Second in the state
The Comptroller's demographic report counted 2,645 funded students living in Dallas ISD as of July 29, 2026. Garland ISD (1,021), Richardson ISD (752), Irving ISD (608) and Mesquite ISD (477) followed in Dallas County. Region 10, which covers Dallas, Collin, Rockwall, Kaufman and Ellis counties and others to the east, reported 14,342 funded students.
Demand was much bigger than the money
People Newspapers reported that Dallas ISD students accounted for 8,617 applications by March 16, again second only to Houston ISD. D Magazine, citing the Dallas Morning News, reported that fewer than a third of North Texas applicants received an account.
Some accounts came back
Not every award turned into an enrollment. D Magazine reported in August that a little over 600 Dallas ISD students returned their accounts, along with 359 in Plano ISD, 255 in Garland ISD and 204 in Richardson ISD. D Magazine pointed out that private schools can charge more than the award and generally don't provide transportation.
Which schools are in
Most Diocese of Dallas parish schools, Jesuit, Ursuline, Bishop Lynch, Dallas International School and a long list of Christian and learning-differences schools took TEFA. Hockaday, St. Mark's, Greenhill, Parish Episcopal and ESD sat out the first year, D Magazine and People Newspapers reported. Our directory shows each school's status on the date we checked.
The money in plain numbers
$10,474 at a participating school, $16,757 for a Dallas ISD student with a mainstream IEP, and $2,000 for homeschool. Payments go to the school in three installments: July, October and February.
What to do this fall
Sign up for state notices, keep your latest federal tax return handy for the income tiers, confirm your Texas address, and apply to schools on their normal admissions calendar. A TEFA award doesn't reserve a seat.
Funded students and IEP amounts in Dallas County districts
| Home district | TEFA-funded students (Jul 29, 2026) | IEP: speech only (00) | IEP: mainstream (40) | IEP: resource / self-contained (41-44) | IEP: residential facility (81-89) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas ISD | 2,645 | $11,385 | $16,757 | $15,681 | $25,500 |
| Garland ISD | 1,021 | $11,411 | $16,941 | $15,833 | $25,939 |
| Richardson ISD | 752 | $11,404 | $16,893 | $15,794 | $25,824 |
| Irving ISD | 608 | $11,413 | $16,955 | $15,845 | $25,971 |
| Mesquite ISD | 477 | $11,413 | $16,953 | $15,843 | $25,967 |
| Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD | 360 | $11,413 | $16,955 | $15,845 | $25,972 |
| Grand Prairie ISD | 296 | $11,393 | $16,812 | $15,726 | $25,630 |
| DeSoto ISD | 263 | $11,437 | $17,078 | $16,017 | $26,401 |
| Duncanville ISD | 248 | $11,390 | $16,792 | $15,710 | $25,583 |
| Cedar Hill ISD | 186 | $11,408 | $16,915 | $15,822 | $25,896 |
Totals are the $10,474 base plus the district add-on from the Comptroller's 2026-27 Special Education Funding Table, capped at $30,000. Funded counts come from the TEFA Annual Demographic Report (data as of July 29, 2026); districts with fewer than 30 participants aren't listed in that report. All Dallas-area districts →
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.