Texas TEFA Special Education Funding Calculator by School District

Does my child's placement change how much money we get?

Sometimes—but not as much as the long list of columns makes it look. In every published row, codes 41, 42, 43, 44, and 45 carry the same amount when you compare like with like: base code to base code, or “+ speech” to “+ speech.” Other code groups can produce very different amounts.

This is one of the strangest findings in the table, and we have not seen it laid out for parents elsewhere.

The official code list describes:

• 41 as resource room/services for less than 21% of the day.
• 42 as resource room/services for at least 21% but less than 50%.
• 43 as a self-contained setting for at least 50% but no more than 60%.
• 44 as a self-contained setting for more than 60%.
• 45 as a full-time early childhood special education setting for children ages 3–5.^[code-guide]

The descriptions change. The table amount does not.

That can calm one kind of worry: if you are only comparing codes 41 through 45 with the same speech status, the published add-on is the same inside your district. But do not guess at the record. Code 40, code 50, code 60, codes 81–89, codes 91–98, and the “+ speech” variants can produce different amounts. The program will use the code it matches to the IEP, not the code that creates the biggest calculator result.

For example, the official table shows Dallas ISD code 41 and code 44 at the same add-on: $5,207, for a combined amount of $15,681 before any other issue. The primary table settles that number.^{[official-table]}

Where do I find my child's instructional arrangement code?

The code is usually in the IEP under “Least Restrictive Environment,” “Instructional Arrangement/Setting,” or sometimes “Local Variation.” It is a two-digit number. If you cannot find it, ask the public district or charter that wrote the IEP, or ask TEFA support which code was matched to the award.^{[code-guide][parent-guide]}

Where to look, in order:

1. The IEP itself. Scan the sections named above for a two-digit code.
2. The district or charter that wrote it. Its special education office holds the record.
3. Your TEFA notice or support case. Ask which district, code, and speech indicator the program applied.

What the codes mean

The calculator shows the complete official label for every code, not a shortened guess.

Do not pick a code that pays more just to see a bigger number. Guessing high gives you a fantasy number and sets you up for a disappointment you did not need to have.

A caution on “+ speech”

The table has a separate “+ speech” cell for 29 codes. Do not select it just because your child receives any speech help. Use the speech indicator reflected in the matched record. If you are not sure, run both versions and use the lower number for planning until the program confirms which one it applied.

Because the state publishes rounded whole-dollar cells, the “+ speech” amount can differ by $1 from simple addition. The calculator uses the exact printed cell.

→ Look up what your code is worth in your district

Which school district do I choose in the calculator?

Choose the public school district tied to your home address—your district of residence. Do not choose the district where the private school sits, and do not automatically use the district your child attended before. Texas pulls the add-on from the district where the child lives, and the program says the amount can change after it confirms residence.^{[official-special-ed]}

Three situations trip people up:

You moved. The address on file may point to the old district. Run both rows so you know the possible direction of the change, then have the program confirm which district applies.

You live near a boundary. District lines do not follow city lines or ZIP codes. Use an official district lookup or get written confirmation. Your mailing city is not enough.

Your child never attended public school. That does not block this calculation. The official program says the same funding formula applies whether or not the child previously attended public school.^{[official-special-ed]}

The trap nobody warns you about: 11 district names are repeated

The state funding PDF prints district names but does not show the six-digit district number in the visible table. Eleven names appear twice. The current Texas AskTED directory lets us separate them by county and district number.^[askted]

Northside shows the size of the problem. AskTED lists 98,333 students for Northside ISD in Bexar County and 246 for Northside ISD in Wilbarger County. Same visible name. Different district. Different funding row.

If a calculator gives you one result for “Northside ISD” without asking which county or showing the district number, it is guessing.

→ Confirm that you are pulling the right district row

Does having an IEP guarantee the extra money?

No. For the 2026–27 cycle, the program had to match a qualifying Texas IEP in TEA records from the 2023–24, 2024–25, or 2025–26 school year. The child also had to receive a TEFA award and attend a participating private school for the district-and-code add-on to apply. An IEP does not guarantee admission, funding, or the $30,000 maximum.^{[appeals-guide][parent-guide]}

This is where families get hurt, so read it slowly.

Who gets the IEP into the state system. A Texas public school district or open-enrollment charter submits the record to TEA. A parent cannot upload a private evaluation into the calculator and turn it into enhanced funding.

The deadline record is messy. TEA's February upload training and the original parent guide used March 17, 2026. The Comptroller later extended the family application deadline through March 31 to comply with a federal court order, and the current TEFA home page and Odyssey timeline now use March 31.^{[deadline-extension]} The safe question on an appeal is not which old page you found. Ask whether the specific IEP was included in the record the program actually matched.

