Can a Houston family pay for this from a TEFA account?
Fees charged to all students as a condition of enrollment, or for products and services directly related to instruction.
Same, including fees for tutoring, therapies or coursework the school provides.
Applies to students enrolled at a participating school.
Rules that apply
- Eligible: enrollment and registration, book/curriculum/materials/supply, technology, school-related activity and athletics fees, tutoring/therapy/coursework fees, uniform fees, school-day breakfast or lunch, mandatory facility/building/security fees, graduation, transportation and assessment fees.
- Activity and trip fees must be related to educational instruction.
What isn't allowed
- Before- or after-school care and other non-educational supervision
- Capital campaign or fundraising charges
- Parent organization membership fees
In Houston
Most Houston schools bill registration, books and technology separately from tuition — all three can come from the account, which matters when tuition sits right at the $10,474 award.
How to buy it
Log in to the TEFA parent portal (Odyssey). Pay your school or an approved provider through the platform, or buy approved products in the marketplace. If a provider isn't listed, it has to apply and be approved before it can be paid.
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Sources: educationfreedom.texas.gov (families page, Tuition and Fee Guidelines 5/28/2026, Educator Credential Policy 7/7/2026, Providers and Vendors) and Odyssey's eligible-expenses article for TEFA. This is a summary, not legal advice. Program rules control.