TEFA School Finder, Enrollment Deadlines & the Mistakes That Can Cost Your Funding | Texas Education Freedom Accounts
You got your Texas Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) funding — now comes the part that can make or break it: choosing the right school.
In this episode of the Homeschool Money Podcast, Crystal and Anthony Obey walk Texas families through exactly how to find TEFA-participating schools, what questions to ask before you commit, and how to make sure your enrollment is confirmed so your funding actually flows on time.
This is Part 4 of our TEFA Series. Go back and listen to Episodes 1–3 for the full program overview, application walkthrough, and disability funding deep dive.
In This Episode, You'll Learn:
- How to use the official TEFA School Finder and what to do if your preferred school isn't listed yet
- The difference between "accredited" and "registered" — and why it matters for your $10,474
- The four key questions every family must ask before choosing a school
- What happens when tuition is more (or less) than your TEFA amount
- The enrollment deadlines inside the Odyssey platform you absolutely cannot miss
- Pro tips for smart school selection before April lottery results arrive
This is the homeschool funding opportunity Texas families have been waiting for. But the best schools fill up fast. Start your school search now.
👉 FREE Class: FREE INTRO CLASS: Get $30,000+/Yr to Fund Your Homeschool Without a 9-5 Job
SHOW NOTES & LINKS
- Program website & School Finder: educationfreedom.texas.gov
- Application & account platform (Odyssey): support.withodyssey.com
- Odyssey phone support: 737-379-2362
- Odyssey email support: help.tx@withodyssey.com
- Texas School District Locator: tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/general-information/school-district-locator
- Parent school selection deadline: June 1, 2026 (initial) / July 15, 2026 (final)
- School enrollment confirmation deadline: June 15, 2026 (initial) / July 31, 2026 (final)
- First funding distribution: July 1, 2026
- TEFA Media Contact: Travis Pillow — Travis.Pillow@cpa.texas.gov | (407) 376-3105
Transcript
So let's say you apply for Tifa.
2
:You locked in your educational
setting, you did the hard part.
3
:Now comes the part that is actually
really exciting to choosing where
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:your child is going to learn.
5
:For a lot of Texas families, this
is the first time they have ever
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:had the freedom to truly choose
their child's school without the
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:decision being made by a zip code.
8
:And that is a big deal, but it also
means there are real decisions to
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:make, real deadlines to hit, and
real mistakes that can cost you
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:your funding if you're not careful.
11
:Today we are walking you through
exactly how to find tifa participating
12
:schools, what to look for when you
visit, how to compare your options,
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:and how to make sure your enrollment
actually connects to your Tifa account
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:so the money flows the way it should.
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:A fast growing number of parents are
starting their homeschooling journey while
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:others have been homeschooling for years.
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:All of these parents are asking one big
question, how can I afford to homeschool?
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:We are here to answer that
important question once and for all.
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:Hi, I'm Crystal Obby.
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:And I'm Anthony Obby.
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:We've been homeschooling our five
kids for 13 years and we funded it.
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:Through our online consulting business
that we've been running for over 17
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:years now, we're combining Crystal's
financial coaching expertise with my
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:digital marketing background where I help
entrepreneurs launch and sell online.
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:We're here to help fellow homeschooling
parents self-fund their homeschool
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:journey and create lifestyle businesses.
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:For financial freedom without a nine to
five job, are you ready to start living
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:life on your own terms and make your
homeschooling experience a lot more fun?
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:Well then sit back, crank up
the volume, and enjoy this
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:episode of Homeschool Money.
31
:We want to welcome you to
the Homeschool Money Podcast.
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:I'm your host, Anthony Oby.
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:I'm your host, crystal Oby, and this
is the next episode of Art a series.
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:Let's get into it
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:But before we talk about how to
choose a school, let's make sure
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:everyone understands what the options
actually are, because Tifa isn't
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:just for traditional private schools.
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:If you selected private school in
your application, your funding is set
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:at $10,474 for that funding level to
activate the school your child attends,
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:must be both accredited and registered
as a team of participating school.
