School Choice is Here — Don’t Miss This Opportunity

Texas families now have a new way to help pay for private school expenses through the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program.

At St. Mary’s Catholic School, we want every family to know about this opportunity and apply if eligible.

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Applications are OPEN!

What Is TEFA?

Texas’ new school choice program — the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program (also called Education Savings Accounts / ESAs) — may provide funding to help families pay for approved education expenses.

Families may be eligible to receive funding for:

• Tuition

• Uniforms

• Books

• Lunches

• Tutoring

• Transportation

• And other approved school-related expenses
  
  

For many families, this could be a significant opportunity to make Catholic education more accessible.

Who Should Apply?

We encourage all St. Mary’s families to apply if they may be eligible.

Even if you are unsure whether your family qualifies, applying is the best first step.

Potential Funding Amounts

Eligible families may receive:

• Up to $10,474 per child

• Up to $30,000 per child with a disability (based on program eligibility)

Funding amounts and final eligibility are determined by the TEFA program/state process.

Simple Eligibility Requirements

To apply, families generally must meet these basic requirements:

• Your child must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal resident, and the parent/guardian must be a Texas resident

• Your child must be school-aged (PreK3–12th grade)
  
  

That’s it — if this sounds like your family, we encourage you to apply.

St. Mary’s Is Here to Help

At St. Mary’s, we believe every family deserves access to a faith-filled, high-quality Catholic education.

We are here to help you:

• Understand the program

• Learn what documents you need

• Navigate the application process

• Explore how this opportunity may support your family at SMS
  
  

St. Mary’s Application Support Sessions

We will offer in-person help for families completing the TEFA application. Devices will be available.

ST. Mary's School Office
️ Devices Provided

Support Dates:

• Tuesday, February 24 | 9:30–11:00 AM

• Wednesday, February 26 |9:30–11:00 AM

• Thursday, February 27 | 9:30–11:00 AM

Helpful Tips for Applying

To make the process smoother, have these items ready:

• Your Social Security number

• The Social Security number for each child

• Your driver’s license number and expiration date

• Your 1040 tax return (only the first two pages are required)
  
  

Important upload tip:
You may upload your 1040 as a PDF or JPEG, but PDF is recommended for more reliable uploads.

If you receive an upload error, keep trying — some applicants have reported needing multiple attempts before attachments upload successfully.

Questions? We’re Happy to Help

If you have questions about TEFA, eligibility, or enrolling at St. Mary’s Catholic School, please contact:

940-665-5395
afuhrmann@smsmustangs