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Returning Students: How to Complete the 26-27 Program Application

Andrea S
Updated

This article is intended for returning 25-26 participants to understand how to complete the LA GATOR Scholarship Program Application.


If you're a new family, please review this article: New Students: How to Complete the 26-27 Program Application. 
 
Video Tutorial: 


Sign in to your 26-27 Odyssey Parent Account

 

Start the Application

  • When you sign in, you'll be taken to your 25-26 dashboard. 
  • To begin the application, click on the [Apply] button in the Announcements or click on the program year filter in the upper right corner to select [2026-2027].  


     
  • Once you're in the 2026-2027 program dashboard, carefully read the program eligibility requirements and necessary documents and information. 
    • Please note: Document upload is only required if we’re unable to verify your information with the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR). If additional documentation is needed, you’ll be prompted to upload it. If your application automatically moves to an Eligible status after submission, no documents are required.
  • If you're ready to begin the application, [Start Application].



 

Select which students to include in the 26-27 application

  • You’ll be prompted to select which students in your household you’d like to include in the 2026–27 application. 
    • If a student has graduated or will not be reapplying, simply uncheck the box next to their name and click [Continue].
    • Please note: You’ll have the option to add any new students to your household.

 

Step 1: Parent or Guardian Information


Parent/Guardian Information

  • Update the following information, if needed:
    • Legal First Name
    • Legal Middle Name, optional
    • Legal Last Name

Please be sure to use the same name as printed on your State ID/Driver's License.

  • Provide the required information:
    • Phone number
    • Preferred Language (Click on the dropdown and select which you prefer)
  • If needed, you may update the email in the [Student Profiles] section. 



Home Address Information

  • Add your residential address
    • To add the parish you live in, click on the [Parish] dropdown, type your answer, and select it, or scroll until you find your parish.
    • If you have a different address on your tax return, please check the box next to [I have a different address on my tax return] and add the address. 
  • Add your household size
    • Please ensure you include yourself, your spouse (if applicable), and all dependents


Parent/Guardian Tax Information

  • Provide the required information so we can verify your in-state residency and income with the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR). 
    • Click on the [Parent/Guardian ID Type] dropdown to select the correct type: Social Security Number or ITIN Number.
    • Once you select the identification type you have, provide the ID number. 
  • Click on the dropdown to respond if you filed your most recent State Tax Return in a married status. 
    • If yes, you will be prompted to provide your spouse's name:

 

Active Duty Information

  • If you or your spouse is currently an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces stationed in Louisiana, answer yes to the following question and upload your current active duty orders placing your household in the state of Louisiana.
    • To upload the orders, click on the upload box and select your document. Then, click [Open]. 
       

Once you have answered everything, click [Save & Next]. 

 

Step 2: Child Information 

The returning students you initially selected will appear on the application form. 

Please note: You will not be able to edit their first or last name, but you may add a middle name or suffix. 

  • Please add the following information:
    • Student's Date of Birth
    • Student's Social Security Number (SSN)
      • Please verify that the date of birth and social security number are correct.
  • If the student resides in your household, ensure the box next to [Same address as parent/guardian] has a checkmark.

  • If the student does NOT reside with you, click on the box next to [Same address as parent/guardian] to remove the checkmark. Then, provide the student's residential address. 

Student Demographics 

Please note: This data is collected for analysis purposes only and will not affect eligibility or funding priority.

  • Provide the student's gender by clicking on the corresponding option

  • Click on the drop-down to select your student's race/ethnicity

     

    School Enrollment

    • Answer "What grade level will the student be entering in the 2026-2027 academic year?" by clicking on the dropdown and selecting the grade the student will be attending:
      • Please ensure you select the grade level your student will enter in the 2026–2027 school year, not the grade they are currently enrolled in for 2025–2026.

  • If your student was grandfathered into the 2025–2026 LA GATOR Scholarship Program due to participation in the Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) during the 2024–2025 school year, select Yes to the question: “Did the student participate in the Louisiana Scholarship Program (LSP) during the 2024–2025 academic year?”
     

    • If you select Yes, you’ll be asked to indicate Yes or No to the following question: “In year 1 of the LA GATOR Scholarship Program (2025–2026), did the student remain at the same LSP school they attended in 2024–2025?”

      • If you select Yes, you’ll be asked to indicate Yes or No to the following question: "Does the student intend to continue at the same LSP school in year 2 of the LA GATOR Scholarship Program (2026–2027) as in the 2025–2026 academic year?"

