How the Odyssey TEFA marketplace works: the family portal, school payments and vendor listings

Short answer, as of October 8, 2026: Odyssey is the private company the Comptroller selected as the program's certified educational assistance organization (CEAO). In the FAQ's words: "The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts will oversee the program to ensure funds are used properly. Odyssey was selected as the certified educational assistance organization (CEAO) that will help with administration of the program under the Comptroller's oversight." In practice Odyssey runs four things: the family portal and marketplace, the school portal, the vendor portal, and the public finder. This page explains how they fit together. It contains official links only and no login instructions; this site is independent and cannot see any account.

The pieces

How a family's money moves

1. The state transfers the award into the child's account (for 2026-27: 25% on July 1, 25% on October 1, 50% on February 1, 2027 for private-school students; 100% on July 1 for homeschool). Details are on how TEFA funds pay out.
2. For tuition, the family selects the school in the portal and the school confirms enrollment and its tuition amount. In 2026-27 families had until July 15 to select a school and schools until July 31 to confirm.
3. For everything else, the family buys inside the marketplace. The June 30 release is explicit: "Families can use TEFA funds only to purchase approved products and services through the secure TEFA Marketplace."
4. Unused funds roll over while the child stays in the program.

There is no debit card and no reimbursement described on the official pages. If a vendor is not in the marketplace, the account cannot pay it.

How schools are paid

A school first meets the participation rules (accreditation recognized by TEPSAC or TEA, two years of operation, a nationally norm-referenced test, a Texas location) and applies through the school portal; applications have been rolling since December 9, 2025. Once a family selects the school, the school verifies the student and sets the tuition; the official Schools page links a "Student Verification & Setting Tuition Guide" for this step. Payments then draw from the account on the state's installment schedule. The Comptroller's budget request reports $127 million in tuition paid to participating schools by August 2026.

What this means for a parent: the school's billing calendar and the account's calendar are different. Ask the office how it handles the February installment and any gap between tuition and the award; the net-cost calculator shows that gap, and school profiles on the Houston hub record a school's answer with the date once the school gives it.

How vendors get listed

The official Providers and Vendors page says: "Providers and vendors can apply at any time to participate in the Texas Education Freedom Accounts marketplace", and "All vendor applications and offerings will be reviewed by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to determine eligibility before appearing in the marketplace." Eligible categories named there are tutoring, therapy and teaching services; courses and programs from public schools, charters, colleges and other instructional providers; and instructional materials and technology products.

So a listing in the marketplace means the Comptroller reviewed the offering. On October 8, 2026 the public finder counted 2,755 private schools and, by type, 603 tutoring, 596 therapy, 407 enrichment, 311 curriculum, 159 supplies, 140 classes and 17 assessment providers. Our provider directory lists the providers of the Comptroller's participating-vendors workbook by category, and by county where a row has one, each with the date that the workbook gives for it; it adds no vendor that is not in that workbook.

What the finder shows, and what it does not

The finder card for a school gives name, type, grade range, local or online, city, contact and website, and states that no academic data is shown. It does not show tuition, open seats, deadlines or special-education services. That gap is why this site exists: our statewide catalog carries the official list with its date, and schools add tuition, seats and deadlines by confirming them with us. Participation status always comes from the official list; we say "participating school on the Comptroller's list", never "approved".

Help and support

Account questions go to Odyssey's customer support, linked from the official site, or to Odyssey's help center, which also publishes public articles such as the waitlist FAQ. Program-rule questions go to the Comptroller. We answer general questions on our FAQ and log rule changes on what changed; we do not handle logins, balances or awards.

How we verify: every statement about roles and flows is quoted from the Comptroller's official pages and releases, checked October 8, 2026. Participation status comes only from the official list. This site is independent and is not affiliated with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts or Odyssey. See our methodology.