Every way to pay for school in McAllen
Here are the 10 sources a McAllen-area family can combine for private, church, Catholic, homeschool and pre-K education, with who qualifies for each and when to apply.
Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA)
Texas's education savings account. For 2026-27 it sends $10,474 per student to a participating private school in Hidalgo or Starr County, paid in three deposits.
Who qualifies →IEP · Up to $30,000TEFA with an IEP (up to $30,000)
If TEA has a current IEP on file for the child, the account adds a special-education amount set by the home district and the IEP setting, capped at $30,000 in total.
Who qualifies →Homeschool · $2,000TEFA Homeschool / Other ($2,000)
Participants who aren't enrolled at a participating private school, most of them homeschoolers, get $2,000 a year, deposited in full on July 1.
Who qualifies →Ages 3-5 · $10,474TEFA Pre-K & Kindergarten
Approved pre-K and kindergarten providers receive the full award. Pre-K is open only to 3- and 4-year-olds who meet one of Texas's free pre-K criteria.
Who qualifies →New · Jan 2027Federal Scholarship Tax Credit (2027)
Starting in January 2027, taxpayers can take a federal credit of up to $1,700 for gifts to scholarship granting organizations in states that opt in. Texas said yes on Dec. 10, 2025.
Who qualifies →Catholic schoolsDiocese of Brownsville Catholic Schools: TEFA and School Aid
The Diocese of Brownsville's Catholic schools in Hidalgo and Starr counties all appeared in the TEFA finder, and the diocese posts a family guide to the program in English and Spanish. Tuition help beyond TEFA is handled school by school.
Who qualifies →Income-based · Ages 0-12Child Care Assistance (Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley)
The state child care scholarship helps working or training parents pay a licensed provider. In Hidalgo and Starr counties it runs through Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Who qualifies →Hidalgo & Starr · College creditSouth Texas College Dual Credit
South Texas College is the community college for Hidalgo and Starr counties by state law. Its dual-credit program partners with school districts and some private schools, and homeschoolers 16 and older can request regular sections.
Who qualifies →At the schoolSchool-Based Tuition Assistance
Sibling rates, church or parish pricing, scholarships and sliding-scale tuition offered by the school itself. These keep applying when a family uses TEFA.
Who qualifies →Partner fund · No income capEdu Fund Partner Scholarship
A privately funded scholarship for families who choose one of our partner church or community schools, aimed at children still without an award and at tuition above the state amount.
Who qualifies →Dates to know
- This fallJoin the Comptroller's email list at educationfreedom.texas.gov. Dates for 2027-28 haven't been posted, and any Valley child who wasn't funded this year starts over with a new application.
- Jan 8, 2027South Texas College's admission deadline for spring 2027 dual-credit and regular-section requests. Homeschooled students can request regular sections once they turn 16.
- Jan 1, 2027The federal tax credit for gifts to scholarship granting organizations begins. Texas notified the Treasury on Dec. 10, 2025 that it will participate.
- Jan 12, 2027The 90th Legislature convenes in Austin and will decide how large the second year of TEFA can be.
- Feb 1, 2027Half of every 2026-27 private-school award is deposited, the biggest of the three installments. The first two quarters arrived July 1 and October 1.
- SpringMost Hidalgo County private schools re-enroll current families early in the calendar year. Tell your school if you plan to reapply for TEFA so it can hold a seat.
- RollingSchools, pre-K centers, tutors and therapists in the Valley can apply to become TEFA providers at any time; the Comptroller reviews applications as they arrive.
IEP amounts by district TEFA calculator What's left after TEFA
Find out which Valley funding fits your child
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