The Dallas cluster
Shelton School (more than 1,000 students), The Winston School Dallas, Fairhill School, Oak Hill Academy, Vanguard Preparatory School and Notre Dame School of Dallas were all in the state finder. Dallas Academy and The Hillier School appear in the federal survey but weren't listed in TEFA when we checked.
What an IEP adds
For 2026-27, a Dallas ISD student with a mainstream IEP (code 40) is funded at $16,757. Richardson ISD comes to $16,893, Plano ISD to $17,051 and Highland Park ISD to $17,144. The residential-facility codes are higher, topping $25,000.
Tuition is often far above the award
Specialized schools cost more to run. D Magazine described a family funded at $15,720 whose school charged $33,375 plus a $4,850 enrollment fee with no first-year aid. Ask every school about aid before you count on TEFA covering most of the bill.
Commutes are real
D Magazine also profiled a Hurst family driving 26 miles each way to Notre Dame School of Dallas, a Catholic school for students with special needs. TEFA can pay approved transportation providers, but most schools don't run buses.
Get the IEP on file
The add-on depends on a current IEP (2023-24 or later) that TEA has on record, not a private diagnosis. Ask your home district for an evaluation early; a public school can evaluate a child who attends private school.
Therapies and tutoring
Speech, occupational, behavioral and dyslexia services from approved providers can be paid from the account when insurance or Medicaid doesn't cover them. Our special-needs pages list the approved Dallas-area providers by specialty.
Next step
Start the funding check. It takes about two minutes, and an advisor will follow up with every source your family is eligible for and the deadlines attached to each.