TEFA Approved Expenses
TEFA funds can be used for a wide range of educational expenses — but only those explicitly approved by the program. Here's the complete list.
What counts as an approved TEFA expense?
The safest way to think about TEFA is this: an expense needs both an approved category and a valid official workflow. A service sounding educational is not enough by itself. Families should still confirm the current account and vendor steps in Odyssey before assuming a purchase or invoice will go through cleanly.
✅ Approved Educational Expenses
Tuition & School Fees
- Private school tuition
- School registration and enrollment fees
- Online school tuition
- Industry credential programs
Tutoring & Academic Services
- Private tutoring by qualified tutors ⭐
- Academic coaching
- Test preparation services
- Unbundled courses from public/charter schools
★ Tutoring is explicitly approved. This includes special needs tutoring for autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences.
Families often use tutoring funds for dyslexia intervention, reading comprehension, math support, executive-function work, and autism-friendly academic instruction. If you are planning tutoring specifically, pair this page with our TEFA usage guide so the service plan and payment path line up.
Therapies & Special Services
- Educational therapies (speech, occupational, etc.)
- Services for students with disabilities
- Behavioral support services
- Assistive technology services
Curriculum & Materials
- Textbooks
- Instructional materials
- Curriculum packages (for homeschool)
- Workbooks and educational supplies
Technology
- Computer hardware
- Educational software
- Assistive technology devices
Note: Technology expenses are capped at 10% of your total TEFA funds.
Testing & Assessments
- Nationally norm-referenced tests
- College admission exams (SAT, ACT)
- AP exam fees
- Educational assessments
Other Approved Expenses
- School uniforms
- Transportation to/from educational providers
- Dual enrollment tuition and fees
- School meals (at participating schools)
❌ NOT Approved
- Payment to family members (consanguinity rule)
- Cash withdrawals
- Non-educational expenses
- Services from non-approved vendors
- Items purchased for resale
Where families make avoidable mistakes
Assuming a category approval guarantees a smooth payment
Even when the expense category is valid, families still need the current vendor and approval path to match the official TEFA workflow.
Using too much of the budget on low-impact items first
Technology, materials, and convenience purchases can make sense, but families usually get the biggest long-term value from putting the budget behind direct instruction or high-priority therapies first.
Relying on provider claims instead of the live official process
The official Odyssey and TEFA materials should be the source of truth for whether a vendor is currently available to your account and which payment steps apply.
Vendor Requirements
For an expense to be approved, the vendor must be:
- Registered to do business in Texas
- Approved by a Certified Educational Assistance Organization (CEAO)
- Listed in the Odyssey vendor directory
Families should confirm a provider current status through the official Odyssey and TEFA workflow before spending decisions are finalized.
Good TEFA expense planning looks like this
- Map the child most urgent needs first
- Estimate how long funds need to last across the school year
- Prioritize direct instruction and services with the clearest academic payoff
- Use official account materials to confirm payment steps before assuming a workflow
Tutoring is TEFA Approved
Special needs tutoring qualifies. Let's discuss how to use your funds.
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