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:Those are two separate requirements.
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:Accredited means the school meets
recognized academic standards.
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:Registered means they signed up with
the TFA program and agreed to its rules.
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:If a school is accredited but has not
registered with TA, your child cannot
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:receive the $10,474 at that school.
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:This is one of the most important
things to verify before you get
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:attached to a particular school.
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:If you selected homeschool or other
non-public setting, your funding
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:is $2,000 and you are not choosing
a school through the TFA system,
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:that money goes to curriculum.
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:Materials, tutoring therapies,
and up to 10% on technology, and
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:you manage it through the Odyssey
platform on your own schedule.
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:One thing that surprises a lot of
families, TIFA also opens up the door to
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:career and technical education programs.
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:Educational therapies and other
specialized services, even for students
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:who are primarily homeschooled.
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:So the $2,000 can be used pretty
strategically if you plan it?
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:Well.
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:For today's episode, we're going to
focus primarily on families choosing
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:a participating private school,
since that's where most of the
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:school selection decisions happen and
where the most money is on the line.
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:Your starting point for every
school search is the TFA School
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:finder@educationfreedom.texas.gov.
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:This is the official database of
schools that are registered and
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:eligible to participate in the program.
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:If a school is not in this tool, your
TFA funding cannot be used There.
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:At least not for the full $10,474 amount.
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:Here's what you need
to know about using it.
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:Schools are being added
on a rolling basis.
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:So if you search today and your preferred
school is not there, check back next week.
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:Schools can apply and be added
at any time during the process.
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:Do not give up on a school just
because it isn't listed yet.
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:If a school you love is not
in the finder, call them.
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:Ask if they are registered with
tifa or planning to register.
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:A lot of schools are still
going through the process.
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:Being an informed parent and
asking the right questions can
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:actually move that process forward.
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:Hey, real quick, if you're liking the
show, hit follow so you don't miss a
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:single episode and drop a five star
rating and a review to let us know that
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:you're loving the content and tell us
what topics you'd like us to cover.
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:This will help more people find
the show, and please share this
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:episode with a friend, your
co-op, or anyone who needs it.
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:They'll be glad you did.
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:Now, back to the show.
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:When you use the school finder,
you can search by location.
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:There are a wide range of participating
schools in each region covering
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:different faith traditions, academic
philosophies, and specialty programs.
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:The finder will show you what's within
your reach, once you have a list of
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:schools that are registered with TFA
and located near you, you're ready
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:to start the real evaluation process.
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:And that's where a lot of parents
aren't sure what to look for.
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:We've got to cover.
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:Choosing a school is one of the most
personal decisions a parent can make, but
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:there are some universal questions that
every family should be asking regardless
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:of what kind of school they're looking at.
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:Let's walk through them.
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:Start here.
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:Ask the school directly.
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:Are you registered with tfa?
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:Do you have experience with TFA students?
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:How do you handle the
enrollment confirmation process
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:with the Odyssey platform?
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:A school that knows these answers
and has a clear process is one
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:that has prepared for this.
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:A school that doesn't know
what you're talking about
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:needs more time to get ready.
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:Also ask about their application
and enrollment process.
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:A selection does not guarantee admission.
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:Schools have their own
admissions processes.
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:Their own timelines and
sometimes wait lists.
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:Ask them what their tepa enrollment
deadlines look like and whether
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:they align with the program
Summer confirmation window.
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:Let's talk about academic fit.
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:What is the school's
educational philosophy?
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:Is it classical, traditional
project-based, faith-based Montessori?
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:Does that approach match
how your child learns?
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:Best?
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:Ask about class sizes.
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:Smaller classes often mean more
individual attention, which matters
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:a lot for kids who struggle in
traditional public school settings.
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:Which matters a lot for kids who struggled
in a traditional public school setting.
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:Ask about accreditation
specifically, which accrediting
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:body has certified the school.
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:Common ones in Texas include coa, the
Texas Private School Accreditation
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:Commission, the Association of Christian
Schools International and others.
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:Accreditation Matters for both
TFA eligibility and for future
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:academic record recognition.
