For the first time, Texas families can use state funds to customize their child’s learning path, whether that’s at an accredited private school, through hybrid learning, or homeschooling.
- Flexible Spending: ESAs can be used to cover tuition, textbooks, tutoring, wrap-around services, including therapy and transportation, and more. Homeschool families receive up to $2,000 per student; students with disabilities may receive up to $30,000 for qualified expenses.
Who Qualifies?
- All Texas K–12 students, including pre-K in public programs, private-school attendees, and homeschoolers.
- No income requirement to apply, though special-needs students and students from lower-income families will be first in line.
How Much Funding Per Student?
- Private school students: ~ $11,000 per year.
- Homeschool families: $2,000 per year.
- Students with disabilities: Up to $30,000 per year (however much they would get in a public school).
Priority and Availability
- First in line: Students with disabilities in lower-income households.
- Next: Families earning ≤ 200% FPL (~$64,300 for family of 4).
- Then: Families earning between 200–500% FPL
- Lastly: All other eligible families, if funds remain.
- Applications from an eligible child and the child’s eligible sibling received during the same application period shall be approved in the same application period if funds are available.
What You Can Spend It On
- Accredited private school tuition & fees
- Textbooks, uniforms, instructional materials
- Public-school–offered courses and services
- Tuition for local colleges, dual enrollment
- Tutoring, educational therapies
- Fee-for-service transportation
- Computer hardware/software (up to 10% of funds)
- Breakfast/lunch at private schools
Other Details
- Private schools must administer either a national norm-referenced exam or the STAAR test.
- Public/private schools are not required to accept ESA funds, so inquire with your current or prospective school to find out if they will participate.
Next Steps
- Get Updates: Sign up for email/text updates when the portal opens.
- Research Schools: Check accreditation status, ask about ESA participation, tour schools.
- Organize Documents: Proof of residency, child’s birth certificate/SSN, any IEPs.
- Plan Your Budget: ESAs may not cover full tuition costs; check with your school about total costs and other available financial accommodations, if needed.