Some private-school students may have an EFA-IEP. TEA created that document for a child who is not enrolled in public school, is found eligible for special education by an ARD committee, and does not already have an IDEA-governed IEP. The district creates it. The parent or private evaluator does not. It must include the instructional arrangement or funding level used for the TEFA calculation.^{[appeals-guide]}

A private evaluation is not the same document. A full individual and initial evaluation, an out-of-state IEP, or the program's disability certification form may support disability priority in the ways the program allows. But the enhanced dollar amount is tied to the qualifying Texas IEP matched in TEA records.^{[disability-docs]}

Priority is not the same as the add-on. A child can qualify for a disability priority category without receiving an enhanced dollar amount if the required IEP was not matched. A child above 500% of the federal poverty level can also fall outside Tier 1 even with a disability, although an awarded child may still qualify for enhanced funding if the IEP requirement is met.^{[families][annual-report]}

A service plan is not an IEP. A child placed in private school by a parent may receive limited district services under a services plan, but that plan is a different document. Do not treat it as proof of the qualifying IEP unless TEFA confirms which Texas IEP or EFA-IEP it matched.^{[private-services-plan]}

The clean question to ask is not “Does my child have a diagnosis?” It is:

“Which Texas IEP did the program match, what date is on it, and which district, instructional code, and speech indicator did you apply?”

→ Use the calculator result to build that exact question before you contact support.

What if my child has a 504 plan instead of an IEP?

A Section 504 plan by itself does not produce the district-and-code TEFA add-on, and it is not one of the current listed documents for disability priority. The enhanced amount is tied to a qualifying IEP on file with TEA. The published priority list instead names a Texas or out-of-state IEP, a full individual and initial evaluation, or the TEFA Disability Certification Form.^{[parent-guide][disability-docs]}

For a family holding only a 504 plan, that is a hard answer. Do not let anyone turn it into a promise that the child will receive more money.

Texas did change its dyslexia evaluation rules through HB 3928. Students suspected of dyslexia are now evaluated through the IDEA process rather than being routed only through Section 504. But that did not mean every student with dyslexia automatically received an IEP. Eligibility still depends on the evaluation and the child's need for special education. A student who is not IDEA-eligible can still receive Section 504 protections.^{[dyslexia-guidance]}

So pull the paperwork and check what the district actually issued. Do not assume that an old 504 became an IEP, and do not assume that a dyslexia diagnosis alone created the enhanced TEFA amount.

→ Read the full guide to dyslexia schools and Texas TEFA

Can my child stay in public school and use TEFA for therapy?

No. A child enrolled in a Texas public school or open-enrollment charter school in a way that counts the child in average daily attendance cannot keep active TEFA participation. Charter schools are public schools, so TEFA is not a separate therapy or tutoring account layered on top of full-time public or charter enrollment.^{[statute][timeline]}

There is a narrow approved-expense category for a public-school or charter-school class or service that does not cause the child to be counted in average daily attendance. That does not let a full-time public-school student keep a TEFA account.^[statute]

If staying in public school is the priority, the next step is the district or charter's evaluation and special education process—not a higher number in this calculator. TEFA and full-time public-school funding are different paths.

What did the official first-year report show for students with disabilities?

The state's July 29, 2026 table counted 33,514 eligible applicants with disabilities. It reported 20,700 funded Tier 1 participants with disabilities, but it did not disclose funded participant counts for the two higher-income disability tiers. That means the public report does not support one exact all-tier disability funding rate or one exact unfunded count.^{[annual-report]}

The dashes are not verified zeros. The report explains that small participant cells may be removed to protect student privacy, and it describes the document as a point-in-time snapshot while awards and funding were still moving.

Program-wide, the same report showed:

• More than 274,000 applications.
• 248,712 eligible applicants in the tier table.
• More than 122,000 awards issued.
• 85,344 accounts funded.
• More than 121,000 students on the waitlist.

The gap between “awarded” and “funded” matters. An award notice, a confirmed school, and money posted to the account are different steps.

My number does not match my award notice. What do I do?

Check five things first: the district of residence, the instructional code, the “+ speech” indicator, the child's educational setting, and whether the program matched a qualifying IEP. If all five are right and the gap remains, start an appeal through Odyssey within 30 calendar days of the notice you are challenging. Do not send the appeal to TEA or the local district.^{[appeals][official-special-ed]}

The five-item check

If the program has no qualifying IEP matched, the notice may show the $10,474 private-school base and no disability add-on.

