Texas TEFA FAQ

TEFA is a new Texas state program that gives families money to pay for their child's education. Instead of your child's education dollars going straight to a public school, the state puts that money into an account for your family. You choose where your child learns — including Red Comet Virtual Academy.

Any Texas family with a school-age child in Kindergarten through 12th grade may apply. TEFA awards are made in priority order. Tier 1 (highest priority): students with a qualifying disability in households at or below 500% of the Federal Poverty Level (~$160,000 for a family of four). Tier 2: students in households at or below 200% of FPL (~$66,000 for a family of four). Tier 3: households between 200% and 500% of FPL. Tier 4: all other applicants. Within each tier, students transitioning from public school are prioritized over students currently in private school.. You do not need to be currently enrolled in any school to apply.

Funding depends on your child's situation: $10,474 per year for a participating private-school student; up to $30,000 per year for a student with a qualifying disability and an IEP on file with TEA; $2,000 per year for a homeschool/non-enrolled student.
Red Comet tuition is covered by the standard private-school award.

Yes. The application window for 2026–27 ran February 4 – March 31, 2026 (extended by court order from March 17). Award notifications began the week of April 22, 2026 (Tier 1) and continued the week of May 4 (Tier 2). Lower-tier notifications continue, and additional waitlist movements may occur as families decline awards. The 2027–28 application window is expected to open in February 2027 — join our 2027–28 interest list. We strongly encourage you to apply as early as possible.

Visit educationfreedom.texas.gov to submit your application. Once approved, simply select Red Comet Virtual Academy as your provider. Our enrollment team is available to walk you through every step — just call 1-833-RED-TEFA.

TEFA is an Education Savings Account (ESA) — similar to a school voucher but more flexible. The state deposits funds into an account in your child's name. You use those funds to pay for approved educational expenses, including Red Comet tuition.

Yes — in fact, low-income families are the first priority. Families earning under $66,000 per year (for a family of four) are Priority #1 in the application process. Red Comet's enrollment team is here to help you through every step at no cost to you.

Once you are accepted into TEFA and remain in good standing, you do not reapply each year. You submit an annual intent to continue, and your account remains active. Unused funds carry forward as long as your child remains in the program.

Yes. Red Comet's standard tuition can be fully covered by the TEFA award.

Yes. Red Comet has a Premium Career-Ready Program (Grades 7–12) which includes a SkillSoft license for job certification prep.

For more information on TEFA funds, you may visit: educationfreedom.texas.gov

For more information on TEFA funds, you may visit: educationfreedom.texas.gov

Red Comet Virtual Academy is a fully accredited online K–12 school. We have been serving students across the United States since 1999. We are based in Frisco, Texas, and are proud to be a TEFA-Approved Provider for Texas families.

Yes. Red Comet is accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED), the unified successor to several historic regional accrediting bodies including the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC), the North Central Association (NCA), and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS CASI). Cognia accreditation is recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission (TEPSAC) and is one of 19 accrediting bodies approved for participating schools under the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program. Red Comet's credits are accepted by colleges, universities, and school districts nationwide.

No. Red Comet is self-paced. Your child studies when it works for your family — morning, evening, or weekends. Students can log in from anywhere and the courses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the enrollment period.

Red Comet serves students in Kindergarten through 12th grade (K–12). We offer over 200 accredited courses including core academics, electives, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and career-readiness programs.

Yes. Every Red Comet course comes with a certificated, qualified teacher. Teachers are reachable by email or using the messaging system on the course/enrollment platform. Teachers typically respond to questions within two to three business days and return graded assignments within 5 business days.

Every Red Comet student is matched with a local mentor in the Texas area. Your child's mentor provides regular check-ins, keeps them on track with their coursework, and offers encouragement and support throughout the school year. Local Learning Mentors are not teachers and provide non-academic support to ensure students overcome barriers to education. This is one of the most unique features of the Red Comet program.

