We’re an Approved TEFA Vendor! Here’s What That Means for Your Family
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By Samantha Russell, OTR/L | SkillSprouts OT
I am so excited to share this with you:
This means if you’re a Texas family enrolled in TEFA, you can use your education funds to purchase our therapist-designed Activity Boxes — delivered to your door every month, packed with 20+ hands-on activities that build real developmental skills. And your TEFA dollars cover the cost.
Getting approved was a meaningful process — Texas built this program with high standards, and we were grateful to go through every step to make sure our Activity Boxes would be available to Texas families right from the start. This has been a goal of ours for a long time, and we’re so happy it’s finally here.
Let me walk you through what TEFA is, how it works, and how you can use it with SkillSprouts OT.
Why This Matters So Much to Us
TEFA changes the game for so many Texas families. It puts real educational purchasing power into parents’ hands. And I wanted to make sure that when families opened the Odyssey marketplace looking for developmental resources, they’d find something truly meaningful — not just toys, but therapist-designed activities that actually build skills.
That’s why we worked so hard to get approved. Not for us — for you and your kids. We’re here, we’re ready, and we can’t wait to be part of your family’s learning journey.
New to TEFA? Here’s What You Need to Know
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts program is Texas’s new education savings account initiative — created when the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 2 in 2025 with $1 billion in funding. It’s one of the largest school choice programs in the country.
In short, TEFA gives Texas families who choose to educate their children outside of the public school system — whether through private school or homeschooling — access to state funds that can be spent on approved educational expenses. Parents never receive money directly. Instead, funds are loaded into a secure digital wallet on the Odyssey platform, where families can shop from approved vendors for things like curriculum, instructional materials, tutoring, educational therapies, and educational supplies.
The program is administered by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, with Odyssey serving as the official implementation partner.
How Much Funding Do Families Receive?
The amount depends on your child’s educational setting:
| Student Type | Annual Funding (2026–27) |
|---|---|
| Private school students | $10,474 per child |
| Homeschool students | Up to $2,000 per child |
| Students with disabilities (IEP on file) | Up to $30,000 per child |
Unused funds roll over year to year as long as your child remains in the program — so there’s no pressure to spend everything in a single school year.
What Can TEFA Funds Be Used For?
TEFA funds cover a wide range of educational expenses. Here are some of the categories most relevant to SkillSprouts OT families:
- Instructional materials and educational supplies — This is the category our Activity Boxes fall under. Each box contains 20+ therapist-designed activities focused on fine motor development, sensory processing, pre-writing skills, and cognitive growth.
- Curriculum and digital instructional materials — Including the Growth Guide that comes with every box, which walks parents through the OT reasoning behind each activity.
- Educational therapies — For students with disabilities, TEFA funds can also cover therapeutic services provided by licensed practitioners.
- Tutoring and online educational programs
- Textbooks, technology devices, and other learning tools
All purchases must be made through the Odyssey marketplace to approved vendors. You can’t use TEFA funds at just any store — vendors need to be registered and approved, which is exactly why we went through the application process.
Why an OT Activity Box Is a Perfect Fit for Your TEFA Funds
If you’re a homeschool parent, you know that every education dollar needs to count. Here’s why our Activity Box is one of the most meaningful investments you can make with those funds:
It’s not a toy box — it’s a skill-building program. Every activity is designed by a licensed occupational therapist with over 14 years of school-based experience. The activities target the exact skills that OTs work on in school settings: hand strength, pencil grasp, bilateral coordination, sensory regulation, pre-writing strokes, and more.
It comes with professional guidance built in. Every box includes a Growth Guide — essentially your monthly curriculum for fine motor and sensory development. It tells you what to do, how to do it, and why it matters. You don’t need an OT background to use it effectively.
It fills a gap most curricula miss. Traditional homeschool curricula cover reading, math, and science beautifully — but they rarely address the foundational motor and sensory skills that make learning possible in the first place. Our box fills that gap with structured, progressive activities that build on each other month after month.
It’s already approved. Because SkillSprouts OT is a registered, approved vendor on the Odyssey marketplace, you can purchase with confidence knowing the expense is TEFA-eligible. No guesswork, no reimbursement paperwork.
