Official TEFA Provider Applications Now Open: 2025 Odyssey Updates for Vendors and Private Schools
- Accessible Education
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
The Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) provider applications are now open. Odyssey, the state-approved Certified Educational Assistance Organization (CEAO), has released guidance for private schools, vendors, and families on its website.
We’ve reviewed Odyssey's resources and created this guide to outline the eligibility requirements, application process, required documentation, and ongoing compliance obligations for both schools and vendors.
Additional Sections
Private Schools: Getting Started
Are You Eligible?
Your school can participate in TEFA if it meets these requirements:
Location: Your school must be located in Texas. Virtual campuses may qualify if they have an administrative office in the state.
Accreditation: Your school must be accredited by an organization recognized by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission or another accreditor approved by the Texas Education Agency.
Operating History: Your school must have operated a physical or virtual campus for at least two consecutive school years.
Compliance Agreement: You must agree to follow the program requirements established by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts.
More information from Accessible Education: TEFA School Voucher Final Rules: What Private Schools Seeking Approval Need to Know
School Registration Process
Registration is completed through the Odyssey platform in several steps:
Step 1: Initiate the TEFA Application Process
Click Start Application on the Odyssey Dashboard. Complete the two-step application form and upload the required documents.
Step 2: Start Registration
You'll receive an email with a registration invite. This will give you access to your school portal homepage within Odyssey, where you will:
Review and confirm your school information
Confirm your school type (especially important for Pre-K criteria, as this routes you to the appropriate application with corresponding questions)
Input additional details, including accreditation information
Review and sign all required attestations before submitting your application.
Odyssey provides a video tutorial and step-by-step article here: How to Claim Your TEFA School Account and Complete Your Registration
Step 3: Banking Information (Stripe Account)
You must set up and connect a new Stripe account. This requires the following information:
Business Information:
Legal business name (School Name)
DBA (if applicable)
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Business address
Phone number
Industry type
Business website
Product description
Business Manager/Financial Administrator Information:
Legal name
Email address
Job title
Date of Birth
Home address
Phone number
Last 4 digits of Social Security Number
Bank Account:
Connect your bank institution for payouts
Public Details:
Statement descriptor
Customer support phone number
Address (visible to Odyssey, not parents)
Odyssey provides a video tutorial and step-by-step article here: How to Set Up and Connect a New Stripe Account for Your School
Step 5: Review and Submit
Once you have added your registration information and banking details, review the information carefully and click 'Agree and Submit'.
Monitoring Your Registration Status
After submitting your registration, you can monitor your status through the Odyssey School Account homepage. Your status will show as:
[Not Started]: Registration hasn't begun
[In Progress]: School Confirmation complete, Bank Account Setup pending
[Under Review]: Application is being processed by the Odyssey Team
[Approved]: Registration complete and you can begin accepting students
Managing Your School Account
Administrative Users: Only the primary administrator can add additional administrative users to your Odyssey school account. It's recommended to use school-issued email addresses for these users.
From Odyssey: How Do I Add Additional Administrative Users?
Ongoing Compliance Requirements
Student Enrollment and Fee Setting
Once approved, you'll need to manage student enrollments:
Review Enrollment Requests: Check incoming student enrollment requests
Verify Enrollment: Confirm the student is enrolled at your school
Set Tuition and Fees: Enter amounts either on a per-student basis or in bulk using a CSV file
Once you set the amount, the student moves to 'Pending Tuition Confirmation'Â until the parent approves or denies it in their Odyssey account
After parent approval, the student moves to 'Tuition Confirmed'
Annual Testing Requirements
Your school must annually administer an approved nationally norm-referenced or state-approved assessment to TEFA students in grades 3-12 and provide the results to the parent.
More information from Accessible Education: Understanding TEFA Assessment Requirements: A Complete Guide to Approved Testing Options
Parents are responsible for ensuring these test results are shared with Odyssey annually.
Vendors: Becoming an Approved Provider
Vendors and service providers can offer eligible educational products or services through the TEFA program. All approved purchases and tuition payments are completed through the Odyssey platform.
What Products and Services Are Eligible?
Tuition and fees
Tutoring services
Educational therapies
Textbooks
Uniforms
Technology (up to 10% of the annual account amount)
General Vendor Eligibility Requirements
To become an approved vendor, you must:
Operate as a U.S.-based business entity
Be registered with the Texas Secretary of State to conduct business in Texas
Be in good standing with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts regarding the payment of Texas franchise taxes (if applicable)
Maintain compliance with all program policies and applicable laws
Required Documentation for All Vendors
You must provide one of the following documents from the Texas Secretary of State:
Certificate of Fact
Certificate of Formation
Certificate of Filing
Additional Documentation by Vendor Category
Depending on your service category, you'll need to provide additional documentation:
Vendor Category | Additional Required Documentation |
Therapist (Occupational, Speech, Behavioral, Physical, etc.) |
|
| |
Tutor and/or Teaching Service |
|
| |
| |
Pre-K Approved Provider |
|
Out-of-State Vendors: Special Requirements
Out-of-state vendors are categorized as "foreign entities" but can qualify for the TEFA Marketplace if your business "transacts business" in Texas. This generally includes having an office or employee in the state or pursuing your business purposes within the state; you must register with the Texas Secretary of State.
How to Register as a Foreign Entity:
Option 1: Register with Texas SOS
Complete the registration via SOSDirect
Submit an Application for Registration
Pay the $750 filing fee for foreign entities
Important penalty: Failure to register while transacting business for more than 90 days results in a penalty fee equal to the filing fee for each year or partial year you were unregistered.
Option 2: Convert to a Texas Entity
Submit Form 647 along with the appropriate Texas certificate of formation form
Schools as Vendors: Dual Participation
If your participating school wants to offer educational services or products beyond standard tuition and fees, such as therapy, tutoring, or the sale of taxable items like musical instruments or uniforms, you can also become a vendor in the Odyssey Marketplace.
Requirements:
Meet all general vendor requirements
Complete a separate vendor profile in the Odyssey platform
This dual participation allows schools to maximize their service offerings to TEFA families while maintaining separate accounts for tuition versus marketplace services.
Key Takeaways for Schools
Must have operated for at least 2 consecutive years
Annual testing required for grades 3-12
Key Takeaways for Vendors
Must be registered with the Texas Secretary of State
Out-of-state vendors must register as foreign entities if transacting business in Texas
Teaching and therapy services require professional licenses and background checksÂ
All background checks must be completed within 30 days of application
Schools can also be vendors for services beyond tuition
By understanding these requirements and preparing your documentation in advance, you can streamline your application process and begin serving TEFA families quickly.
Get Expert TEFA Guidance: Support for Private Schools, Vendors, and Service Providers
Preparing for TEFA participation is complex, and the decisions you make now will shape your readiness, compliance, and visibility when the program launches. If you need help navigating eligibility requirements, documentation, vendor registration, or operational implementation, Accessible Education offers tailored consulting services for private schools, vendors, online providers, tutors, and therapists.
Learn more about how we can support your TEFA readiness and implementation here.
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