Families in the Region 1 service-center area, which is headquartered in Edinburg and covers the lower Rio Grande Valley and the border counties upriver, reported 3,235 funded students as of July 29, 2026. Edinburg CISD led with 407, followed by McAllen ISD (312), Sharyland ISD (160), Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (155) and Weslaco ISD (153).
Statewide, 80% of funded students come from households under 200% of the federal poverty level. That tier got first claim on the money after children with disabilities, which matters in a two-county area where many working families fall under that line.
The award equals 85% of average state and local funding per public school student, so it's the same $10,474 in kindergarten and in twelfth grade. Odyssey, the Comptroller's contractor, pays the school directly: 25% on July 1, 25% on October 1 and 50% on February 1. Nothing is paid to parents, and a balance stays in the account for the next year while the child remains in the program.
Year one ran on the $1 billion appropriated in Senate Bill 2. Demand dwarfed it: some 274,000 applications came in, 85,344 accounts had money behind them by July 29, and upward of 121,000 eligible children were still waiting. For 2027-28, students in good standing continue, siblings of participants go to the front of the new-applicant line, and everyone else applies again when the Comptroller opens the window.
Funded TEFA students by McAllen-area district
| District of residence | Funded students (Jul 29, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Edinburg CISD | 407 |
| McAllen ISD | 312 |
| Sharyland ISD | 160 |
| Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD | 155 |
| Weslaco ISD | 153 |
| Mission CISD | 75 |
| Donna ISD | 73 |
| La Joya ISD | 72 |
| Hidalgo ISD | 57 |
| Rio Grande City Grulla ISD | 50 |
Source: TEFA Annual Demographic Report (Texas Comptroller), parent-reported district of residence, data as of July 29, 2026. The Region 1 (Edinburg) service-center area, which also takes in Cameron, Willacy and other South Texas counties total was 3,235.
Combining it with other sources
Valley families rarely rely on one source. This one generally combines with the school's own discounts and scholarships and with at least one other source on our list. The funding check works out the right mix for your child.