Short answer
TEFA approved expenses, 2026-27
TEFA funds cover private school tuition and fees, textbooks and required materials, tutoring by a certified teacher, educational therapies not covered by insurance, academic tests, dual-credit and online courses, transportation to approved providers and school-required technology. All technology combined is capped at 10% of the annual award. Everything is bought through the Odyssey portal: TEFA does not reimburse purchases made outside the TEFA Marketplace.
Allowed TEFA expense categories
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | At a private school registered through Odyssey, including breakfast or lunch the school provides and required uniforms. |
| Courses and credentials | Dual-credit courses, online courses and programs, TEA-approved industry-credential training, and public school classes or services that don't count toward attendance. |
| Textbooks and materials | Textbooks and instructional materials required by the school or course. |
| Tutoring | Private tutors or teaching services; the tutor must hold an active teaching certificate. |
| Educational therapies | Behavioral, occupational, speech and physical therapy not covered by Medicaid, CHIP or private insurance. |
| Academic assessments | Costs of academic tests and assessments. |
| Technology | Hardware, software and technology required by the private school or homeschool program and used mainly for education. |
| Transportation | Fee-for-service transportation to and from approved providers. |
Caps and limits
- All technology combined is limited to 10% of the annual award (for example $200 of a $2,000 homeschool award). This covers laptops, tablets, desktops, monitors, printers, headphones, cameras, calculators, hotspots, software and accessories. 3D printers are also limited to one per year.
- Musical instruments have a $1,200 price cap.
Not allowed
- Purchases made outside the TEFA Marketplace (no reimbursement)
- Paying a family member
- Moving funds to another child
- Refunds, rebates or credits of TEFA purchases to a parent's personal account
- Anything not on the approved expense list
Source: Odyssey help center: TEFA eligible educational expenses (as of October 21, 2026)
Not sure about a specific purchase?
Run it through the free ESA expense checker. It points you to the Texas rule it relies on so you can confirm before you spend.
Check an expenseHow to pay for an approved expense
Tuition
The school sets tuition and fees in Odyssey; the parent confirms, then pays from Wallet → Tuition → Make a Payment. Confirming alone does not send money.
School fees
For school-requested fees such as meals or an SAT fee, confirm and pay from the available balance, or dismiss if paying another way.
TEFA Marketplace
Buy approved products and services under Wallet → Shop Marketplace. Orders can't be cancelled; report damaged or wrong items with photos within 5 business days.
No reimbursement
Families are not reimbursed for purchases made outside the TEFA Marketplace. Tuition not covered by TEFA is the family's responsibility.
Source: Texas Comptroller: initial TEFA funding release (June 30, 2026) (as of October 21, 2026)
TEFA expenses FAQ
Can I buy something myself and get reimbursed by TEFA?
No. TEFA funds can only be spent on approved products and services through the Odyssey portal and TEFA Marketplace. Purchases made outside it are not reimbursed.
How much TEFA money can go to a laptop or other technology?
All technology combined is limited to 10% of your child's annual award, for example $200 of a $2,000 homeschool award.
Can TEFA pay for tutoring?
Yes, if the tutor holds an active teaching certificate and is an approved TEFA vendor so you can pay them through Odyssey.
Can TEFA pay for therapy?
Yes, educational therapies such as speech, occupational, physical and behavioral therapy are allowed when not covered by Medicaid, CHIP or private insurance.
This summarizes official guidance and is not a ruling on any specific purchase; the program decides each request. Questions about your own account: TEFA contact page. GetESAPaid is not affiliated with the program. Maintained by the GetESAPaid Research Desk.