How do you apply for a Texas school voucher?

Introduction

Texas has created an Education Savings Account (ESA) program—often called a “voucher”—to give families new ways to pay for approved education expenses. The law was signed in 2025, and the program is slated to begin with the 2026–27 school year. Administration is expected to be handled by the Texas Comptroller’s Office, with help from certified organizations and vendors.

Because the program is new, the state is still finalizing rules, selecting administrators, and opening provider portals. Families won’t be able to submit applications until early 2026, but you can get ready now by understanding eligibility, gathering documents, and signing up for official updates from the state. The Comptroller has signaled that FAQs, outreach lists for parents and schools, and a timeline will be available well before applications open.

Funding amounts will vary by student. Texas has projected roughly around ten thousand dollars for eligible students attending approved private schools, up to a higher amount for students with disabilities, and a smaller allowance for homeschoolers. These figures will be finalized before the first year. If applications exceed available funds, a lottery—weighted by factors such as disability status and household income—will be used to award seats and create a waitlist.

Why does this matter to families? ESAs can cover tuition, tutoring, curricula, testing, transportation, and more from approved providers. They create flexibility, but they also come with rules: you must apply within the window, submit proof of residency and student eligibility, and use the account only for allowed expenses. Understanding these details will help you avoid delays or denials once the portal opens.

This guide answers the most common “how-to-apply” questions, shows what documents to gather, and explains the lottery and priority system. It also outlines steps private schools and vendors should take to participate, since families can only spend ESA dollars with approved providers. Finally, it covers what you can do right now—from joining update lists to exploring interim options if your student needs services sooner.

1) What is the Texas Education Savings Account (ESA) and who qualifies?

Texas’s ESA is a state program that places public funds into an account you control for your child’s approved education expenses. It is targeted to begin in the 2026–27 school year and overseen at the state level. Certified organizations will help operate the program, subject to state oversight, audits, and compliance checks.

To qualify, your child must be eligible to attend a Texas public school and the parent or guardian must be a Texas resident. Priority is set by law and typically includes students with disabilities and lower-income households. When demand exceeds available funds, a lottery is used according to the statutory priority order to keep the process fair and transparent.

In practice, “voucher” is the popular shorthand, but Texas’s model is an ESA—money is allocated to your student’s account rather than sent directly to a school. That structure lets families purchase tuition or other eligible services from approved providers within program rules while retaining flexibility over how the funds are used.

2) When do Texas ESA applications open and how do I start?

The state expects the first family application window to open in early 2026. Exact dates haven’t been finalized, so the single most important step right now is to sign up for official updates from Texas authorities. You can also watch for finalized rules in the state register and announcements about the application portal.

Before applications open, create a checklist: student identity and age, proof of Texas residency, and—if relevant—special education documentation or income information for priority placement. Having these ready helps you submit swiftly once the portal launches, which can matter if applications surge on day one.

If you’re a school or vendor, provider applications are expected to open earlier, with private-school approval anticipated in late 2025 so families will have eligible places to use funds when the program begins. Getting provider status in advance will make family enrollment smoother once the ESA accounts go live.

3) What documents are required to apply for a Texas school voucher/ESA?

Expect to verify student identity and age, Texas residency, and parent or guardian status. If you’re seeking priority or a higher award amount, you may also need income documentation or special education records such as an IEP, evaluation reports, or related paperwork that supports eligibility for additional services.

The state will publish exact documentation lists in the application portal. Common proofs include a birth certificate or passport for age, a Texas driver’s license or utility bill for residency, and court or school records that show guardianship if relevant. For special education funding tiers, keep recent evaluations and the IEP readily available to upload.

Gather these items now and scan them to PDF. When the portal opens, being document-ready reduces mistakes and avoids “incomplete” flags that could push your application behind others in a high-demand window. Clear digital copies, consistent file names, and a simple folder structure will save time during submission and any later verification.

4) How much funding do Texas ESAs provide for private, homeschool, and special education?

The statute ties private-school ESA awards to a percentage of statewide per-pupil funding, with the education agency publishing the annual figure. Planning numbers have placed private-school awards around five figures per student, with additional tiers for students with disabilities and a smaller allowance for homeschoolers to cover curriculum and related costs.

These funds can be used for tuition at an approved private school, tutoring, curriculum, assessments, eligible therapies, and more—so long as the provider appears on the approved list. This “approved-spend” model is the hallmark of ESAs and differs from traditional vouchers that send money directly to a school rather than to a family-directed account.

Keep in mind that amounts are per student and that families may need to budget if tuition or services exceed the ESA allotment. Some schools may offer aid or scholarships that can stack with an ESA; ask the school’s financial office early and review any conditions tied to accepting multiple forms of assistance.

