Arkansas School Choice Options
Arkansas offers Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) to every K-12 student in the state. Homeschoolers can apply too. There are no income limits and no rule that your child attended public school first. For 2026-27, each account gets $7,208, paid in four deposits of $1,802. You can spend it on curriculum, tutoring, therapies, supplies, testing, and approved activities. Families apply each spring. For 2026-27, the window ran from March 9 to June 1.
Day to day, EFA homeschoolers still file the yearly notice of intent with their school district. Each year, they must also arrange a nationally norm-referenced test in reading and math. The test is taken in the spring, and the results go to the Department of Education. In addition, some spending has caps. For example, extracurricular costs and mileage are each limited to 25% of the account. For full details on each topic, open the sections below.
The Education Freedom Account program is state-funded. For the 2026-27 school year, each account receives $1,802 per quarter, for a total of $7,208 (School Choice Arkansas: EFA 101).
Any K-12 student who lives in Arkansas and has at least one parent who is a resident. Pre-K students who turn 5 by August 1 of that school year are eligible. There are no income limits or prior public school rules (EFA 101).
Homeschoolers: Yes. Students taught at home, including in parent-led microschools that are not accredited private schools, are legally homeschoolers and must still file the yearly notice of intent (Arkansas EFA Family Handbook).
The application and renewal period for 2026-27 was March 9 to June 1. New families applied through FACTS, and returning families renewed through ClassWallet. Reviews take about 10 days (EFA 101; School Choice Arkansas: Homeschool). Watch for the 2027-28 dates.
For homeschoolers, allowed uses include (School Choice Arkansas: Homeschool):
- Curriculum and tutoring.
- Technology and supplies, with limits (for example, up to $1,000 a year for personal computing devices).
- Educational therapies.
- Extracurriculars such as PE, gymnastics, dance, and field trips (up to 25% of the account).
- Enrichment such as music, visual arts, and foreign language.
- Education testing.
- Mileage to and from an approved provider at $0.52 per mile (up to 25% of the account).
Not allowed: entertainment technology such as game consoles and TVs, smart home devices, and cleaning products. Check the state’s full list of ineligible expenses each year.
Every EFA student must take a yearly test. Homeschool families arrange a nationally norm-referenced test approved by the Department of Education, in reading and math, taken after March 1, and submit the results to ADE (EFA 101; EFA Family Handbook).
Arkansas Department of Education, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment. See the EFA Family Handbook for contacts. School Choice Arkansas (schoolchoicear.org) also answers family questions.
EFA rules and amounts can change each year. Check the current EFA Family Handbook before you plan purchases.
*The information on this page is for general use only. It should not be taken as legal advice. It is believed to be accurate however state and federal laws change every year. Homeschool.net recommends joining an organization such as the Home School Legal Defense Association before your homeschooling adventure begins. HSLDA can provide complete, accurate, legal advice and services for homeschooling families.
Update History
- October 31, 2026
- New law: Added Arkansas’s participation in the federal scholarship tax credit for 2027 (IRS).
- Editorial/clarification: Replaced the coming-soon placeholder with a full guide to Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts for 2026-27, sources, and a last-reviewed date.