Texas: Texas Education Savings Account Program
Record Keeping
- Funding Breakdown
Funding Breakdown
- Qualifications
Qualifications
- Student Eligibility
Student Eligibility
- How to Apply
How to Apply
- Usage Explanation
Usage Explanation
- Rollover Funds Explanation
Rollover Funds Explanation
- Guidelines
Guidelines
- State Statute
State Statute
Funding Breakdown
The Texas Education Savings Account (ESA) Program, set to begin in the 2026-27 school year, provides $2,000 per year for eligible homeschool students to use toward approved educational expenses.
Funding Breakdown
The Texas Education Savings Account (ESA) Program, set to begin in the 2026-27 school year, provides $2,000 per year for eligible homeschool students to use toward approved educational expenses.
Qualifications
- Income Limit: None
- Prior year public school requirement: None
- Testing Mandates: National Norm-Referenced for 3rd–12th grade students in accredited private schools.
- Home-school students have no testing requirements
Student Eligibility
Eligibility is universal for all legal K-12 residents of Texas.
Priority Explanation
If the program receives more applications that can be funded, the state will follow the following rubric to issue scholarships.
First prioritization will be given to:
- Siblings of current students with an education savings account from the program
- Children who have never left the ESA program
- Children who left the program and who are now enrolled in public or charter school wishing to re-enter the program
Within each of those groups, priority will be awarded to:
- Children with a disability who are members of a household with a total annual income that is at or below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines
- Children who are members of a household with a total annual income that is at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines
- Children who are members of a household with a total annual income that is above 200% of the federal poverty guidelines and below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Children who are members of a household with a total annual income that is at or above 500% of the federal poverty guidelines.
How to Apply
The initial application period is expected to open early in 2026, though the exact date has not yet been finalized. Families may sign up for updates from the Comptroller’s office.
Usage Explanation
Account funds may be spent on qualifying expenses which include:
- Tuition and fees for private school, college, online coursework, and industry-based credentials
- Textbooks
- Uniforms
- Fees for classes and services provided by a school district or open-enrollment charter school
- Fees for assessments
- Tutoring
- Transportation
- Computer hardware and software
- Other technological devices
- Breakfast or lunch when provided during the school day by a private school
Rollover Funds Explanation
Unused funds may roll over year to year with no rollover limit while the student participates in the program.
Guidelines
Additional Program Guidelines
- Geographic limit: Statewide
- Enrollment Cap: None
- Account Cap: 85% of Per-Pupil Spending
- Budget Cap: $1 billion
Parent Requirements
- Initial application. Future rulemaking by the Comptroller will set the application window for the 2026-27 school year.
- May be required to submit notice of an intent to participate in the program again, for each year.
- Allow the administrator of academic assessments to share their child’s results with the child’s certified educational assistance organization.
- Refrain from selling any item that was purchased with ESA funds.
- Request that the program money be spent only on qualified expenses.
- Notify the certified educational assistance organization no later than 30 business days if the child enrolls in a public school, graduates from high school, or is no longer eligible to attend a state public school or charter school.
School/Vendor Requirements
- Accreditation/Approval: Must demonstrate accreditation that is recognized by either the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission or the Texas Education Agency
- Employment Standards: Provide a national criminal history record to the Comptroller for anyone who will provide educational services
- Nondiscrimination: Follow applicable state and federal nondiscrimination laws
- Financial: May not refund, rebate, or share any portion of such payment with the parent, guardian, or pupil
(Last updated May 14, 2025)
State Statute
Tex. Code §§ 29.351 – 29.374, 22.092, 411.109, 811.002
(Last updated May 14, 2025)