. See what you can buy.
Unused funds may carry forward while your child stays eligible.
Re-enrolling in a Texas public or charter school ends eligibility (Outschool: private school vs homeschool track (vendor-published)).

Watch for online "schools" Some accredited online programs are listed in the state Finder as private schools. They belong to the private-school track and can't be paid for with the $2,000 homeschool award. That's why this site's vendor list includes homeschool-track providers only.

How applications worked in 2026–27

The state received more than 274,000 applications between February 4 and March 31, 2026 (TEFA lottery week update (official)), and more than 102,000 students were awarded accounts for 2026–27 (Texas Comptroller, June 10, 2026). Because there were more applicants than funding, awards went by priority group and lottery. Students with a disability in households at or below 500% of the federal poverty level came first, followed by groups based on household income (Odyssey help center: how students are prioritized).

If you didn't apply this year, watch for the 2027–28 application window. Sign up below and we'll email you when the dates are announced.

Common questions

How much is TEFA for homeschoolers compared with private school?

For 2026–27, homeschool students receive $2,000 a year. Students at an approved private school receive about $10,474, and students with a disability and an IEP on file can receive up to $30,000.

Do homeschool students using TEFA have to take a test?

Odyssey, which runs the program for the state, says homeschool students are not required to take an assessment. Private school students in grades 3–12 must take an approved test each year. Check the current participant handbook, because a few third-party guides disagree.

Can I use the homeschool award for an online private school?

Only if that program is sold as an approved item to homeschool families. Online programs listed as private schools in the state Finder, such as some accredited virtual schools, belong to the private-school track.

What happens if my child goes back to public school?

Re-enrolling in a Texas public or charter school after accepting TEFA funds ends eligibility for the program.

Check before you decide Amounts, testing rules and priority groups can change between program years. The participant handbook and the official TEFA site are the final word.

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