Academics · Subject Resources

Compare vendors before
you spend the account

An education savings account only pays for what your state program allows, and only with the paperwork it asks for. Make Allowed a must-have, rate each tutor, curriculum or service on fit, price, invoices and payment, and see the cost per hour side by side.

Start a comparisonWhat you get

Comparisons

The worked example is made up: three ways to buy reading tutoring for a spring term, where a well-liked independent tutor is not yet an approved vendor, and two math curricula. Use initials or a code for the child.

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What you get

Academics · Subject ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A saved comparison per purchase: how much being allowed, fit, price, paperwork and payment matter; each vendor rated 1 to 5 with the total price and hours included; seven questions such as the handbook section, the approved list and itemized invoices marked answered or still to ask; and a next step. The flags rank the vendors, work out cost per hour and call out a must-have rated 2 or lower. A side-by-side table prints for your records.
Who it is for
Families using an education savings account or a similar state education funding program.
Format
Browser tool with a saved record per decision. Prints a side-by-side table with the scores, the full record, every comparison in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Subject Resources space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Read the handbook for this kind of expense.
  2. Get a written quote from each vendor.
  3. Make Allowed a must-have.
  4. Rate each vendor.
  5. Print the side-by-side table for your records.

Start a comparison

Before you spend

Five steps before an account purchase1HandbookFind the expense category andits rules for this year.2VendorCheck whether it must be onthe approved list.3QuoteGet the total price inwriting.4ApprovalAsk for pre-approval if theprogram requires it.5RecordsKeep the itemized invoice andproof of payment.Five steps before an account purchase1HandbookFind the expense category and its rulesfor this year.2VendorCheck whether it must be on the approvedlist.3QuoteGet the total price in writing.4ApprovalAsk for pre-approval if the programrequires it.5RecordsKeep the itemized invoice and proof ofpayment.
Rules differ by state and change each year; the program handbook is the final word.

Rules differ by state

Education savings account programs are set up by each state, and each publishes a handbook listing allowed expenses, vendor rules and what records to keep. Some pay approved vendors through a marketplace; others reimburse families after they pay. This tool does not decide what your program allows; it helps you compare once you know.

Keep the paperwork

Programs can ask families to repay purchases they cannot document. Keep the quote, the itemized invoice with the dates, hours, student and service, and proof of payment for every purchase, and print this comparison with them.

Sources

  1. National Conference of State Legislatures. Education savings accounts overview (ncsl.org).
  2. EdChoice. Education savings accounts: how they work, by state (edchoice.org).
  3. Your state education savings account program handbook: allowed expenses, vendor rules and records.
  4. Federal Trade Commission. Avoiding scams when paying for services (consumer.ftc.gov).

The worked example and its vendors are made up. This tool does not interpret any state's program rules; check your program handbook. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.