5) How does the Texas ESA lottery and priority system work?

If more families apply than the program can fund, Texas will run a lottery. The law sets a priority order—for example, students with disabilities and certain income brackets receive earlier consideration, followed by other eligible groups. A cap limits how much of the total allocation can go to the highest-income category in a given year.

That means eligible students in higher-priority groups are more likely to be selected if funds are tight. If your child isn’t selected, a waitlist is created following the same order. Watch your email carefully—offers typically expire if you don’t accept by a stated deadline, and missing the window could send you back to the waitlist or require reapplication.

Families should also note that priority categories may require documentation. If you intend to claim a priority status, have those papers ready. Submitting clean, complete files the first time can reduce the chance of administrative delays that might otherwise affect your place in the selection process.

6) Can homeschool families apply for a Texas ESA and what can they spend it on?

Yes. Homeschool families are eligible for the ESA and may receive a smaller but useful allowance for approved expenses. Qualifying purchases can include curriculum, instructional materials, tutoring, testing, and certain online courses—so long as the vendor is approved and the purchase falls within the allowable categories set by program rules.

Homeschoolers are not required to enroll in a public school or switch oversight; the ESA is parent-directed. As with any ESA use, the key is purchasing only from authorized vendors and keeping records of transactions in the program portal for audits. Treat your ESA like a budget with guardrails and build a simple ledger to track each purchase.

Because the provider marketplace is still being built, homeschool families should sign up for parent and student outreach lists and watch for vendor onboarding updates through late 2025. If your preferred curriculum company is not yet listed, encourage it to apply so you can use funds there in the first program year.

7) How do private schools and vendors get approved for the Texas ESA program?

Provider approval opens first so that a marketplace exists before families receive accounts. Private-school applications are expected to open in 2025 with requirements such as Texas location, recognized accreditation, a minimum period of continuous operation, and annual norm-referenced testing for participating students in grades 3–12.

Vendors of educational products and services—tutoring companies, curriculum publishers, therapists, testing providers—will also apply to appear in the ESA marketplace. Approval typically includes background checks, business verification, and agreement to program pricing, refund, and accountability rules that protect families and public funds.

Approved provider status matters for families: ESA funds can only be spent with approved providers. Schools and vendors that complete onboarding early help parents avoid last-minute scrambles. If you’re a provider, prepare documents now, assign a compliance point person, and monitor rulemaking so your application can move quickly when the portal opens.

8) What are the step-by-step Texas ESA application and account setup steps?

Step 1: Sign up for state updates so you receive the application launch date and portal link. Step 2: Gather documents—student age or identity, Texas residency, guardian status, income (if claiming priority), and special-education records if applicable.

Step 3: Create your account in the ESA portal once it opens in early 2026 and complete the application for each child. Step 4: Choose your intended school or service plan—approved private school, homeschool purchases, tutoring, or a mix that fits your child’s needs. Step 5: Submit and monitor your dashboard for lottery status or requests for additional information.

If selected, accept the award, agree to program terms, and access funds through the ESA platform. From there, purchase only approved items from approved providers and keep digital receipts. Expect periodic reviews and respond promptly to any documentation requests to keep your account in good standing.

9) How do families maintain eligibility and renew their Texas ESA each year?

Once in the program, students in good standing typically do not need to reapply from scratch annually. Families will confirm they wish to continue and must follow spending rules, maintain residency, and meet any ongoing verification requirements set by the administering agency or its contractors.

Participating private-school students must take an approved norm-referenced test annually in grades 3–12; homeschooling families should follow program rules for eligible purchases and careful recordkeeping. Audits and spot checks are normal in ESA programs and exist to safeguard funds and ensure they are spent on allowable educational uses.

If your situation changes—moving out of state, switching schooling type, or no longer needing services—notify the program promptly to avoid repayment issues or eligibility problems for future years. Keep copies of every approval letter, purchase receipt, and test report in a single folder for quick reference.

10) What can families do now while waiting for the official ESA application window?

Join the state’s parent and student outreach lists to receive date announcements, rule updates, and portal instructions. Keep your documents organized and consider your schooling plan for 2026–27 so you can apply decisively when the window opens. Early planning helps you avoid rushed decisions during a crowded launch.

If your child has a disability, explore current options while ESAs ramp up. Texas offers time-limited, parent-directed special education services in certain years, and local districts may also have supports available now. Even though these are separate from ESAs, they can help bridge the gap until accounts are live.

Also, ask prospective schools about their ESA readiness, accreditation status, financial aid policies, and whether they plan to seek provider approval. Many private schools are preparing now so families can use ESA funds seamlessly when the program launches, and being on a school’s radar can help you plan budgets and timelines.