This article is intended for Texas parents to understand how their prekindergarten student would qualify for the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) Program.
In order to be eligible for TEFA as a prekindergarten student, the child must be 3 to 5 years old as of September 1st of the upcoming school year. Additionally, they must be eligible to enroll in a Texas public or open-enrollment charter school’s free prekindergarten program.
Please note that participation in the Early Childhood Special Education is NOT an eligibility criteria for participation.
This means that one of the below situations must apply:
1. Student qualifies for free or reduced lunch (also referred to as Educationally Disadvantaged)
A child qualifies as educationally disadvantaged if their household income meets the requirements for the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or if the child automatically qualifies through certain assistance programs (such as SNAP or TANF). The income limit for NSLP is at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Line. Income information will be collected in Odyssey for validation.
2. Emerging Bilingual (Emergent Bilingual)
A child qualifies as Emerging (Emergent) Bilingual if they are unable to speak and understand English well enough to fully participate in an English-language classroom.
3. Parent is Active Duty Military
A child qualifies if at least one parent or legal guardian is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, or Coast Guard), the Texas National Guard when activated, or a U.S. military reserve component while activated, and the child resides in Texas.
4. One Parent is Military MIA / Injured or Killed in the Line of Duty
A child qualifies if a parent or guardian is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces who is missing in action (MIA) or was injured or killed while serving on active duty. This eligibility category recognizes families impacted by military service-related sacrifice. For validation, the parent will be required to upload either a statement of service, line of duty determination documentation, Purple Heart orders or applicable citations.
5. Foster Care
A child qualifies if they currently live in Texas and are in foster care, or were previously in foster care in Texas or another state or U.S. territory. Once a child qualifies under foster care status, they remain eligible for prekindergarten even if they later exit foster care. For validation, the parent will be required to either upload court order documents, adoption paperwork, DFPS foster/kinship placement documents, PreK verification letter or other valid proof that the child is in foster care
6. Homeless
A child qualifies if the child is experiencing homelessness, regardless of where the child or family is temporarily living. This includes children without a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.
7. Parent is a Star of Texas Recipient
A child qualifies if a parent has been officially recognized as a Star of Texas Award recipient between 2004 and the current award year. This award honors first responders who were killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. Eligibility is verified using the official Star of Texas resolution or certificate. For validation, the parent will be required to upload the applicable Star of Texas certificate.
8. Parent is a teacher at the school in which the child is eligible to enroll
A child is eligible for enrollment in a prekindergarten class under this section if the child is at least three years of age and is the child of a person employed as a classroom teacher at a public primary or secondary school in the school district that offers a prekindergarten class under this section.