The SkillSoft license is included in Red Comet's Premium Career-Ready Program for students in Grades 7–12. SkillSoft is a professional learning platform used by major companies worldwide. Through our partnership with the National Education Foundation (NEF), students can earn industry-recognized certifications in computers, technology, and business — all before graduating from high school.

Through the SkillSoft platform, high school students (Grades 7–12) can pursue Industry-Based Certifications (IBCs) including CompTIA, Cisco, AWS, and other credentials. These certificates give students a real head start in the workforce.

Red Comet offers over 200 accredited courses including English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, Fine Arts, Health, Physical Education, Business, Engineering & Technology, and College & Career Readiness. AP courses are also available for high school students. Please refer to the catalog for a full listing.

Yes, a computer or laptop is required for coursework. Students may view lessons on tablets or phones, but final tests must be completed on a computer. If your child has safe access to a local library or community center with a desktop and internet access, they can work from there as well. As long as your child has internet access, they can log in to the platform and work from anywhere at any time.

Red Comet supports many students who learn differently or have an IEP. Our self-paced asynchronous model makes unlimited time on tasks possible; instructional content is delivered in multiple modalities (text, video, audio, simulations); and the AI Companion Tutor responds to questions in plain language and the student's preferred language. As a TEFA-participating private school, Red Comet is not required to implement a public-school IEP, and we do not provide direct therapeutic services (speech, occupational, behavioral therapy, etc.). Families of students with significant special-education needs typically allocate part of their TEFA award (which may be up to $30,000 for an IEP-eligible student) to Red Comet tuition for academics and the remainder to TEFA-approved Texas-based therapists, tutors, and educational services. Please contact us to discuss your child's specific situation before enrolling.

Many Spanish-speaking students have successfully completed courses on Red Comet. Our self-paced format gives students more time to work through material at their own comfort level. While all instruction and teacher support is provided in English, many Red Comet courses feature an AI companion that acts as a personal tutor — and it responds in the language your child uses, including Spanish. This means your child can get real-time guidance and explanations in their own language, any time of day.

Yes. As required for TEFA-participating private schools, Red Comet administers a nationally recognized norm-referenced assessment annually to all enrolled students in grades 3–12. The test is online. There is no STAAR or state-mandated test. Parents authorize Red Comet to share results with Odyssey for TEFA program reporting.

No. Red Comet is non-sectarian. Students are not required to participate in any religious instruction or activity. Our curriculum is academically focused, aligned to national and state standards, and welcomes students of all faiths and no faith.

No. Per 34 TAC §16.408, TEFA participation does not make Red Comet a state actor or a recipient of federal financial assistance. Red Comet retains full autonomy over admissions, curriculum, instructional methods, and operational policies.

Follow these steps:

• Step 1: Apply for TEFA at educationfreedom.texas.gov before March 17, 2026.
• Step 2: Once approved, select Red Comet Virtual Academy as your provider.
• Step 3: Call our team at 1-833-RED-TEFA or visit redcomet.org/texas to complete your Red Comet enrollment. We will guide you through every step.

Yes! Our enrollment team will walk you through the TEFA application process. We are here to help. Call us at 1-833-RED-TEFA or fill out the contact form and a local mentor will reach out within 24 hours.

Once your TEFA application is approved and your Red Comet enrollment is complete, your child can start classes. Academic year begins in August.

Yes. Each child in your household qualifies for their own individual TEFA award. You will need to submit a separate application for each child.

The March 17, 2026 deadline applies to the 2026–27 school year funding. If you miss this deadline, please still contact us at 1-833-RED-TEFA — we can discuss options and help you prepare for the next enrollment cycle.

Call us at 1-833-RED-TEFA (1-833-733-8332) — our enrollment team is available to answer your questions. You can also contact us online and we will call you back within 24 hours.

Our enrollment team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time.

Red Comet Virtual Academy is based in Frisco, Texas. As a Texas-based company, we understand the needs of Texas families and are proud to be a TEFA-Approved Provider serving students across the state.