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:Now let's talk about support services.
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:If your child has a disability, a learning
difference, or needs any kind of academic
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:support, this section is critical.
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:Ask whether the school has
learning support, staff tutors.
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:Or intervention programs built in.
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:Ask whether they have experience with
children who have IEPs, dyslexia,
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:A DHD, or autism A School's honest
answer to these questions will
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:tell you a lot about whether your
child will truly thrive there.
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:Remember from a previous episode,
private schools are not required to
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:provide the same special education
services as public schools.
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:So if your child needs specific
therapeutic services, make sure
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:you know exactly what the school
provides versus what you'll be funding
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:separately through your Tifa account.
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:Now let's take a look at
tuition and TFA coverage.
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:This is a practical conversation
every family needs to have.
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:Your TFA account provides $10,474.
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:Ask the school what their total
annual tuition and fees are.
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:If tuition is less than $10,474, your
remaining TFA funds can be used for other
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:eligible expenses like tutoring therapies,
curriculum materials, and technology.
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:If tuition is more than $10,474, ask the
school about financial aid, payment plans,
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:or scholarship options to cover the gap.
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:and for families with a disability
funding amount higher than $10,474.
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:Ask the school how they work with TEFL
accounts that carry additional funding.
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:Make sure they understand the process
and are set up on the Odyssey platform
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:to receive those payments properly.
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:Hey, friend, quick break.
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:If you're ready to fund your homeschool
without relying on a nine to five
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:job, you have to check this out.
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:Without a nine to five job.
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:Afford a world-class education for
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:you deserve, that's gonna give you
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:that matter the most, your children.
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:This is the system that changed everything
for us, and it's changed everything
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:for hundreds of other families too.
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:Go to homeschool money.com
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:to register and watch the free
class on demand and get our
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:newsletter full of tips and support.
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:Don't wait.
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:Your freedom starts right now.
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:Now let's take a look at
culture and community.
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:Never underestimate the culture.
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:Question visit the school in
person if at all possible.
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:Watch how the teachers
interact with students.
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:Ask whether families are
involved in school life.
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:Talk to other parents if you can.
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:The academic program matters,
but so does whether your child is
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:going to feel welcomed, challenged,
and safe every single day.
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:Okay?
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:You found your school,
you've been accepted.
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:Now let's make sure the money actually
flows correctly, because this is
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:where a few families dropped the
ball and it cost them their funding.
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:Here's the enrollment timeline
you need to work with.
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:June 1st is the initial deadline
for parents to select their school
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:inside the Odyssey platform.
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:June 15th is the initial deadline
for the school to confirm your
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:child's enrollment on their end.
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:The final deadline for parents
to select a school is July
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:15th, and the final deadline for
schools to confirm is July 31st.
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:Missing these windows can delay or
prevent your first round of funding,
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:which is scheduled to hit by July 1st.
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:So here's the sequence.
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:One, apply to your chosen school directly
and complete their admissions process.
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:This is completely separate from tifa two.
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:Once you're accepted, log back into the
Odyssey platform and select that school.
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:Three.
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:The school will receive a
notification through Odyssey
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:to confirm your enrollment.
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:Four.
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:Once both sides confirm your
account is linked, and your first
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:round of funding becomes available,
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:the earlier you do this,
the smoother it goes.
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:Schools are managing many
enrollments at once, especially
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:in year one of the program.
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:When everything is new, give them time
to confirm your enrollment rather than
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:waiting until the last week of July.
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:Now, let's talk about some pro tips.
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:Pro tip number one, do not
wait to apply to schools.
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:The TFA lottery notification
comes in early April.
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:Start researching and
visiting schools now.
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:Before you know if you've been selected.
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:If you wait until April to
start, you may find that the best
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:schools have filled their spots.
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:Pro tip number two, apply
to more than one school.
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:You are not committing to
a school by applying to it.
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:Submit applications to your top two or
three choices and let the admissions
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:process play out in parallel.
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:This gives you options if your first
choice fills up or has a wait list,
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:coach it.
