Fall break is when a lot of Tarrant County parents admit something isn't working. The commute from Saginaw to a school in Southwest Fort Worth is longer than it looked in July. A child who was excited about a classical school in August is miserable by October. A Christian school in Burleson turns out to be the wrong fit for a kid who needs more support. If your child's tuition is being paid by a Texas Education Freedom Account, a change of school in the middle of the year raises questions that didn't exist before: what happens to the money already sent, and does the account follow your child?
Here is what the Comptroller's office and Odyssey, the company that runs the TEFA platform, have published so far.
You can change schools during the year
Odyssey's refund policy, last updated on September 21, 2026, says students may move between approved schools at any time during the program year. The parent makes the change in the Odyssey Parent Portal by picking the new school, or by choosing "Homeschool" from the same dropdown. Once the transfer is official, future payments can be sent to the new school.
The new school has to be a participating TEFA school. In our directory, 108 of the 136 K-12 private schools we track across Tarrant, Parker, Johnson, Wise and Hood counties are in the program. Check the Fort Worth-area school directory before you tour, and confirm the school has an open seat in your child's grade. A transfer only works if the receiving school will enroll your child.
What happens to money the first school already received
For a student at a private school, the 2026-27 award of $10,474 is paid in three parts: 25% in July or mid-August, 25% on October 1 and the remaining 50% on February 1. By mid-October, the first school may already hold half of the year's award.
Odyssey's policy covers that situation. Refunds apply to TEFA funds for services that weren't delivered. The school may keep its registration and enrollment fees. The refund doesn't go to you. TEFA money is never refunded directly to a parent; the school sends it back to Odyssey, and Odyssey returns it to your child's account wallet.
The process runs through the school, not the family:
- You tell the current school you're leaving.
- The school contacts Odyssey Support at 737-379-2362 or [email protected] to request the refund.
- Odyssey records the school, the student and the refund amount.
- The school returns the unused funds to Odyssey.
- Odyssey puts them back in your child's wallet.
Odyssey says it can't process a refund without the school's direct involvement, and families shouldn't accept TEFA refund money from a school themselves. Anything beyond that, such as a contract you signed or a withdrawal fee in the enrollment agreement, is between you and the school. Read your enrollment contract before you give notice, because some private schools charge for the full year once a student starts.
The policy doesn't spell out how a school calculates the unused portion, or how quickly it must return it. Ask the business office for its number in writing, and ask when it plans to contact Odyssey.
The February installment is the big one
The Comptroller's funding schedule says students must remain enrolled in a participating private school to receive later installments. Half of the year's award arrives on February 1, so where your child is enrolled at that point matters a great deal.
Two practical points follow. First, if you're moving to another TEFA school, try to have the transfer recorded in the portal well before February 1 so the payment goes to the right place. Second, if you're thinking about leaving private school for a public campus, know what that means. The Comptroller says students found enrolled in a public or charter school during the year are removed from the program. Fort Worth ISD, Keller, Northwest and the other districts are public schools, so re-enrolling there ends the account.
Switching to homeschool changes the amount
Some families pull a child out to teach at home for the rest of the year. TEFA allows that, but the award changes. Homeschool and other students receive up to $2,000, not $10,474. Our homeschool guide explains how that $2,000 can be spent on curriculum, tutoring, Tarrant County College courses and therapies.
The Comptroller's waitlist notice also says that when a private school student switches to homeschool, the difference frees up money that can be awarded to waitlisted students. That is a policy detail, not a penalty, but it tells you the larger amount doesn't stay reserved for your child once you make the change.
Leftover money and next year
Anything left in the account at year's end rolls over as long as your child stays in the program. Participants in good standing don't reapply for 2027-28; the family just confirms it wants to continue. If you're leaving for a school that costs less than the one you're leaving, any refunded balance stays available for approved expenses later. Our guide to what's left after TEFA shows how families budget the remainder.
A checklist before you give notice
- Read your current enrollment contract for withdrawal fees or full-year tuition clauses.
- Confirm the new school is in the TEFA program and has a seat in your child's grade.
- Ask the current school how much it will return to Odyssey, and when.
- Change the school in the Odyssey portal once the new enrollment is confirmed, not before.
- Aim to finish the move before February 1, when half the award is paid.
- If you're considering homeschool, plan around the $2,000 amount.
- Keep copies of every email with both schools and Odyssey.
If you're weighing a move and want a second set of eyes on the numbers, our TEFA calculator estimates the award, and a School Funding Advisor can help you compare Fort Worth-area schools before you commit.