What a TEFA account pays for

An Education Freedom Account covers much more than tuition. This page sets out what each account type can pay for, what it can't, and where San Antonio families find approved providers. 2026-27: $10,474 private school, up to $30,000 with an IEP, $2,000 homeschool.

Source. The approved-uses list on the program's families page and the Comptroller's tuition and fee guidelines for participating schools. All purchases go through the state's Odyssey platform. If a purchase is unusual, check with the program before you pay.

Expense	Private school & IEP accounts	Homeschool / other ($2,000)	In San Antonio
Private school tuition	Yes, at a participating school. The school must charge you the same tuition it charges everyone else.	No. Enrolling at a participating school moves the student to the $10,474 tier.	99 K-12 schools in our San Antonio directory were in the state finder on our last check.
Required school fees	Yes: registration, books and materials, technology fees, testing, uniforms the school sells, and meals the school provides.	Not applicable.	When a school's tuition sits just under the award, its registration and book fees can often come from the remainder.
Fees TEFA won't pay	No: before- and after-school care, capital campaign or fundraising charges, and parent association dues.	No.	For after-care, look at child care assistance through Workforce Solutions Alamo.
Tutoring	Yes, from an approved provider whose lead educator meets the Comptroller's credential policy.	Yes, the same rule.	61 tutoring providers with a San Antonio-area address are approved, and many more serve Texas families online.
Educational therapies	Yes, when Medicaid, another government benefit or private insurance doesn't cover them.	Yes, the same rule.	28 approved local providers list speech, 15 list occupational or physical therapy, and 19 list behavioral support.
Textbooks and curriculum	Yes.	Yes, which is the most common homeschool use.	Classical, Charlotte Mason and Catholic curricula popular with San Antonio co-ops are sold by approved vendors.
Computers and software	Yes, up to 10% of the year's deposit ($1,047 for a full private-school award).	Yes, up to 10% ($200).	The cap applies to the total for the year, not to each purchase.
Online courses and programs	Yes, from approved online providers.	Yes.	Online schools can also join as participating schools if they keep a Texas office and meet the other requirements.
College courses and dual credit	Yes, tuition and fees at a higher-education provider.	Yes.	San Antonio students commonly take dual credit through the Alamo Colleges (San Antonio College, St. Philip's, Palo Alto, Northwest Vista and Northeast Lakeview).
Industry credentials	Yes, training for credentials on TEA's approved list.	Yes.	Healthcare, cybersecurity and skilled trades are the big credential fields in San Antonio.
Tests and assessments	Yes.	Yes.	Norm-referenced testing for homeschool students can be paid from the account.
Transportation	Yes, to and from approved providers.	Yes.	3 transportation providers are approved in the San Antonio area.
Classes at a public school district	Yes, for classes that don't count toward the district's attendance funding.	Yes.	Ask your district whether it sells single courses to private and homeschool students.
Paying a family member	Never.	Never.	Refunds also go back to the account, not to the parent.

It all runs through Odyssey

Tuition payments and purchases go through the state's platform. You don't get cash, and you can't pay a provider outside the system.

Providers have to be approved

Schools, tutors, therapists and vendors have to be approved by the Comptroller. They can apply at any time.

San Antonio providers →

Leftovers roll over

Money left at the end of the year stays in the account while your child stays in the program.

Want help planning how to spend your child's account?

An advisor matches your account to the expenses that apply and to approved San Antonio providers.

Start the funding check →