TEFA deadline and timeline for 2027-28: what is known, what is not, and what to prepare

Short answer, as of October 8, 2026: there is no published deadline for the 2027-28 TEFA application. The Comptroller's site says only that families "can sign up for updates regarding the 2027-28 application period" and offers a 2027-28 interest list. The program rules (34 TAC §§16.401–16.410, read October 8, 2026) set no calendar for the application period. This page gives the year-one timeline as a guide to the shape of the process, marks clearly what is expectation rather than fact, and lists what you can do now. The deadline tracker is updated after an official date appears and we check it.

What happened in 2026-27 (history, from Comptroller releases)

Two patterns from that year are useful. First, awards came in rounds, starting three weeks after the close. Second, every step after an award had a short clock: 30 days to appeal, then a set date to pick a school, then four weeks for later waitlist awardees.

What is known about 2027-28

• Official: no date. The home page and the Families page say only "Join our interest list to receive updates about future opportunities to apply", and the Comptroller's releases through August 13, 2026 say only that parents "can join the program interest list". The Comptroller's August 2026 budget request to the Legislature mentions that over 44,000 children were already on that list.
• The rules: 34 TAC §16.401 defines the application period simply as "the period that the program is open to receive applications". §§16.401–16.410 (read October 8, 2026) set no month and no minimum length for it. The timing is the Comptroller's call.
• Third-party expectations: the Texas Private Schools Association's page lists, in its important-dates list, "Late Winter or Spring : Applications open for the 2027-2028 school year." That is the association's expectation, with no year attached, not a Comptroller statement. We do not show a countdown to a guessed day.

One rule that changes who must watch the window

Families already in the program do not reapply. But rule §16.403(d) says a participating parent "must be in good standing and provide notice in a comptroller-approved format ... during the application period" if the child is to continue. So the 2027-28 window is not only for new applicants: it is also the confirmation period for the roughly 110,000 children funded this year. If you are a current participant, treat the opening date as your date too. The official FAQ puts it simply: "Families only need to confirm they want to continue."

Funding is decided after the window opens

The Legislature meets in January 2027 and sets the 2028-29 budget in the spring. The Comptroller's August 2026 budget request asks for about $2.08 billion for the two years, plus $226 million for current participants whose awards are expected to rise (a new IEP, or a move from homeschool to a private school). The request gives the cost of the 106,127 children on this year's waitlist as a separate figure, $980 million. Community Impact reported on September 8, 2026 that the base request "would not fully cover the waitlist and interest list". Our what changed page logs each budget step.

What to prepare now

1. Tax return. Income was verified only from a Form 1040 (2024 or 2025) in year one. Have the 2025 return filed and to hand.
2. Proof of residency and lawful presence. A Texas driver license covered most families; otherwise a utility bill or lease, and a birth certificate for the child.
3. IEP or disability form. For Tier 1 priority, either an IEP on file with TEA when the window closes or the program's disability certification form. Start with the district now; see the special education page.
4. A school shortlist with seats. Schools fill before awards arrive. The Houston hub and the statewide catalog show a school's 2027-28 openings and its deadline once the school confirms them.
5. Your number. Run the net-cost calculator so you know the gap after $10,474 and how the February payment fits the school's billing.
6. Join the official interest list on the Comptroller's site, and check the deadline tracker for the dates.

How we verify: every date is quoted from the Comptroller's releases and pages, or from the rules in the Texas Register, checked October 8, 2026; third-party expectations are labelled as such. Participation status comes only from the official list. This site is independent and is not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts or Odyssey. See our methodology.