Understanding Education Allowances
Knowledge is power!
The Foreign Service Education Allowance: Your Guide & Calculator
Whether you're curious, started researching for bidding or you have a new assignment - we know you want all the information you can get. As you prepare for your next adventure, one of the biggest questions for Foreign Service families is often about education. Navigating the system of allowances can feel like learning a new language, filled with acronyms and specific rules.
This guide is designed to break down the U.S. Foreign Service Education Allowance into plain, simple language. We'll cover what it is, who qualifies, and what's covered. And to make it even easier, we'll introduce a powerful new calculator we've built to help you estimate and compare your potential allowance across different posts.
What Is the Education Allowance?
The Education Allowance s the U.S. Government's way of ensuring that your children (from kindergarten through 12th grade) have access to educational services overseas that would normally be free in the United States.
The amount you receive is not arbitrary; it's based on the cost of the least expensive "adequate" school at your post. An "adequate" school is one where a child of normal ability can complete a grade and seamlessly enter the next higher grade in a U.S. public school.
Key Terms You Need to Know
Understanding a few key terms will make the whole process much clearer:
- At-Post Allowance: This is the rate for a designated adequate school at your foreign post of assignment.
- Away-from-Post Allowance: If there is no adequate school at your post, this allowance helps cover the costs of sending your child to a school in another country. It can cover tuition, room and board, and some travel costs.
- Homeschooling: The homeschool allowance is a reimbursement of allowable costs up to the maximum "At Post" rate for that grade.
- Education Allowance vs. Educational Travel: These are two separate benefits that are easily confused.
- The Education Allowance pays for K-12 schooling costs.
- Educational Travel provides one round-trip flight per year for a dependent student to visit you at post, primarily for those in college or post-secondary school.
- Crucially, you cannot receive both the Education Allowance and Educational Travel for a child in secondary school (grades 9-12) at the same time.
What's Covered (and What's Not)?
The allowance is generous, but it's not a blank check. It’s designed to cover necessary costs, not all school-related expenses.
✅ What's Generally Covered:
- Tuition & Fees: Required costs for enrollment and instruction, including one-time admission fees.
- Required Books & Supplies: Textbooks and other materials required for coursework.
- School-Sponsored Transportation: Daily bus service that is required and provided by the school.
- Room & Board: For "Away-from-Post" scenarios.
❌ What's Generally Not Covered:
- School lunches and snacks
- Gym uniforms or school clothing
- Extracurricular activities, clubs, or optional trips
- Personal school supplies you would typically buy for a U.S. public school (e.g., notebooks, pens)
Introducing Your New Best Friend: myFSpal Education Allowance Estimator
To help you navigate these numbers, we've built a powerful, user-friendly calculator. No more cross-referencing confusing tables or guessing at totals.
Our tool is designed to give you a clear estimate in just a few clicks.
✨ Key Features:
- Searchable Post List: Simply start typing a post or country name to instantly find it.
- Build Your Family Profile: Add multiple children with different grades and allowance types ("At Post" or "Away from Post") to get a complete family total.
- Compare Posts Side-by-Side: Wondering how the allowance in Bogota compares to Bangkok? Add posts to the comparison panel and see the estimated totals for your entire family.
- Clear Explanations: With built-in tooltips and a guided interface, you'll understand the process every step of the way.
www.myfspal.com/ed-allowance-calc
A Final Word
The Education Allowance is one of the most valuable benefits for Foreign Service families. While this guide and calculator are designed to be a powerful resource for estimation and planning, remember to always consult the official DSSR Section 270 and your post's financial management officer for final, authoritative guidance. You will need to submit an SF-1190 form for each child to make an official claim.
We hope this tool empowers you to make informed decisions for your family's educational journey. Happy bidding!