Why the amount can change after the notice

The official special education page says award figures can change after the district of residence is confirmed. An early notice is not proof that the district row is final.^{[official-special-ed]}

What the calculator can and cannot prove

It can show: the exact cell the state published, the base amount, the arithmetic, the cap effect, the district ceiling, and a mismatch worth asking about.

It cannot show: which IEP the program matched, whether the record was accepted, whether your address was confirmed, or whether the program's final decision is wrong.

Walking into a support case saying “your calculator says X” is weak. Walking in saying this is different:

“The official 2026–27 table shows a $X add-on for district ID ______ and code ____. With the $10,474 base, that produces $Y before the cap. My notice shows $Z. Which district, code, speech indicator, and IEP record did you apply?”

One hard limit on appeals

Texas law provides an internal appeal for program decisions. The program's current instructions say to start it within 30 calendar days. The statute says the Comptroller's decision is final and not subject to further appeal under the program, and the appeal is not treated as a contested case.^{[appeals][statute]}

→ Generate the free one-page award-verification report from your calculator result. It includes the district ID, county, code, raw add-on, cap math, source page, notice amount, and the exact questions above. No email required.

Will the award cover private-school tuition and services?

Maybe. The only honest answer comes from your child's calculated award and the school's complete price. Subtract the estimate from tuition and required fees, then separately count transportation, therapy, deposits, uniforms, technology, and services the school bills outside tuition.

Run the subtraction before you sign anything:

Tuition
+ every required school fee
+ separately billed support or therapy
+ transportation and other family-paid costs
− your TEFA estimate
− any school aid you have in writing
= estimated family gap

TEFA lists approved categories that can include private-school tuition and fees, textbooks and instructional materials, required uniforms, assessments, tutoring, transportation to and from approved providers, certain educational therapies not covered by government benefits, computer hardware or software within the 10% limit, and meals provided by a private school. Approval still depends on the current program rules, provider status, and payment process.^[families]

Then ask the school these questions, in this order:

1. Are you listed in the current official TEFA school finder?
2. Is my child's admission decided separately from funding?
3. What is the total of tuition plus every required fee?
4. Which supports are included, and which cost extra?
5. What is due before the first TEFA release?
6. Is the deposit refundable if the school or funding plan falls through?
7. How will outside financial aid interact with TEFA?
8. Which services will you put in writing before enrollment?
9. What happens if the child needs more support than expected?

The state says new participants are added to its finder regularly, so do not plan around a copied school count. A participating-school listing does not prove that the school is right for your child. It does not guarantee admission. It does not promise that every service in a public-school IEP will be delivered.

→ Compare Texas autism schools that accept TEFA

→ Compare Texas dyslexia schools that accept TEFA

When does the money actually arrive?

For a private-school student funded on the regular 2026–27 schedule, TEFA posts 25% on July 1, another 25% on October 1, and the remaining 50% on February 1. Homeschool/other students receive their full annual amount in one release. Later admission from the waitlist can reduce the amount through proration.^{[official-home][timeline]}

Applied to two common totals:

The first day of school can arrive with only one quarter of the full-year award in the account. Compare the release dates with the school's deposit and billing calendar before assuming the account will cover an early bill.

For students coming off the waitlist, the current timeline says confirmation by September 15, 2026 can preserve the full annual award. Later confirmation can reduce the published full-year amount.^[timeline]

Your award notice gives the deadline for your case, and private-school enrollment must remain verified for later installments. Use the official portal and current timeline for the exact status.^[timeline]

→ See the full TEFA funding and disbursement schedule

Will this calculator work for 2027–28?

No. This tool is locked to the official 2026–27 base, table, and cap. Texas is changing the public-school special education funding model, and the state has not yet published the complete TEFA inputs needed to calculate every 2027–28 account. Do not use this year's table to promise next year's number.

The public-school system is moving from the old instructional-arrangement funding structure to an intensity-of-services model. TEA describes 2026–27 as a transition year in which districts still report the old arrangements while the new model is implemented.^{[intensity-model]}

TEFA law also ties the disability add-on to the Chapter 48 provisions applicable for the school year before the child initially enrolls in the program. That wording can matter for continuing participants. Until the Comptroller and TEA publish the 2027–28 TEFA calculation and transition rules, a blanket statement that every returning child's code simply stops mattering would go beyond the published answer.^[statute]

What that means for you, plainly:

• Do not build a multi-year budget from the 2026–27 table.
• Do not assume the next base amount will stay at $10,474.
• Do not assume a first-year entrant and a continuing participant will be calculated in exactly the same way.
• Do not trust a 2027–28 calculator until it cites the new official inputs and shows when they were verified.

