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What can homeschoolers buy with TEFA?
Each homeschool student gets $2,000 for 2026–27. Here is what it can pay for, what it can't, and three ways families split it. Last reviewed November 2, 2026.
The three rules that matter most
- Buy only inside the marketplace. Funds can only be spent through the TEFA Marketplace run by Odyssey, and purchases made elsewhere are not reimbursed. Source: Texas Comptroller, June 30, 2026
- Approval is item by item. An approved vendor can still have items that are not approved, so check the exact product or class before you plan around it. Source: Odyssey help center
- Technology is capped at 10%. Computer hardware and software together can't go over 10% of the year's award, which is $200 on a $2,000 homeschool award. Sources: Texas Policy Research summary of the final TEFA rules; Outschool guide to TEFA approved expenses (vendor-published)
What you can buy, and who sells it
Vendor counts come from this site's list of homeschool providers we found in the state Provider Finder.
Curriculum and textbooks
Full-year programs, single-subject curriculum, textbooks and teacher guides. For most families this is the biggest line in the budget.
22 verified providers on this site, including All About Learning Press, Apologia, BJU Press and BookShark.
Online classes and courses
Live or self-paced classes taught by someone else, from a single semester of chemistry to a weekly writing class.
6 verified providers on this site, including Art of Problem Solving, CodaKid, CompuScholar and Outschool.
Tutoring
One-on-one help from an approved tutoring provider. Paying a family member is not allowed, even if they are a qualified teacher.
2 verified providers on this site, including Learner and Varsity Tutors.
Books, supplies and learning apps
Workbooks, manipulatives, readers, and subscription learning apps that supplement your main curriculum.
5 verified providers on this site, including Homeschool Da Vinci, Lakeshore Learning, Rainbow Resource Center and Reading Eggs.
STEM and science kits
Hands-on kits for science, engineering and coding projects.
2 verified providers on this site, including KiwiCo and MEL Science.
Browse by subject: Arts · Computer Science · Enrichment · Math · Reading & Writing · Science · Social Studies · STEM · World Languages
What you can't buy
- Anything bought outside the TEFA Marketplace, even from an approved vendor's own website.
- Items from providers that are not approved, or items that are not approved from an approved provider.
- Technology above the 10% cap ($200 a year on the homeschool award).
- Payments to family members, cash payments and household expenses.
Sources: Texas Comptroller, June 30, 2026; Tutero TEFA FAQ (vendor-published). The full list of allowed expenses is set by Senate Bill 2 (2025), enrolled text and the program's participant handbook.
Three sample $2,000 budgets
These are examples of how families split the award, not price quotes. Actual prices vary by provider and grade. Copy any of them into the planner and adjust.
All-in-one curriculum
Families who want one main program to follow.
Total: $2,000
Mix and match
Families who pick the best program for each subject.
Total: $2,000
Classes and tutoring
Older students, or a parent who wants outside teachers for harder subjects.
Total: $2,000
Considering a private school instead? Compare the homeschool and private school tracks.
What happens to money you don't spend
Odyssey says unused funds may carry forward under the program rules, as long as your child stays eligible. Each account belongs to one child, so siblings can't pool their funds. Source: Odyssey help center: unused funds
Common questions
What can homeschoolers buy with TEFA funds?
Education costs from approved providers in the TEFA Marketplace: curriculum and textbooks, online classes and courses, tutoring, books and supplies, learning apps and STEM kits. Every purchase goes through the marketplace, and each item must be approved.
How much can I spend on a computer or tablet?
Technology (computer hardware and software) is capped at 10% of the year's award. On a $2,000 homeschool award, that is $200 a year.
Can I buy things outside the marketplace and get reimbursed?
No. TEFA funds can only be spent through the TEFA Marketplace run by Odyssey, and purchases made outside it are not reimbursed.
Can I pay a family member to tutor my child?
No. Paying a family member, cash payments and household expenses are not allowed.
What happens to money I do not spend this year?
Odyssey says unused funds may carry forward under the program rules as long as your child stays eligible. Each account belongs to one child, so siblings cannot pool their funds.
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