Getting Started for Schools – Odyssey

Welcome to the Florida Educational Options (EO) Scholarship Program for Schools

The Florida Educational Options Scholarship Program includes:

Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO) — A scholarship program that helps eligible Florida students access approved educational options, including participating private schools.
Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities (FES-UA) — A scholarship program designed for eligible Florida students with qualifying disabilities.

Sunshine State Kids and Odyssey work with participating schools to manage enrollment, tuition approvals, and scholarship payments through an easy-to-use platform.

Florida Department of Education Approval

School eligibility for the Florida scholarship programs is determined by the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE), not Odyssey.

Before a school can participate on the Odyssey platform, it must first complete the required approval process through FLDOE and be accepted into the appropriate scholarship program.

All eligibility reviews, compliance requirements, and participation approvals are managed directly by FLDOE. Once a school has been approved by FLDOE, Odyssey will invite the school to complete onboarding and begin participating on the platform.

Eligibility Requirements for Participating Schools

To participate, schools must meet Florida program requirements. Schools may also need to maintain compliance with state rules and reporting requirements throughout the school year.

To participate in the FES-EO and FES-UA scholarship programs, a private school must:

Be registered with the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) and notify the DOE of their intent to participate in one or both programs through the Department of Florida School Choice website. If you do not have a 4 digit Department of Education code, please click here to apply for a code.
Maintain a physical school in the state of Florida where students attend onsite classes full-time. Virtual private schools are not eligible to participate in the program.
Be operational and fiscally sound for at least 3 years. If a school is younger than 3 years and would still like to participate in the program, they must provide a surety bond or letter of credit for the amount equal to the scholarship funds for any quarter.
Meet state and local health, safety, and welfare requirements established by law
Comply with the anti-discrimination provisions of Title VI Statute, 42 U.S.C §§ 2000d - 2000d-7
Employ eligible instructional staff as required by state guidelines. Staff are considered eligible if they:
- have obtained a bachelor's degree or higher
- have experience teaching in public or private schools for 3 years or more, or
- have special skills, knowledge, or expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction in subjects taught
Ensure all school administrators and staff pass the Level 2 required state and national background screens. For more information, click here.
Schedule and pass a site inspection with the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. Click here for contact information.
Submit a signed and notarized Scholarship Compliance Form to The Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice by October 1. Click here for contact information to request the form.
- Your school must be approved by August 1 in order to receive funds. It is recommended that you begin the approval process at least 9 months prior to this date in order to complete the process.
- This form must be resubmitted annually by March 1
Must annually administer a Norm-Referenced Assessment or Statewide assessment. Click here for a list of approved assessments.

Schools must remain in good standing with the Florida Department of Education in order to continue participating in scholarship programs.

School Responsibilities Overview

Participating schools are responsible for:

Verifying student enrollments
Maintaining accurate student records
Reporting tuition and fees accurately
Following all scholarship program requirements
Maintaining required compliance documentation

Schools may also be asked to provide additional records or documentation to the Florida Department of Education during the school year.

How to Contact Odyssey Support

If your school needs assistance, the Odyssey Support team is here to help. Schools can contact support through the Help Center or by submitting a support request through the platform.

help.fl@withodyssey.com

What makes a school ineligible?

A school may become ineligible if it does not meet Florida program requirements or fails to maintain compliance with state laws or scholarship policies.

Examples may include:

Operating without required approval from the Florida Department of Education
Failing required background screenings
Missing compliance deadlines
Submitting inaccurate tuition or enrollment information
Failing to maintain required assessments or records

Virtual-only private schools are not eligible to participate.

Can schools withdraw from the program?

Yes. Schools may choose to withdraw from the scholarship program. Schools should contact Odyssey Support and the Florida Department of Education before withdrawing to understand any required next steps and impacts on enrolled families.

To withdraw you will need to

Notify Odyssey.
Formally unenroll all scholarship students in your school profile. This releases their state ID so parents can transfer them to another participating private school.
Manage overpayments.
Issue a written notice to families and provide them a 30 day notice period.

Can schools limit ESA seats?

Yes. Participating schools may decide how many scholarship students they are able to serve based on available space, staffing, programs, or other school policies.

Can schools prioritize existing families?

Yes. Schools may continue to follow their existing admissions policies, including giving priority to returning students, siblings, or currently enrolled families, as permitted by program rules and applicable law.