The 2027–28 application dates and IEP-document deadline were not yet published as of August 5, 2026. There is no responsible basis for giving every family one made-up “apply for an evaluation by” date.

We'll rebuild this calculator when the official rules and numbers exist. Until then, this page will say not ready instead of pretending.

How we built this and what we actually verified

This calculator reproduces the official 2026–27 Texas special education funding table and applies the published $10,474 private-school base and $30,000 cap. It is an independent estimate. It is not an award decision because the program controls eligibility, IEP matching, residence confirmation, school status, proration, and final funding.

What we verified

How the data was produced

1. Retrieved the official 2026–27 special education funding PDF.
2. Extracted all 1,027 published rows and all 59 funding columns.
3. Preserved the raw printed add-on separately from every calculated total.
4. Applied the $10,474 base and $30,000 cap as visible math.
5. Checked that every row had 59 dollar cells.
6. Tested repeated code groups and “+ speech” rounding behavior across all rows.
7. Matched the eleven repeated district names to county and district ID using the Texas AskTED directory.
8. Checked known cells and capped examples against the source pages, including Abbott, Abilene, Austin, Beaumont, Brookesmith, and Dallas.
9. Published the data version and verification date.

Source-file fingerprint used for this audit:

• Official PDF SHA-256: cd4191536358f6555a27babb765d568b77167d4804a4cb857545b0adeb4a7878
• Extracted raw CSV SHA-256: f42ff296883466341530088c716ec2b78a93302bba8c0a0654f9136dfe8521c9

Every calculator result shows the raw published value, the formula, the source page, and the data version. That is the difference between a result you can audit and a number you are asked to trust.

Known limits—say them out loud

• We cannot tell which IEP the program matched to your child. No outside calculator can.
• We cannot determine eligibility, admission, or final funding.
• We cannot settle a district-boundary dispute from a city or ZIP code. Use an official address lookup or written confirmation.
• We cannot make the 2026–27 table valid for 2027–28.
• We cannot promise that a private school will provide every service a child received in public school. Get the school's commitments in writing.
• The calculator must be updated if the state replaces or corrects the source table.

Corrections

Found a cell that does not match the state's PDF? Send the district, county, district number, code, source page, and what the tool showed. We'll check it against the source and publish a correction record.

Please do not send your child's name, IEP, diagnosis, birthday, student ID, or any other identifying information. We do not need it and do not want it.

Who made this and why

The School Choice Index is an independent comparison and research resource for U.S. school choice programs. We are not the Texas Comptroller, the Texas Education Agency, Odyssey, a school district, or a private school.

We built this because the state's answer to “How was my funding calculated?” is a link to a 239-page PDF with 60,593 dollar cells in it, and that is not a usable answer for a parent holding an award notice.

Frequently asked questions

These are the questions most likely to send a parent back to search after using the calculator. Each answer is tied to the current 2026–27 program rules or to the complete state table.

Is the amount in the state's funding table my total award?

No. It is an add-on for a qualifying student at a participating private school. Add it to the $10,474 base, then apply the $30,000 combined cap.^{[official-table]}

Does a medical diagnosis qualify my child for the higher amount?

Not by itself. The enhanced calculation uses a qualifying Texas IEP matched in TEA records. Other approved disability documents may support priority, but they do not replace the IEP used for the district-and-code add-on.^{[disability-docs]}

Does my child have to have attended public school?

No. The official program says the same funding formula applies whether or not the child previously attended public school.^{[official-special-ed]}

Do homeschool families get the IEP-based district add-on?

No. A homeschooled or other-setting participant is limited to $2,000 for the school year under the current statute and program rules.^{[official-home][statute]}

Can my award change after I receive a notice?

Yes. The program says the amount can change after it confirms the district of residence. An appeal decision can also change the funding amount.^{[official-special-ed][appeals]}

Why does a smaller district sometimes produce more money than a large one?

The add-on mirrors the district special education funding calculation used for this program year, including district-size and other statutory funding adjustments. It is not a judgment about the child.^{[official-special-ed]}

Can two children with the same diagnosis receive different amounts?

Yes. Diagnosis does not set the table cell. The calculation uses the home district and instructional arrangement code, so the same diagnosis can produce different results.

What does “+ speech” mean in the table?

It is a separate published variant tied to the speech indicator in the matched record. Do not choose it only because the child receives some speech help. Use the exact printed cell because rounding can make simple addition differ by $1.

Does a TEFA award mean my child is admitted to the school?

No. Funding and admission are separate. A participating private school keeps its own admission standards, and an award does not force the school to accept a child.^{[parent-guide]}

Are TEFA applications open now?

