The Education Freedom Account in Arkansas: Homeschool Grants for Families

Arkansas families have been advocating for—and practicing—school choice since long before it rose to buzzword status. With numerous private, charter, and magnet school options and a robust community of homeschooling families state-wide, Arkansas families have been taking educational matters into their own hands for decades.

In 2023, those individual choices achieved a new level of public support with the introduction of the Arkansas Educational Freedom Account program. This state-administered program offers an education savings account to Arkansas students outside of the public school system. The funds are intended to empower families to seek the best educational options for their children. For many parents, the EFA increases access to a wider range of learning alternatives—and removes (or at least reduces) money as a barrier to pursuing them.

Below, we explore the Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts program, who is eligible, and how families may benefit. 

What are Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts?

The Arkansas Education Freedom Account (EFA) program is designed to support school choice for students across the state of Arkansas. As an educational savings account program, the EFA provides education-related funding directly to families in the state. These funds can be used for a wide range of educational expenses like tuition and fees, uniforms, testing, homeschooling expenses, educational equipment and supplies, and more.

The Arkansas EFA program was signed into law in 2023 to offer eligible students an amount of money equivalent to a portion of the funding that would have been allocated for them if they were studying in a public school.

How Much is the EFA Amount in Arkansas?

Currently, eligible families enrolled in the EFA may receive an amount equivalent to 90% of the per-child funding budgeted by the state for the school year. If a child was enrolled in an Arkansas public school, the money would go to their school to support their education. Through the EFA education program, those funds go to families instead.

The exact amount of funding may vary from year to year, depending on the state’s budget. According to the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, in the 2023-2024 school year, each enrolled student was eligible to receive approximately $6,600. For the 2024-2025 school year, the DESE’s website states that the funding amount is approximately $6,856. 

According to the DESE, applications for 2025 EFAs are closed, however, applications will reopen in early spring for the 2025-2026 school year.

Eligibility Criteria for the Arkansas EFA Program

The Arkansas EFA program is limited to students who are enrolled in private school or homeschooled during the award year. Currently, there are no income requirements or restrictions to participate. We recommend visiting the official website of the Arkansas EFA program for the most accurate and current information.

Students applying for the Arkansas EFA program are required to:

• Be eligible to enroll in an Arkansas public school; and 
• Have at least one parent who is a resident of the state.

For the 2024-2025 academic year, participation is limited to students who meet additional criteria. Children will only qualify for the program if they:

• Are enrolling in kindergarten for the first time or were enrolled in kindergarten in the previous school year;
• Were enrolled in a school rated “D” or “F” or in a “Level 5” district for the previous school year;
• Received the Succeed Scholarship in the previous school year;
• Are homeless;
• Have a disability;
• Are currently or were previously in foster care; or
• Have at least one parent who is a first responder, in law enforcement, active duty military, or a military reservist, or a veteran under Title 38.

Starting in 2025, all K-12 students in the state of Arkansas will become eligible for EFA funding, regardless of whether they fall into one of the categories above. Students will only become ineligible when they leave the state, enroll in a public school, graduate from high school, or reach 21 years of age.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, we encourage you to visit the website of the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

How to Apply for an Education Freedom Account in Arkansas

Parents or guardians must apply for Arkansas EFA funding on behalf of their child. Applications are submitted through the DESE website.

Below is a list of information that may be requested:

• Address
• Current grade level
• Birthday
• General demographic information

Additional documentation related to a child’s specific eligibility may also be required for the 2024-2025 school year. For the most current information, please visit the EFA website.

Improving Educational Outcomes

While traditional public schools apply a “one size fits all” approach to education, the Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts program recognizes that every student has unique needs, goals, and interests. EFA funding can be used in many ways, from private school education to curriculum for homeschooling, allowing you to tailor a high-quality educational experience for your child.

This customized approach to learning is important for improving your child’s educational outcomes—and it’s the heart of Bridgeway Academy’s philosophy. Our homeschool programs offer individual assessments to determine your child’s academic level in each area. Our education experts can help you choose or craft a curriculum that isn’t just based on a broad grade level, but on how your child is doing in each subject area and how they learn.

Public schools simply can’t offer this level of thoughtfulness in a child’s education. An approved EFA service provider like Bridgeway Academy goes above and beyond to help your child succeed.

Success Stories and Early Results of Arkansas EFAs

According to the Arkansas Division of Elementary & Secondary Education, more than 14,000 students have benefitted from an Education Freedom Account in Arkansas in the program’s first two years.

44% of all EFA participants in 2023 were reported to have at least one disability. Many of these students would have been enrolled in special education programs in a public school but were empowered to specialize their education through the EFA program.

For one Arkansas mom, that meant watching her daughter make the honor roll for the first time. As reported by KARK, Allison Cunningham’s daughter was on the brink of being left behind due to the challenges of her ADHD. Now enrolled in a private school with funding from the Arkansas EFA, she’s thriving.

Children with learning disabilities are particularly vulnerable to the limitations of traditional education—and their educational potential is not often seen in those environments. Some private schools and educational service providers like Bridgeway Academy offer these students a better learning environment, supportive structure, and customized instructional methods that work with your child’s unique learning style rather than against it.

Arkansas and the National School Choice Movement

With some Arkansas public schools receiving below-average ratings, it’s no surprise that parents in the Natural State want better options for their children.

With the EFA program, Arkansas joins a growing number of states recognizing the need for educational reform and lending their support through resources made directly available to parents. Homeschooling is particularly on the rise, both in Arkansas and nationwide. For students with a learning disability or those who simply don’t thrive in a traditional school environment (public or private), homeschooling can be a flexible and inclusive educational option.

This is particularly true when you homeschool your child with the help of a trusted provider like Bridgeway Academy. 

Take the Next Step Toward Securing the Best Education for Your Child 

For many parents, homeschooling is the ultimate educational choice. The expansion of the Arkansas EFA program allows parents to fund that choice and provide the best possible education for their children.

As an approved service provider under the Education Freedom Account in Arkansas, Bridgeway Academy offers resources and support to help families provide their children with a high-quality education that meets their unique needs. Bridgeway’s Academic Advisors can help design custom curriculum plans that work with a child’s learning style, focus on the subject areas that are most important, and help them reach their full educational potential. Bridgeway students also have access to a dedicated Academic Advisor to support them on their educational journey. They can participate in numerous clubs, communities, and virtual activities, take live online classes with real teachers, engage in peer collaboration opportunities, and even walk in an in-person graduation ceremony, ensuring that they’re never alone in their education—no matter where it takes them.

Learn more about the homeschooling laws in Arkansas, and connect with the Bridgeway Academy team to learn how we can help. Call us toll-free at (800) 863-1474, schedule a consultation, or join our next virtual open house.

FAQs About Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts

Need some quick answers about the Arkansas EFA program? Below are some of the most frequently asked questions.

Can I get money for homeschooling my child in Arkansas?

Yes; participation in the Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts program is available to a limited number of homeschooled children. The program offers Arkansas homeschool grants in the form of education savings accounts that can be used for your child’s at-home educational expenses.

What can EFA funds be used for?

EFA funds can be used for homeschool curriculum, private school tuition, tutoring, school uniforms, educational supplies, music lessons, transportation costs, and more. A full list of eligible expenses can be found on the EFA program’s Information for Families web page.

What is the EFA amount in Arkansas?

The exact amount of EFA funding varies year by year and is determined by the amount budgeted for each child enrolled in public school. For the 2024-2025 school year, this amount is approximately $6,856.