LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – More than 100,000 students were accepted for Texas Education Freedom Account funding for the upcoming school year. The first payments for non-homeschool students are set to begin July 1, but only for families who have completed every required step in the Odyssey parent portal.
How to check your status in the Odyssey portal
Families approved for funding should already have an account in the Odyssey parent portal. After logging in, families should confirm their student’s participation by clicking the green “Confirm Participation” button in the “Announcements” box, then following the directions in the subsequent pop-ups.
Once confirmed, a green marker will appear next to the child’s name. If that marker reads “Eligible,” the student is on the waitlist. If the child received the award, the marker should read “Approved.”
Families should also check the enrollment status marker, located between the school name and grade level fields:
Pending — The school still needs to review the enrollment request. Homeschool families will also see “Pending,” but no action is required.Verified — The school confirmed the student will enroll and needs to enter tuition and fee amounts in the school portal.Confirmed — Both the family and the school have submitted all required information.Denied or Closed — The family must choose a new school.Enrollment in Odyssey does not replace school enrollment
Choosing a school in the Odyssey platform does not automatically enroll a child. Families must still contact the school directly and complete its enrollment requirements.
Payment timeline
Schools needed to confirm a student’s enrollment by June 15 for families to receive the first payment on July 1. If that deadline was missed, enrollment must be confirmed by July 31 for families to receive funds by mid-August. Students whose enrollment is not confirmed by July 31 will lose their spot to a student on the waitlist.
Non-homeschool students will receive funding in three installments:
25% — July 1 or mid-August (depending on enrollment confirmation date)25% — October 150% — February 1
Homeschool families follow the same enrollment timeline but will receive their full funding amount in a single installment.
Funds are not deposited into personal bank accounts
Texas Education Freedom Account money will not be deposited into a family’s personal bank account. Funds are only accessible through the Odyssey platform.
Step-by-step instructions are available at educationfreedom.texas.gov.
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