Last updated: July 2026 The initial application period for the 2026–2027 Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program has closed, but the process isn't over for many families. Following the close of applications, the Texas Comptroller and Odyssey began reviewing applications, issuing awards, processing appeals, and moving students from the waitlist as funding became available. [...]
Last updated: July 2026 The TEFA IEP requirements are becoming increasingly important for Texas families preparing for the 2026–2027 school year. To qualify for the highest levels of TEFA (Texas Education Freedom Account) funding—especially for students with special needs—families must have a completed IEP from a public school or public charter. Because TEFA awards [...]
Has your teen studied for hours only to forget everything on test day? The truth is, your student is not alone in this experience! As parents, we tend to assume that memory works like a computer: information is learned, gets stored in our memory, and later is pulled out in the form of recalling. [...]
Cramming may seem like the fastest way to prepare for an upcoming test, but science says it's one of the least effective ways to learn and retain information. When pulling an all-nighter before your big exam it can temporarily give you a short-term boost in learning, but truth is that the information you 'crammed' [...]
When struggling in school, it can feel like all hope is lost for the student. Naturally, as a parent, this feels concerning. Whether the student is experiencing failing grades, late assignments, or other academic challenges there is one silver lining. There's something that many families overlook: struggling in school can actually be a good [...]
Does your student disengage from the classroom or zone out halfway through a lecture? While most schools stick to traditional class lengths, research actually suggests there's an ideal class length for maximizing a student's attention span and potential. In this article, I'll break down the science behind ideal class length and show you why [...]
Having a strong academic foundation is essential for long term success as a student. No other skill is as important as student organization. It not only readies middle and high school students for life beyond, but also directly assists in building other valuable skills such as confidence, independence, and college readiness. In this guide, [...]
As parents, we often wonder what age our children should be before they start learning certain things. We want to make sure we're not pushing them too hard, or not giving them enough opportunities to learn and grow. Developmental ages can be a tricky thing to navigate, but luckily there are some tried and [...]
It's no secret that the key to success in school is maintaining a healthy balance between academics and extracurriculars. But what happens when you add in a job, social life, and family obligations? It can be tough to juggle everything, but finding the perfect school/life balance that works for you is important. However, you [...]
Grade-skipping can sound like a fast track to academic success, especially when your child seems bored or underchallenged. But while the idea of advancing a grade may appeal to parents seeking to match a gifted student’s academic pace, the long-term social, emotional, and even academic impacts deserve a closer look. At The Tenney School, [...]
