What's left after TEFA? Six Austin examples
The award is a fixed number, but tuition in Austin isn't. These examples line up the 2026-27 amounts against illustrative tuition at different kinds of five-county Austin area schools, and note what fills a shortfall or what a surplus can buy.
| Scenario | 2026-27 TEFA | Tuition + fees (illustrative) | Result | Then what |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parish K-8 in North Austin | $10,474 | $9,600 | $874 left | Tuition is covered, and the rest of the account can go to required uniforms, books and school lunch. |
| Lutheran K-8 in Round Rock (tuition + fees) | $10,474 | $11,200 | $726 to pay | A congregation-member or sibling rate often makes up most of the difference. |
| Catholic high school in Northwest Austin | $10,474 | $16,000 | $5,526 to pay | Expect a real gap. School aid, rollover from earlier grades and ACC dual credit help narrow it. |
| Dyslexia school, Austin ISD resident with a mainstream IEP | $16,779 | $26,000 | $9,221 to pay | The IEP add-on raises the account by $6,305. School aid and insurance-billed therapy cover part of what's left. |
| Acton-model microschool in Cedar Park | $10,474 | $12,500 | $2,026 to pay | If the studio is in the finder as a school, the full award applies. Ask about sibling pricing for the rest. |
| Homeschool with an online math and coding program around $2,400 | $2,000 | $2,400 | $400 to pay | A $400 shortfall on the homeschool tier, and only if the provider is an approved vendor. |
These tuition amounts are examples, not quotes. Texas doesn't collect private-school tuition, so get current figures from each school.
If there's a gap
Start with the school's own aid. Catholic families can add Beacon of Hope, partner church schools can add our partner fund, high schoolers can use ACC dual credit, and the federal scholarship credit arrives in January 2027.
Funding sources →If there's money left
Unspent money carries into next year as long as your child remains in TEFA, and it can go toward fees, tutoring, therapy, curriculum, ACC dual credit, testing or transportation.
What TEFA pays for →Your own numbers
Enter your district, your tuition and how many children you're enrolling.
Calculator →Map out how your family pays for school
Answer a few quick questions and a School Funding Advisor will phone you with a plan. There's no cost and nothing to sign.