Big news for San Antonio and Boerne families: Texas has launched the largest school choice program in the nation, and Edquisitive Montessori qualifies as an approved TEFA provider.
Starting with the 2026-27 school year, eligible families can receive approximately $10,500 per child to use toward tuition at our Montessori preschool and kindergarten programs. For families who’ve wanted a Montessori education but weren’t sure about the investment, TEFA could be the answer.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) are state-funded education savings accounts created by the Texas Legislature in 2025 through Senate Bill 2. The program gives families more flexibility in choosing the best educational environment for their children — including private Montessori schools like ours.
The state has allocated $1 billion in funding, expected to serve approximately 90,000 students in the first year. Funds are managed through the Texas Comptroller’s office and administered by Odyssey, a certified educational assistance organization.
To participate in TEFA, Pre-K and Kindergarten providers must meet specific quality standards. Edquisitive Montessori meets all requirements:
Cognia (formerly AdvancED) is recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) — one of the approved accreditors for TEFA participation.
The highest quality rating from the Texas Workforce Commission, recognizing programs that exceed state licensing standards in caregiver-child interactions, curriculum, and learning environments.
Licensed by Texas DFPS and in good standing. We’ve been operating for more than two consecutive school years — exceeding the TEFA requirement for proven operators.
The amount varies based on your child’s circumstances:
| Student Type | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Pre-K or Kindergarten at approved private school | ~$10,300 – $10,900 |
| Students with disabilities (with IEP) | Up to $30,000 |
| Homeschool students | $2,000 |
The TEA will finalize the exact amount in January 2026. Current estimate is approximately $10,800 per student — which represents 85% of the statewide average per-student funding.
Good news: Unused funds roll over to the next year as long as your child remains in the program. Once approved, you don’t need to reapply annually — participants in good standing remain enrolled automatically.
To qualify for TEFA, your child must:
For Pre-K students to receive the full ~$10,500 (rather than the $2,000 homeschool amount), they must meet Texas free public Pre-K eligibility requirements. Your child qualifies if your family meets ANY of these criteria:
San Antonio note: With Joint Base San Antonio (Lackland, Randolph, Fort Sam Houston) in our community, many local families qualify through the military eligibility pathway. If you’re a military family, you likely qualify regardless of income.
Because funding is limited, applications are prioritized. If demand exceeds available spots, families are selected in this order:
Priority 1: Children with disabilities (IEP) from families earning ≤500% of federal poverty level (~$160,000 for family of 4)
Priority 2: Families earning ≤200% of federal poverty level (~$64,300 for family of 4)
Priority 3: Families earning 200-500% of federal poverty level
Priority 4: All other eligible families (limited to 20% of total program funds)
Important: Once one child in your family is awarded TEFA, all siblings who applied will also receive funding.
Parent application window OPENS
Application window CLOSES
Funding notifications sent to families
25% of funds available in accounts
50% of funds available
Remaining funds available
TEFA funds can cover a wide range of educational expenses:
You can enroll before or after your TEFA application. During the TEFA application, you’ll indicate which approved school your child will attend, and we’ll confirm enrollment.
Complete your application at educationfreedom.texas.gov. You must apply separately for each child.
The Comptroller’s office will notify you of your funding status. If approved, funds begin flowing to your account in July.
Yes. Following Edquisitive campuses (Stone Oak, Fair Oaks, and Northwest Military) qualify as approved Pre-K and Kindergarten providers. We are Cognia accredited and hold Texas Rising Star 4-Star ratings — meeting all TEFA requirements.
Yes! Students currently enrolled in private schools are eligible and encouraged to apply. You don’t need to transfer from public school to qualify.
For many families, yes — or close to it. The ~$10,500 annual award covers a significant portion of tuition. Contact us for specific details about how TEFA applies to our current tuition rates.
No. All applications submitted during the window (Feb 4 – Mar 17) are considered together. If applications exceed available funding, a lottery determines placement within each priority group. Apply anytime during the window — you don’t need to rush on February 4.
All Texas families meeting basic eligibility can apply, regardless of income. Higher-income families fall into Priority 4, which is limited to 20% of program funds in the first year. It’s still worth applying — you may receive funding, and if not, you’ll be placed on a waitlist.
No. Once accepted, you remain in the program as long as you stay in good standing. You’ll simply confirm continued participation each year — no full reapplication required.
TEFA could make a Montessori education more accessible for your family. Here’s what to do now:
This page provides an overview of the Texas Education Freedom Accounts program based on publicly available information. Program details are subject to change as rules are finalized. For official information, visit educationfreedom.texas.gov or comptroller.texas.gov.
Last updated: January 2026
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