How to use TEFA funds for approved educational purchases

Congratulations! You've been awarded TEFA funding for your child's education, but how do you actually use those funds for approved educational expenses?

The Texas Education Freedom Account (TEFA) program uses the Odyssey marketplace to manage educational purchases for participating families. Through Odyssey, you can browse approved providers, purchase educational services and materials, track spending, and manage your TEFA funds all in one place.

This guide walks through how to use the Odyssey marketplace, make approved educational purchases, and avoid some common first-time mistakes along the way.

What is the Odyssey marketplace?

Odyssey is the online platform used to manage TEFA funds and approved educational purchases. Through the Odyssey marketplace, you can browse approved educational providers and services, including private schools, tutoring, online learning programs, curriculum, therapies, technology, and other approved educational resources.

All TEFA purchases must be made through the Odyssey marketplace using your TEFA funds. You cannot pay providers directly and request reimbursement later, so it's important to confirm that a provider is approved through Odyssey before making educational plans or purchases. Be aware that new providers are added to the marketplace on a rolling basis throughout the year.

Once your family understands how the Odyssey marketplace works, the next step is learning how to browse providers, make approved purchases, and keep track of your TEFA spending throughout the school year.

Step 1: Log into your Odyssey account

Log into your Odyssey account at withodyssey.com. Once your TEFA funds become available, the dashboard will show your available balance, student account information, transaction history, marketplace access, and any outstanding tasks connected to your account.

Before purchasing educational services or materials, it's a good idea to review your family's account information and confirm that all student and contact details are current and accurate.

Keep in mind that your TEFA funds are distributed into your Odyssey account in installments throughout the school year rather than all at once. Understanding this schedule can help your family better plan educational purchases and manage spending over time.

Step 2: Explore the marketplace before funds arrive

You do not need to wait until TEFA funds are deposited to begin exploring the Odyssey marketplace. In fact, browsing early can help your family better understand what educational services and providers are available before it's time to make purchases.

Families can search the marketplace by provider name, educational category, or location for in-person services. Depending on your child's educational needs, you may choose to explore private schools, tutoring services, therapies, online learning programs, curriculum materials, technology, or enrichment opportunities.

Creating a list ahead of time can make it easier to prioritize your educational purchases once your TEFA funds become available.

Step 3: Review providers and educational offerings

Once you find a provider in the Odyssey marketplace, you can click into their profile to review available educational services, approved purchases, pricing information, and purchasing instructions.

Some providers offer individual classes or services directly through Odyssey, while others may use a credit-based system. For example, Outschool allows families to purchase credits through Odyssey and then apply those credits toward approved online classes and tutoring through the Outschool platform.

If your family already has a preferred provider or educational service in mind, be sure to confirm that the provider is currently approved through the Odyssey marketplace before planning to use TEFA funds.

Step 4: Complete your purchase and save your records

Once you are ready to make a purchase, TEFA funds will be deducted directly from your available Odyssey balance during checkout.

After completing a purchase, be sure to save your Odyssey purchase confirmation for your records. Your Odyssey account will also track your transaction history and remaining balance throughout the school year.

In addition to Odyssey's built-in transaction history, it is recommended that you keep a simple spending log for your own records. Because TEFA accounts may be subject to audit, it's important to maintain clear documentation of your educational purchases and remaining funds.

Your system does not need to be complicated: you can use a spreadsheet, a notebook, or even the notes app on your phone. The goal is simply to keep an organized record of your educational spending.

Common first-time mistakes to avoid

Families new to the TEFA program may find it helpful to avoid these common mistakes when making educational purchases through Odyssey:

• Assuming a preferred provider is already approved through the Odyssey marketplace without checking first
• Waiting until TEFA funds arrive to begin researching providers and educational options
• Spending the full first installment immediately instead of planning for expenses across the full school year
• Forgetting that some providers may require additional processing time before credits or services become available
• Exceeding TEFA spending limits for certain categories, such as technology purchases (which are 10% max of your total award)

The Odyssey marketplace may feel unfamiliar at first, but most families become more comfortable navigating the platform after their first few purchases. Taking time to explore your options, plan ahead, and keep organized records can help your family make the most of your TEFA funds throughout the school year.

This article is for informational purposes only. For official TEFA program information, refer to educationfreedom.texas.gov.