No. The 2026–27 application window ran from February 4 through March 31, 2026. The next application window had not been published as of August 5, 2026.^{[official-home]}

Can I appeal the amount?

Yes. The current process allows an appeal of eligibility, priority, or funding decisions. Start through Odyssey within 30 calendar days of the notice being challenged.^[appeals]

Can I appeal without risking the amount I already have?

We cannot verify a blanket promise that nothing can change. Ask the program how the current account will be treated while the appeal is pending, and keep the answer in writing.

My district has the same name as another district. Which row applies?

Match the home address to the county and six-digit district number. Eleven district names are repeated in the source data. Do not use a name-only result.

Why does code 44 not pay more than code 41 in my district?

Because the official 2026–27 table gives codes 41 through 45 the same amount within every published row when the speech status is held the same. The descriptions differ, but the table values are flat across that group.

Will this calculator work for 2027–28?

No. It must be rebuilt from the official 2027–28 base, rules, and special education inputs. Those complete inputs were not yet published as of August 5, 2026.

You have your number. Now make sure the school is the right one.

Funding makes an option possible. It does not tell you whether a school can actually teach your child.

Before you commit, compare the real award with the school's full price, the services included versus billed separately, the admission decision, transportation, and the legal protections that change when a parent places a child in private school. TEFA materials warn that participating private schools are not subject to federal and state disability-service laws in the same way as public districts and charters. Texas guidance also says a parentally placed private-school child has no individual entitlement to every service the child would receive in public school. Do not rely on a verbal promise. Get the school's plan in writing.^{[parent-guide][private-services-plan]}

You've been working with worse information than you deserved. Now you're not.

Still not sure which path is right for your family? Take our free 60-second school choice matching quiz.

Answer a few questions about your state, your child's needs, your current setting, and your budget. We'll build a personalized school choice action plan. No cost. No email wall. No sales call.

Related Texas TEFA guides

Use these only after you have the district-and-code number. They cover the next decisions this calculator does not own: payment timing, waitlist status, school fit, and program accountability.

• Texas TEFA funding and disbursement schedule
• Texas TEFA waitlist tier tracker
• Autism schools that accept Texas TEFA
• Dyslexia schools that accept Texas TEFA
• Texas TEFA testing and accountability requirements

The School Choice Index is an independent comparison and research resource for U.S. school choice programs. No payment from a school, provider, or program changes this calculator's result or editorial placement. This page is informational and is not legal, financial, or educational-placement advice. Nothing here guarantees eligibility, funding, admission, services, or any outcome. Charter schools are public schools and are funded differently from TEFA, which pays approved private-school, homeschool, and other education-related expenses.

Last verified: August 5, 2026 · Data version TEFA-SPED-2026-27-v2.1

Primary sources

The state agency, program administrator, statute, and TEA materials below are the source of record for the program facts on this page. The School Choice Index calculations are identified as calculations and can be rebuilt from the official table.

^{[official-home]}Texas Education Freedom Accounts — official program home, award amounts, application window, and funding timeline

^{[deadline-extension]}Texas Comptroller — TEFA application deadline extended through March 31 under federal court order

^{[official-special-ed]}Texas Education Freedom Accounts — Special Education Funding

^{[official-table]}Texas Education Freedom Accounts — Special Education Funding Table, 2026–27

^[families]Texas Education Freedom Accounts — Families, priority rules and approved expenses

^{[parent-guide]}Texas Education Freedom Accounts — Parent Application Guide

^{[appeals-guide]}Texas Education Agency — Special Education & ESA Documentation, February 2026

^[appeals]Odyssey — TEFA Parent Appeals Process

^{[disability-docs]}Texas Education Freedom Accounts — Lottery Update, disability priority versus additional IEP funding

^[code-guide]Odyssey — What Do the Texas IEP Instructional Codes Mean?

^[timeline]Odyssey — TEFA Program Timeline and Funding Schedule

^{[annual-report]}Texas Education Freedom Accounts — Annual Demographic Report, 2026–27

^[statute]Texas Education Code, Chapter 29, Subchapter J — Education Savings Account Program

^{[nonpublic-guidance]}Texas Education Agency — Nonpublic Program Guidance

^{[private-services-plan]}Texas Education Agency — Parentally Placed Private School Children Quick Guide and FAQ

^[askted]Texas Education Agency — AskTED district directory

^{[dyslexia-guidance]}Texas Education Agency — Texas Dyslexia Handbook

^{[intensity-model]}Texas Education Agency — Intensity of Services Special Education Funding Model Resources