Every way to pay for school in Dallas
Here are the 10 sources a Dallas-area family can combine for private, church, Catholic, homeschool and pre-K education, with who qualifies for each and when to apply.
Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA)
The state account that follows a Dallas-area child to a participating private school. For 2026-27 it pays $10,474 per student, sent straight to the school in three installments.
Who qualifies →IEP · Up to $30,000TEFA with an IEP (up to $30,000)
A TEFA student whose IEP is on file with the Texas Education Agency gets the $10,474 base plus a special-education add-on set by the home district, up to $30,000.
Who qualifies →Homeschool · $2,000TEFA Homeschool / Other ($2,000)
Children in the program who don't attend a participating private school, usually homeschoolers, receive $2,000 a year in one deposit on July 1.
Who qualifies →Ages 3-5 · $10,474TEFA Pre-K & Kindergarten
Approved pre-K and kindergarten providers receive the full award, but pre-K is only open to 3- and 4-year-olds who meet one of the state's free pre-K criteria.
Who qualifies →New · Jan 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
From January 2027, taxpayers in participating states can claim a federal credit of up to $1,700 for donations to scholarship granting organizations. Texas said on Dec. 10, 2025 that it will take part.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsDiocese of Dallas: Catholic Schools Office Tuition Assistance
The Diocese of Dallas Catholic Schools Office runs a need-based Tuition Assistance Program through FACTS for families at its diocesan schools, alongside a TEFA liaison who helps families apply for state accounts.
Who qualifies →Income-based · Ages 0-12Child Care Assistance (Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas & North Central Texas)
Texas's child care scholarship program helps working or training parents pay a licensed provider. Dallas County families go through Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas; the other five counties go through Workforce Solutions for North Central Texas.
Who qualifies →Dallas County · Tuition waiverDallas College Dual Credit for Homeschoolers
Dallas County homeschool students who have finished eighth grade can earn high school and college credit at Dallas College, and eligible county residents with a homeschool agreement may have tuition waived.
Who qualifies →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Need-based aid, sibling rates, parish or church-member pricing and faculty discounts from the school itself, which keep applying alongside TEFA.
Who qualifies →Partner fund · No income capEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
Privately funded aid for families choosing one of our partner church or community schools. It targets two problems: tuition above the state award, and children who never got an award.
Who qualifies →Dates to know
- NowGet on the Comptroller's notification list at educationfreedom.texas.gov. No 2027-28 application dates have been announced yet, and every family that wasn't funded in year one has to apply again.
- Oct-DecFor 2026-27, the Diocese of Dallas Catholic Schools Office ran a priority tuition-assistance round (FACTS application) from Oct. 20 to Dec. 20 for families already enrolled. Watch csodallas.org for the 2027-28 dates.
- Dec-MarThe diocese's regular tuition-assistance round, open to new families, ran Dec. 21 to Mar. 20 last cycle, with awards in mid-May.
- Jan 1, 2027The new federal tax credit for gifts to scholarship granting organizations takes effect. Texas told the Treasury it would opt in on Dec. 10, 2025.
- Jan 12, 2027Lawmakers return to Austin for the 90th session, where the size of year two of TEFA will be set.
- Feb 1, 2027The largest deposit of the year lands: 50% of each 2026-27 private-school award. The two 25% installments arrived on July 1 and October 1.
- Any timePrivate schools, pre-K centers, tutors and therapists can submit a TEFA provider application; the Comptroller reviews them on a rolling basis.
IEP amounts by district TEFA calculator What's left after TEFA
See which Dallas-area funding your child can use
Answer a few questions and a School Funding Advisor will phone you with a plan built around your district, your schools and the 2026-27 amounts. It's free, and you're under no obligation.