The Role of Certified Educational Assistance Organizations in Texas Vouchers
- Accessible Education
- Aug 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 15
With the passage of Senate Bill 2, Texas is preparing to launch its Education Savings Account Program, and Certified Educational Assistance Organizations (CEAOs) will play the central role in making it happen. Here's what you need to know about these organizations and the timeline ahead.
What Are CEAOs?
Certified Educational Assistance Organizations are qualified organizations that the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts has invited to provide services for the Texas Education Savings Account Program. To be eligible, an organization must be registered to do business in Texas and show that it can carry out the responsibilities required to help run the program.
The Comptroller plans to select between one and five CEAOs to manage and support the program under the state’s direction. These organizations will work as independent contractors, using their own staff or subcontractors at their own facilities.
What Texas Is Asking CEAOs to Do
Organizations applying to become CEAOs can propose to provide either Application Services, Payment Services, or both. Whichever services they offer, they must handle them securely and confidentially.
Application Services include:
Creating a secure online system for families to apply
Running marketing and outreach efforts to raise awareness
Providing customer service to families
Processing applications and verifying eligibility
Prioritizing applicants with disabilities and lower household incomes, as required by Senate Bill 2
Payment Services include:
Setting up trust accounts for each participating child
Processing payments for approved educational expenses
Helping families explore educational options
Offering secure digital tools for families to manage accounts
Reviewing and onboarding qualified education providers and vendors
All CEAOs will also be responsible for meeting strict cybersecurity standards, protecting student information in line with federal law, working with other vendors, and helping the Comptroller gather data for required reports.
Key Timeline and Selection Process
This process is moving quickly. The Request for Proposals (RFP) was issued on June 27, 2025, and applications were due by August 4, 2025. Top-scoring applicants are scheduled to give presentations around August 15, 2025, and the Comptroller expects to sign contracts by August 31, 2025.
No more than five organizations will be selected, and the total compensation for all selected CEAOs during the initial term will be capped at 5 percent of the $1 billion appropriated for the program.
CEAOs Operating in Other States
To get a sense of what CEAOs might do in Texas, it helps to look at how similar organizations operate in other states.
Odyssey provides a complete technology platform for Education Savings Accounts and microgrant programs. Their system manages everything from applications and identity verification to marketing, payment processing, and customer support. They also offer tools for financial reporting and fraud prevention.
ClassWallet runs a digital wallet platform that lets parents make purchases from approved vendors. Their system includes a large online education marketplace, automated reimbursement tools, and debit cards that follow program spending rules. They work with several states and manage various types of education funding programs.
Merit specializes in ESA, microgrant, and tax credit programs. They provide a streamlined experience that includes quick applications, digital wallets, and a marketplace of pre-approved vendors. Their platform features fraud protections and currently supports state programs in Ohio and Kansas.
Student First Technologies focuses on returning more funds directly to families while encouraging local spending. Their system includes digital wallets, reporting tools, and fraud monitoring powered by machine learning. They also allow vendors to register directly through the platform.
Step Up For Students is a nonprofit that helps administer scholarship programs in Florida. While not a software platform, they work closely with technology providers to support ESA-like programs such as the Family Empowerment Scholarship and the Personalized Education Program.
What’s Next for Texas
As Texas prepares to roll out its own ESA Program, selecting experienced and capable CEAOs will be a key step. These organizations will play a major role in how families access and manage funds, laying the foundation for a program designed to serve students across the state beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
The RFP process through the Texas Comptroller’s office is now underway, marking the first major milestone in getting the program off the ground. We’ll be closely tracking developments as proposals are reviewed, CEAOs are selected, and implementation begins to take shape.
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The ESA program represents a significant shift in Texas education. Our goal is to help families and educators make informed decisions with accurate, up-to-date information as this program develops and details continue to emerge from state officials.