Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock announced the adoption of the final administrative rules governing Texas Education Freedom Accounts, as enacted by Senate Bill 2 of the 89th Legislature. The rules were officially filed with the Secretary of State on November 25, and become effective 20 days after filing.
The rules state that students enrolled in accredited private schools participating in the program, or certain at-risk pre-kindergarten students, may be eligible to receive more than $10,000 annually, or up to $30,000 for a student with a disability based on an Individualized Education Program (IEP). All other participating students, including homeschool students, may be eligible to receive $2,000 annually.
The rules clarify that:
- A family’s adjusted gross income will be used in determining prioritization for participation.
- Families of students with disabilities may submit a licensed expert’s evaluation for prioritization, but an IEP is required to qualify for the additional financial support.
- Participating students who remain in good standing will not need to reapply each year.
Accredited private schools may participate if they have operated any campus for at least two years, whether in Texas or outside of the state, and administer a nationally norm-referenced assessment. Accredited private virtual schools must have a Texas business location. The rules do not impose additional operational requirements beyond those established in statute and accreditation standards.
Eligible accredited private schools and vendors currently participating in the Parent-Directed Special Education Services will be invited to join the program through Odyssey’s portal on Dec. 9, 2025. An open vendor application will shortly follow. The online application for Texas families will open Feb. 4, 2026, well in advance of the 2026–27 school year.
The final rules are available on the Comptroller’s website, and will be published in the Texas Register. The Comptroller’s full press release can be found here.
