Texas Comptroller Partners With Odyssey for School Choice Initiative

The Texas Comptroller has named Odyssey, a national education technology firm, as the implementation partner for its newly branded school choice initiative, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program.

The announcement, made by Acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock, marks a major step in preparing for the program’s rollout in the 2026-27 school year.

Established by the 89th Legislature through Senate Bill 2, the TEFA program will allow eligible families to apply for state funds to cover a range of educational expenses. These include private school tuition, homeschooling costs, tutoring, career and technical education, and other approved services.

Odyssey — not affiliated with Tyler Technologies’ Odyssey software — will provide an end-to-end platform to manage the program, including a parent-facing application portal, e-commerce marketplace and customer support services. The company’s platform is designed to help families submit applications, pay tuition and shop for eligible educational resources. Each approved participant will receive a secure digital wallet with real-time balance tracking and transaction history.

“We’re moving quickly to launch this program, keeping the end goal in sight every step of the way — giving parents the freedom to choose the best educational path for their children to reach their God-given potential,” Hancock said in the announcement, describing the program as a means of “empowering families, expanding opportunity and making sure every child can learn in the environment that works best for them.”

Odyssey CEO Joseph Connor said the company is prepared to deploy a “user-friendly and trustworthy platform” based on its experience managing similar programs in Iowa, Georgia, Louisiana, Utah and Wyoming. The company’s mobile-first technology will allow families to manage accounts on behalf of multiple students through a single interface.

Daniel Warner, Odyssey’s state director in Texas and a former adviser to state Rep. Dade Phelan during his time as Texas House speaker, celebrated the partnership in a LinkedIn post:

“Yesterday marks a monumental step for Texas families as the Texas Comptroller’s office officially announced the Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program, and I am incredibly proud that Odyssey has been selected as the certified educational assistance organization to implement this historic initiative,” said Warner. “It is an honor to be on the front lines of what is poised to be the largest school choice rollout in the nation.”

To qualify for TEFA, a child must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and eligible to attend a Texas public school, open-enrollment charter school or pre-K program.

Additional details, including eligibility guidelines and anticipated funding levels, will be provided by the Comptroller’s Office as the application window approaches. Families and vendors can sign up for updates through the Comptroller’s website. Applications are expected to open in early 2026.