TEFA communication starts with three separate questions: is the school a participating provider, is the family eligible, and has the child received a funding award? A school website should explain what its team can confirm and direct families to the state for individual program decisions. Keep that information beside the school’s ordinary admissions steps.
This guide is for private-school and early-learning operators maintaining website, social and admissions messages. Digital Osmos is an independent marketing company, unaffiliated with TEFA. Official sources were checked October 17, 2026.
Use the final deadline, not the original deadline
The 2026–27 family application period ran February 4–March 31, 2026. March 17 was the original deadline before the extension. The state’s Year 1 application report distinguishes the original and extended windows. The current official timeline gives March 31 as the final close.
Do not describe that cycle as open. The official site offers an interest list for 2027–28 updates. Treat a signup as a request for news, not an application or funding reservation. Check the state’s current information before adding new application dates to a campaign.
Confirm exactly what your school can say
Ask the authorized school contact for the participation record and the programs or campuses it covers. The official schools page describes a separate rolling provider process and requirements. An application by the school should not be described as an approval while that status is unresolved.
Keep ordinary program information available while confirming any funding statement. Families still need the campus address, ages or grades, hours, fee information and admission steps. A funding headline should never be the only explanation of whether the program fits.
Build a source register your team can maintain
| Record | What to keep | Who confirms it |
|---|---|---|
| Provider status | Exact school, program, campus and supporting record | Authorized school contact |
| Dated statement | School year, official URL and date checked | Content owner |
| Published locations | Website pages, ads, social profiles and reusable replies | Marketing owner |
| Questions | School answer or official destination, with an escalation owner | Admissions lead |
| Change control | What changed, affected materials and review completion | Named approver |
Check maintained source copy before producing more campaign versions. When the same claim appears on a page, a social caption and a staff response, correcting one does not correct the others. Keep their locations in the register.
Keep awards distinct from school admission
The state’s family guidance explains that eligibility does not guarantee funding. Your admissions team can explain the school’s available programs and application process. Individual TEFA eligibility, application and award questions belong with the official program.
Give families descriptive links so they can distinguish a school inquiry form from a state application destination. Do not ask for financial records or disability documentation through a general marketing form to decide whether a child qualifies.
Review the website and social journey together
Read the social post and its linked page as a pair. Check that they identify the same school, program and year, and that the contact route works on a phone. Staff should receive the same approved information shown online, with a person available to answer school-specific questions.
For Dallas–Fort Worth operators, name the actual campus rather than implying that an approval or program is available across an entire suburb list. Make the relevant school location clear before a family asks for a visit.
How often should we review the wording?
Name a review owner and set a review date around the school’s publishing routine. Recheck official sources before a campaign starts and whenever the state or school announces a relevant change. Pause an unverified claim while the responsible person confirms it.
Use the website-readiness checklist to assign work, and the TEFA operator hub for the source links. Pre-K operators should also review the early-learning communication checks.
Request a free website and social media audit for user experience and technical review, including website performance and SEO. For implementation, explore private-school marketing support or compare package scope.