No — your child does not need an IEP to qualify for TEFA funding at the basic level.
Any Texas student who meets general eligibility can apply once the program opens.

However, students with special needs may qualify for higher funding amounts, and those amounts are tied to having:

  • A completed IEP from a public school

  • Or, documentation such as a 504 Plan, FIIE (Full Individual and Initial Evaluation), or a licensed professional’s diagnosis, which may place the student into Priority Group 1 for application approval

Important distinction:

  • IEP = required for higher funding tiers (up to ~$30,000 depending on PEIMS disability code)

  • Not required for basic TEFA eligibility

This is why many families are starting the evaluation process early — the IEP must be completed before TEFA funds can be awarded at the higher amounts.