  • Finally, you'll be asked, "Is the student identified as having a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §1401?"
    • If you answer Yes, you'll be prompted to provide the student's 10-digit LASID. 
      • The LASID can be found on the valid evaluation and/or Individualized Education Program (IEP) developed by a Local Educational Agency.
      • If you are a returning Special Education student, please make sure the LASID is entered correctly so we can receive and apply any recent updates to your disability tier. 
  • If you want to apply for another student, click on [Add Another Student] and fill out all the required information.
  • If you click to add a student, but you will NOT be adding another, click on the trash icon.
  • Once you've added all your student information, click [Save & Next]. 


Please note: All students in your household must be included on the same application. You cannot submit separate applications for different students, so be sure to add every student before proceeding to Step 3.

A pop-up message will ask you to confirm that all students have been included. If they have, click [Yes] to continue.

 

Step 3: Consent and Acknowledgments

  • Review each individual statement and check the box next to each to affirm your understanding and agreement.
    • Please note: All boxes must be checked in order to proceed 
       

  • Once done, electronically sign. 

  • Click [Save & Next] to continue.

 

Step 4: Review your Information

You will be prompted to review your information before submitting the application. If you need to make any changes, click on [Edit Parent Information] or [Edit Child]. 

  • Once done, click [Sublit Application].

 

Step 5: Residency and Income Verification

We will verify your residency and income through the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR). If we're unable to verify the information, we may ask for additional documentation. If so, your dashboard will look like this, and you'll be prompted to upload the required verification documents. 

  • Once you have the documents on hand, click [Start Verification] to begin. 


Louisiana-issued government ID:

  • Select the type that you have. 
    • Please note: If you or your spouse is currently an active duty member of the United States Armed Forces stationed in Louisiana, and you uploaded your current active duty orders placing your household in the state of Louisiana, you will not have to upload a government ID and will go directly to the proof of address upload. 
  • Select how you will upload your photo or document:
    • Camera icon: If you are using your phone, click here to take a photo of the document.
    • Upload a photo: If the document is saved on your device, click here to select and upload it.
    • Continue on a device: After clicking here, you will be able to scan a QR code and finish the document upload process on another device (e.g. your phone). It also allows you to send it to yourself by email.
  • Upload the document and verify that the name and address are visible.
  • If everything is correct, click [Use this photo]
  • You will have 2 opportunities to upload the ID.


Proof of address 1: 

Ensure it matches the address on your application

  • Click [Continue] to upload.
  • Take a photo, upload a copy, or [Continue on another device].
  • When you upload the photo or document, click [Submit]
  • Make sure your last name and address are visible and correspond to the information on your application.
  • You will have 2 opportunities to upload your proof of address.


Proof of Address 2:

  • Once you submit the first proof of address, you'll be prompted to submit another. You can select any from the list, including another utility bill. However, it must not be a duplicate. (For example, if you uploaded a water bill, now you can upload an electricity bill).
  • Click [Continue].

  • Take a photo, upload a copy, or [Continue on another device]. 
     
  • When you upload the photo or document, click [Submit]

  • Make sure your last name and address are visible and correspond to the information on your application.
  • You will have 2 opportunities to upload your proof of address.


Income Proof

  • Provide the 1040 Tax Form from your most recent federal taxes (2024 or 2025).

  • Click [Continue] two times. 


  • Take a photo, upload a copy, or [Continue on another device].
  • When you upload the photo or document, click [Submit]
  • Make sure the adjusted gross income (AGI) in line 11 is visible.
  • You will have 2 opportunities to upload your 1040.
     

Once done, you'll see this screen, and you'll be redirected to your home screen, where you'll see your latest application status. Click [Done] to continue.

 

Possible Statuses

After you complete the application, you'll be brought back to your dashboard, where you'll see the status for your student. At this stage, you'll be able to see these statuses: 

Under Review: 

You’ll see this status if the Odyssey team needs to manually review the documents you submitted. Please wait for a follow-up update once the review has been completed.


Eligible: 

You'll see this status if we were able to verify residency and income through the connection with the Louisiana Department of Revenue (LDR) or automatically with the uploaded verification documents. No further action is needed at this time. 

  • Please note: An eligible status means that the student meets the requirements to qualify for the program; however, it does not indicate approval or guarantee funding. Approval is a separate process.

 

Ineligible:

You’ll see this status if your student does not meet the program’s eligibility requirements. This may include not meeting the age, residency, or income criteria.


 

Made a mistake on your application?

If you made a mistake on your application and noticed it after submitting:

  • Click on [Application History] at the bottom of your dashboard. 

  • Then click [Edit and Resubmit Application].  

    • You are able to edit and resubmit your application here until the application deadline.
    • Please note that editing your application will close your current application and create a new one. This will not affect your overall eligibility status.

       


     
     

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