School Choice TrackerOpen the appTexas TEFA 2026-27: amounts, dates and what you can spend on
Texas Education Freedom Accounts · last checked September 25, 2026 against the official TEFA site, the program rules (34 TAC §§16.401–16.410) and Odyssey's help center.
TEFA pays schools and providers directly through Odyssey. Parents can't pay out of pocket and be reimbursed. That makes keeping track of what's been spent, and what's left, your job.
2026-27 award amounts
| Student | Annual amount |
|---|---|
| Private school | $10,474 |
| Private school with an IEP on file | More, up to $30,000, based on the IEP |
| Homeschool / other | $2,000 |
When the money arrives
- Private school: 25% around July 1 (mid-August if enrollment was confirmed by July 31), 25% on October 1, and the final 50% on February 1, 2027, according to Odyssey.
- Homeschool: the full $2,000 around July 1, or mid-August.
- Unused funds roll over while the child stays eligible.
Allowed expense categories
- Tuition and fees (private school, higher-ed provider, online program, approved credential program)
- Required uniforms
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- Public or charter school classes and services
- Academic assessments
- Private tutoring (Odyssey requires an active teaching certificate)
- Educational therapies (only the part not covered by insurance or benefits)
- Fee-for-service transportation to an approved provider
- Computer hardware and software
- Breakfast or lunch provided by the private school
The 10% technology cap
All technology spending combined is capped at 10% of the year's award. That covers laptops, tablets, monitors, printers, headphones, calculators, hotspots, accessories and software. For a $10,474 award that's $1,047.40. Technology must be required by a provider or prescribed by a physician.
Other limits
- Funds can't pay a family member.
- No cash withdrawals, and no payments to the parent.
- Musical instruments are capped at $1,000, and 3D printers at one per year.
- Unused funds can't move to another child.
Track what's left
School Choice Tracker keeps a running balance for each child and warns you as technology spending approaches the 10% cap. It also keeps every invoice and order confirmation in one place for audits. Everything stays on your phone.
School Choice Tracker is independent and not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller or Odyssey. This page summarizes public sources and isn't legal or financial advice; official sources control. Sources: TEFA families page, Odyssey eligible expenses, Odyssey funding timeline, purchase restrictions.