A Little About Me (and Why I Built This)
I created SkillSprouts OT because I kept seeing the same thing: kids who had so much potential but were falling behind because the foundational skills weren’t there yet. And their parents wanted to help but didn’t know where to start. The Activity Box is my answer to that — the same kinds of activities I use every day in my OT practice, packaged up so any family can use them at home.
I hold a Bachelor’s in Health Education from the University of Florida and a Master’s of Occupational Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. But honestly? What I’m most proud of is the messages I get from parents telling me their child buttoned their coat for the first time or wrote their name without help. That’s why I do this.
Your TEFA + SkillSprouts OT Questions, Answered
How do I find SkillSprouts OT on the Odyssey marketplace?
Log into your Odyssey account (the same one you used for your TEFA application), go to the marketplace, and search “SkillSprouts OT.” You’ll see our monthly Activity Box and our multi-month packages.
When can I start purchasing?
TEFA funding notifications go out in early April 2026. The first round of funds (at least 25% of your total) will be loaded into your Odyssey wallet on July 1, 2026. You can purchase as soon as funds are available. Plan now, buy then!
Which packages are available?
We offer monthly, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month Activity Box packages on the marketplace. The multi-month packages lock in your price and guarantee you don’t miss a month. The 12-month package is the best value and covers an entire school year of developmental activities.
Is this really an approved TEFA expense?
Yes! Our Activity Boxes qualify as instructional materials and educational supplies under TEFA guidelines. We completed the full vendor approval process with Odyssey and the Texas Comptroller’s office. When you purchase through the Odyssey marketplace, the transaction is automatically TEFA-compliant.
I homeschool and only get $2,000. Is it worth it?
We think so! A 12-month subscription is a small portion of your annual allocation, and it fills the gap that most homeschool curricula leave open — the foundational motor and sensory skills that make reading, writing, and classroom participation possible. It’s one of the highest-impact purchases you can make with those dollars.
What ages is the Activity Box designed for?
Our boxes are designed for kids ages 4 and up, with a sweet spot of Pre-K through 2nd grade. The activities are adaptable — younger kids can work on foundational skills while older kids tackle more advanced challenges within the same box.
Can I use TEFA funds if my child also receives OT services?
Absolutely! Our Activity Box is designed to complement professional OT services, not replace them. Many families use it as the “home practice” component alongside their child’s therapy sessions. Think of OT as the game plan and the Activity Box as the daily practice at home.
I’m not in Texas. Can I still use education funds?
Yes! SkillSprouts OT is an approved ESA vendor in seven states: Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Utah, Wyoming, New Hampshire, and Arizona. Each state has its own program and platform, so check out our ESA guide to see how it works in your state. We’re continuing to add more states as programs launch across the country.
I missed the TEFA application window. What now?
The first application window closed March 17, 2026, but future windows are expected. Sign up for our newsletter and we’ll notify you when the next one opens. In the meantime, you can always purchase our Activity Boxes directly from our website — no TEFA required!
Ready? Here’s How to Get SkillSprouts OT with Your TEFA Funds
If you applied during the Feb 4 – Mar 17 window, watch for your funding notification in early April.
Funds don’t hit wallets until July 1, but you can plan your purchases today. Bookmark SkillSprouts OT so you’re ready to go the moment your wallet is loaded.
Find our monthly Activity Box and multi-month packages. Pick the option that works best for your family.
Funds come straight from your TEFA wallet. No out-of-pocket cost. Your first box ships with everything you need — activities, materials, and your Growth Guide.
Not in Texas? We’re in Seven States (and Growing)
Texas is our newest state, but SkillSprouts OT is an approved ESA/education freedom vendor in seven states:
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Utah
- Wyoming
- New Hampshire
- Arizona
Each state has its own program, platform, and funding amounts. If you’re in any of these states, you may already be able to use your education funds to purchase our Activity Boxes. Check out our ESA guide for a full breakdown of how it works in your state.
And we’re not stopping at seven. As more states launch education freedom programs, we plan to be there. Join our newsletter to be the first to know when we’re approved in a new state.
Texas Families — We’re So Glad You’re Here
Your TEFA funds are meant to give your child the best possible education. That starts with the foundational skills — hand strength, coordination, sensory processing, pre-writing readiness — that make everything else in the classroom possible. We built the Activity Box to deliver exactly that, every single month.
We’re here. We’re approved. And we can’t wait to be part of your child’s journey.
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Got questions? We’d love to hear from you — reach out anytime!