Odyssey contract approved to launch LA Gator July 1; lawmakers press for clarity on priority rules and vendor fees

The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget approved the Department of Education's contract with Braidal Class d/b/a Odyssey (contract referenced under Act 1 of 2025) so the LA Gator program can launch on July 1.

Cade Brumley of the Department of Education told the committee the contract had been approved under Act 1 of 2025 and awaited the committee's approval so the program could begin. "We have again requested for this particular contract, to be approved. It's already been approved, per Act 1 of 2025, with Bessie by unanimous vote. And at this point, it waits for your approval, so that we can successfully launch LA Gator on, July 1," Brumley said.

Representative McFarland pressed for clarification on funding and award counts. She noted the governor's executive budget proposed a $50,000,000 increase that would have supported 5,358 awards at an average of $9,333, while the enacted appropriation provided about $43.5 million and funded 6,106 awards at an average award of $7,127. Department staff explained that the appropriation effectively backfills the voucher program numbers and that the $143.50 per account vendor management fee (per student) will apply in the coming year once accounts exist.

"It's a $143.50 per student to manage the account," said Department of Education staff in response to the committee's question about the per‑account fee. The committee heard that the $143.50 fee applies beginning in fiscal year 2026 when accounts are active; the initial contract activity in 2025 focused on platform development and application processing.

Committee discussion also focused on how the statute's listed eligibility categories and BESE's (Board of Elementary and Secondary Education) rules intersect when funds are insufficient. Representative Henry asked the department to explain differences between the statute's eligible categories within phases and BESE's priority order. Department staff explained Act 1 lists eligible students within each phase and BESE set a priority order within a phase to determine which eligible students are admitted first when money is limited. The department said BESE prioritized voucher students first, then students from families at or below 250% of poverty or students with disabilities, then siblings of participants, then other eligible students.

Members recommended coordination between the governor's stated priorities and BESE's rules so parents and districts receive consistent guidance if future funding is allocated differently. The Department of Education told the committee it has two full‑time TO positions on the fiscal note to oversee the vendor finances and school/provider quality and said the department is executing the law as written. Representative McFarland moved to approve the Odyssey contract; the motion carried with no recorded opposition.