Dear Utah Parents,
Odyssey is pleased to provide updated timelines, as well as clarify details regarding the administration of the Utah Fits All (UFA) Scholarship program. It is important to note that the time frames listed below are preliminary and subject to change. We would also like to share a bit more information about Odyssey and our platform, so that parents, schools, and providers can know what to expect while working with us moving forward.
Schedule Updates:
- Provider Application: The application to become a provider on the Odyssey marketplace will be available next week, launching on June 11. This link will be sent to all previous UFA providers, local education agencies (LEAs), and also will be made publicly available to any interested potential providers. More information on provider eligibility is below.
- School Portal: The portal for eligible schools will be made available in June. We will reach out with a link in the coming weeks so that eligible private schools can sign up and get access to the portal where tuition payments will be facilitated.
- Year Two Application Cycle: As noted in our last update, the data received for eligibility determination was incomplete and it is not possible to make accurate eligibility determinations with it. As a result, Odyssey will be rerunning the application process to accurately collect the missing information needed for eligibility determination for year two applicants. The new application is projected to launch on July 31, 2025. This date may shift slightly if any unforeseen issues arise. Odyssey plans to send the application link directly to the point of contact provided by the previous administrator to ensure that everyone who applied in the previous cycle will be able to apply again. Odyssey will communicate all requirements well in advance so that you are prepared for the application. We anticipate the application process to be quick, easy, and to take on average less than five minutes to fill out.
- Year One Participating UFA Parents: Odyssey will need to gather additional information from year one participating UFA parents in order to confirm year two eligibility. These parents will be asked to verify Utah residency, confirm whether they plan to enroll in an approved and registered private school or conduct home-based learning, and upload portfolios or assessments, if needed. The verification window is projected to launch on July 31, 2025. This date may shift slightly if any unforeseen issues arise. We want to clarify that year one parents are not being asked to reapply to the program. Their eligibility confirmation for year two will be conducted through the same process that we use to receive year two parent applications. For parents of multiple students who are already receiving UFA funds and applying to join the program for additional students, there will be an opportunity to create new, unique profiles for each additional student.
- Marketplace: The marketplace is projected to launch on August 21, 2025. Beginning in June, as mentioned above, Odyssey will begin onboarding providers and schools to the platform in advance of the marketplace launch.
Clarifying Information:
- Portfolios and Assessments: In previous communications, Odyssey used the term "portfolio" as a catchall reference to the eligibility requirements in HB 455 Section 53F-6-402. We want to clarify that year one parents will be able to upload all eligible documentation described in this section, including assessments, and that they will not be penalized for missing the May 31st deadline due to the recent change in program administration.
- Spending Remaining 2024/2025 Funds: Parents will have an extended window to use any remaining funds beyond the previously communicated rollover deadline. When the Odyssey marketplace opens in August, there will be a designated period of time during which parents can use their remaining year one balances.
- Providers: Odyssey will conduct a thorough and comprehensive review process to determine provider eligibility moving forward. As mentioned above, Odyssey will soon publish a link to a vendor application for providers to apply to become a UFA provider. Please note that currently no vendors are considered providers in the Odyssey marketplace. Once a provider applies and is approved, they will receive an account and may submit offerings to the marketplace. Please note that Odyssey thoroughly vets both providers and each individual offering to ensure quality and program compliance.
- Schools: Odyssey is also conducting a thorough and comprehensive review process for school eligibility moving forward. In the coming weeks, schools will receive a link to provide us with information so that we can create Odyssey accounts for them. Odyssey will publish which schools have created accounts with Odyssey so parents can ensure their student’s school will be on the platform when funds are available. We want to clarify that schools can be providers on the Odyssey marketplace in addition to being a school that receives tuition payments on the platform. If a school chooses to do so, they will be receiving both an invitation to create a school account and a provider application. Please note that this only applies to private schools.
- Reimbursements: The reimbursement process is being reviewed to make sure it is compatible with the updated law. New guidance will be issued in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we recommend not purchasing any items until new guidance has been issued.
How Odyssey Works:
- Mission Driven: Odyssey was created to empower families with choice and flexibility in education - this is our sole focus. Our goal is to make this program more accessible, transparent, and easy-to-use as possible. Our platform was built to put families first while supporting state and provider partners in delivering transparent and compliant school choice programs.
- Digital Wallet: Once a student is deemed eligible, funds will be issued for a student in a digital wallet on Odyssey’s platform. This digital wallet provides real-time accounting of available funds and tracks spending on purchases. For families with multiple students, each student will have a separate digital wallet displaying student level transactions.
- Tuition: Once a student is deemed eligible and has received funds, parents will be directed to select a school from the list of schools that have agreed to participate in the UFA program. If the student is enrolled in home-based learning, the parents should select the home-based scholarship student option. After a student selects a school, the school will be notified and will be prompted to confirm the student’s enrollment.
- Marketplace: Odyssey’s marketplace offers a wide range of products and services that are tailored specifically to what is allowed within Utah state law. When parents make a purchase on the marketplace, everything is preapproved, and funds are taken directly from the student’s digital wallet. There are no transaction fees in our marketplace and all providers will be housed in the same marketplace. Odyssey anticipates being able to quickly onboard new vendors provided that they are eligible under UFA program guidelines.
Odyssey wants to sincerely thank everyone for their patience and understanding over the past few weeks. At Odyssey, our mission is to deliver a UFA program that is accessible, transparent and fully compliant. We take that responsibility seriously and remain committed to providing consistent updates as we move forward.
All the best,
The Odyssey Team
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