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:Number three, confirm your school's TFA
registration status directly with them,
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:not just through the school finder.
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:Schools can apply to join the program
at any time, and the finder may
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:not always be updated in real time.
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:A direct conversation with the
admissions office is the most
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:reliable confirmation pro.
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:Tip number four, ask the
school about their experience
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:with the Odyssey platform.
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:If they're new to it, ask who their
designated chief of contact person is.
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:Knowing who to call at the school when a
payment or confirmation question comes up
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:will save you hours of frustration later.
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:Pro tip number five, keep
records of everything.
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:Save confirmation emails.
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:Note the dates of phone calls,
and screenshot your Odyssey
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:account status at each stage.
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:If there's ever a question about
your enrollment confirmation.
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:Your documentation is your protection,
and here's an important reminder.
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:Selecting a school in the Odyssey platform
is separate from applying for admission.
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:You must complete each school's
own application process.
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:TFA selection does not give
your child a spot at the school.
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:So what if your preferred
school isn't registered yet?
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:We wanna spend a minute on this because
it's a situation a lot of families are
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:going to find themselves you have a school
you love, it's a great fit, but it's
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:not in the teeth of school finder yet.
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:Here's what you do First, call the school
and ask whether they are registered
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:or planning to register with Tifa.
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:Some schools are in the process.
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:Some haven't heard enough from
families to prioritize it yet.
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:Your call can be the nudge
that gets them moving.
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:Second, ask them what they need to
know about registering the program
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:website at Education Freedom dot
Texas gov has resources for schools.
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:You can point them there.
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:Sometimes a parent who is informed
and enthusiastic is exactly the push
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:a school administrator needs to get
through the registration process.
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:Third, have a backup plan while
you're waiting to see if your
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:preferred school registers.
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:Identify one or two other schools
that are already participating and
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:that you could also feel good about.
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:This protects you against the scenario
where your preferred school does not get
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:registered in time for the program year.
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:And remember, you can always start the
school year in one setting, and the
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:program does allow for some adjustments.
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:What you cannot do is change to a
setting that requires more funding
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:after the application window closes.
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:So plan strategically from the beginning.
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:Hey, I hope you're enjoying the show.
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:We'll get right back to the
discussion, but I do want to talk
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:high level with you real quick.
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:You see, transforming your
finances so you can self-fund your
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:homeschooling journey without a nine
to five job takes a roadmap, right?
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where do I even start?
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:Step one, install the
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:Most people believe that they
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:easier time to generate six figures.
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:A year in income working just 15
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:Let's close with your action
plan for school selection.
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:These are the things to do right now, even
before you know your tifa lottery results.
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:Step one, go to education
freedom.texas.gov
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:and use the school finder.
336
:Make a list of every TIVA
registered school within a
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:reasonable distance of your home.
338
:Do this today.
339
:Step two, research each
school on your list.
340
:Visit their websites.
341
:Look for their accreditation,
their academic philosophy, their
342
:support services, and their tuition.
343
:Narrow your list to your top two or three.
344
:Step three, schedule school
visits and start the admissions
345
:process at your top choices now.
346
:Don't wait for your TFA notifications.
347
:In April, the best schools fill up fast.
348
:Step four, have the T TFA conversation
with each school directly.
349
:Ask if they are registered.
350
:Ask who handles their TFA enrollment.
351
:And ask about their timeline for
confirming enrollment through Odyssey.
352
:Step five.
353
:Once you receive your Tepa
notification in April, log into Odyssey
354
:promptly and select your school.
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:Don't sit on that step.
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:The earlier you confirm the
earlier your funding is secure.
357
:In the next episode, we're going to cover
what happens after you get approved.
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:How to manage your account and what
mistakes can get your account suspended,
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:and how to make this funding work
for your family year after year.
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:Be sure to check the show notes
of this episode for details and
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:important contact information.
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:We'll see you in the next episode.
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:If you like today's episode, make
sure you tap the follow button so you
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:never miss a thing, and if it help
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:homeschool group sharing is caring.
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:For tips and strategies to make your
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