What Does TEFA Pay For?
Plain answers about what Texas Education Freedom Account funds can and can't cover. All spending happens through the TEFA marketplace with preapproved schools and vendors.
Updated October 2026
Private school tuition & fees
- Tuition at a participating private school
- Enrollment, registration, and technology fees
- Required books, curriculum, and uniforms
- School breakfast or lunch
Courses & credentials
- Online courses and programs
- Dual-credit college courses
- TEA-approved industry credential programs
- Non-enrollment classes at a public or charter school
Tutoring & testing
- Private tutors (active teaching certificate required)
- Academic assessments and test fees
Therapies & transportation
- Educational therapies not covered by Medicaid, CHIP, or insurance
- Fee-for-service transportation to approved providers
Jump to a question
- Does TEFA pay for private school tuition?
- Which private school fees can TEFA cover?
- Does TEFA pay for athletics, extracurriculars, or class trips?
- Can a school charge more because my child has TEFA?
- Can I buy school uniforms with TEFA?
- Does TEFA cover school lunch?
- Can TEFA pay for online classes?
- Can homeschoolers buy curriculum with TEFA?
- Does TEFA pay for dual-credit college courses?
- Can I use TEFA for classes at a public school?
- Does TEFA cover career or trade certifications?
- Does TEFA pay for tutoring?
- Can TEFA pay for standardized tests?
- Does TEFA pay for speech, occupational, or other educational therapy?
- Does TEFA cover transportation?
- Can I get reimbursed for things I already bought?
- When can I start spending TEFA funds?
- What if a provider I want isn't in the marketplace?
Private school
- Does TEFA pay for private school tuition?
- Yes. Tuition and fees at a private school participating through the TEFA marketplace are approved expenses.
- Which private school fees can TEFA cover?
- Fees that apply to all students as a condition of enrollment or relate directly to instruction — for example enrollment and registration, books and curriculum, technology, uniforms, school meals, mandatory facility or security fees, graduation, transportation, and assessment fees.
- Does TEFA pay for athletics, extracurriculars, or class trips?
- School activity fees, including extracurriculars and athletics, can be eligible, but class trips and other activities must be related to educational instruction. Fees not directly related to instruction are generally ineligible.
- Can a school charge more because my child has TEFA?
- No. The Comptroller's guidelines say a student should not be charged different tuition simply because they receive a TEFA award, and sibling, employee, or parishioner discounts should still apply. Schools may consider the award when deciding need-based financial aid.
- Can I buy school uniforms with TEFA?
- Yes, when the uniform is required by the private school, higher education provider, or course your child is enrolled in.
- Does TEFA cover school lunch?
- Yes. Breakfast or lunch provided by a private school during the school day is an approved expense.
Homeschool & courses
- Can TEFA pay for online classes?
- Yes. Fees for an online educational course or program from a preapproved provider are approved expenses.
- Can homeschoolers buy curriculum with TEFA?
- Textbooks and instructional materials are covered when required by a school, higher education provider, or course your child is enrolled in, including purchases through approved vendors. Check the TEFA marketplace for which vendors and products are available to your account.
- Does TEFA pay for dual-credit college courses?
- Yes. Tuition and fees at a higher education provider, including dual-credit courses, are approved expenses.
- Can I use TEFA for classes at a public school?
- Yes, for classes or services from a school district or charter school as long as they don't count the child in the school's average daily attendance.
- Does TEFA cover career or trade certifications?
- Yes, for programs that train for an industry-based credential approved by the Texas Education Agency.
Tutoring, testing & therapy
- Does TEFA pay for tutoring?
- Yes. Private tutoring and teaching services are approved expenses. Per the program operator, tutors must hold an active teaching certificate to participate.
- Can TEFA pay for standardized tests?
- Yes. Costs related to academic assessments are approved expenses.
- Does TEFA pay for speech, occupational, or other educational therapy?
- Yes, for educational therapies from an approved practitioner — but only for costs not covered by Medicaid, CHIP, other government benefits, or private insurance.
Spending rules
- Does TEFA cover transportation?
- Yes, for a fee-for-service transportation provider taking your child to and from a preapproved education provider or vendor. Gas and personal mileage are not on the approved list.
- Can I get reimbursed for things I already bought?
- No. The program does not provide reimbursements. All purchases happen through the TEFA marketplace with preapproved providers and vendors.
- When can I start spending TEFA funds?
- For the 2026-27 school year, funds first became available on July 1, 2026.
- What if a provider I want isn't in the marketplace?
- Spending is limited to preapproved providers and vendors. Schools and vendors join on a rolling basis, so encourage your provider to apply and check back.
TEFA for homeschool families →
Using TEFA at a Christian school →
Sources: Texas Education Code §29.359 · Odyssey: eligible TEFA expenses · Comptroller: tuition & fee guidelines. Confirm specific purchases in the TEFA marketplace.