EFA Arkansas at a glance
The Education Freedom Account is the centerpiece of Arkansas school choice. EdChoice counts 46,578 participating students in 2025-26, the first year every K-12 student could apply.
| Question | Answer (as of October 2026) |
|---|
| Amount for 2026-27 | $7,208 per student; $8,011 for Succeed Scholarship students |
| Paid | Quarterly: $1,802 (or $2,002.75) per deposit, in ClassWallet |
| Who qualifies | Any Arkansas K-12 student in a participating private or micro school, or homeschooling |
| Next application | March 2027, for 2027-28 |
| Run by | Arkansas Department of Education, Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment |
| Homeschool eligible | Yes, with yearly testing in grades K-10 |
Who qualifies for an Arkansas EFA
Since 2025-26, eligibility is universal: every Arkansas student in kindergarten through 12th grade can apply, whether they will attend a private school, a micro school or learn at home. The catch is funding order. The Department processes applications by priority:
- Returning EFA participants
- Students with specialized needs: Succeed Scholarship recipients, students with a disability under IDEA, and homeless or foster students
- Students from D- or F-rated schools in the previous year
- Military, first responder and law enforcement families, including veterans and Arkansas National Guard
- First-time kindergartners
- All other new students
In 2026, the Department said applications submitted after June 29 might be reviewed later only if funding and program guidelines allow. Apply during the spring window.
How much is the Arkansas EFA?
For 2026-27 the Department has finalized two amounts, both net of transaction fees so families can spend every dollar:
| Student | Annual | Quarterly |
|---|
| Most students | $7,208 | $1,802 |
| Succeed Scholarship students | $8,011 | $2,002.75 |
Unused funds carry over to the next school year, according to EdChoice. Two spending caps apply: transportation can't exceed 25% of total EFA funds, and in-state extracurriculars, PE and field trips together can't exceed 25%.
Arkansas EFA application, step by step
- Open the FACTS portal at arkansasefa.com in March, create an account and start an application for each child.
- Add priority documents, such as an IEP, Succeed Scholarship record, foster or homeless documentation, or military or first responder status.
- Renew every spring if your child already has an EFA; returning participants are first in line.
- Accept your award and log in to ClassWallet, where quarterly deposits appear.
- Link your school. Private and micro school families connect to their school in ClassWallet, and the school invoices you there.
- Test each spring. Students in grades K-10 take an approved national norm-referenced test and submit math and reading results.
How EFA spending works in ClassWallet
ClassWallet gives families three ways to spend:
- Marketplace: buy from vendors connected to ClassWallet. Being listed is not pre-approval; staff still review each item.
- Direct Pay: pay a vendor or school that invoices you, including tutors on the approved vendors list.
- Reimbursement: pay out of pocket and upload a receipt showing vendor, description, cost, payment date and proof of payment. Travel to education providers is reimbursed at $0.52 per mile with a GPS route screenshot.
Every purchase must be ordinary (commonly used in education) and necessary (tied to your child's learning plan). Higher-cost technology, unusual items and multiples of the same item may need a syllabus or learning plan. When in doubt, use the pre-approval form before buying. Keeping your shortlist on your Edulist wishlist makes it easy to attach the right links and descriptions.
What you can buy with an Arkansas EFA
- Private and micro school tuition and fees
- Curriculum, textbooks and supplemental materials, such as homeschool curriculum like The Good and the Beautiful, Abeka or Master Books, and math programs like Teaching Textbooks
- Online programs such as Time4Learning
- Tutoring, including online tutoring such as Varsity Tutors, and live classes on Outschool
- Technology, except TVs, video games and cell phones
- Therapies and services for students with disabilities
- Testing fees, college-credit courses, admission exams and industry credentials
- Uniforms, supplies and transportation, within the caps above
Homeschoolers and the Arkansas EFA
Arkansas homeschool families searching for a "homeschool grant" are usually looking for the EFA. Homeschooled students can receive the full EFA amount. In exchange, students in grades K-10 must take an approved national norm-referenced test every year and submit math and reading results, and every purchase goes through the ordinary-and-necessary review. You still follow Arkansas homeschool law; see our Arkansas homeschool guide.
Common problems
- Applying late. After the spring window, review depends on leftover funding.
- Marketplace surprises. An item in the marketplace can still be denied for your child.
- Thin receipts. Reimbursements need proof of payment, not just an invoice.
- Over the caps. Transportation and extracurriculars are each limited to 25% of funds.
- Skipping the test. K-10 results are required every year to stay in the program.
Federal scholarship tax credit in Arkansas
Arkansas has opted in to the federal scholarship tax credit, according to the IRS's June 2026 list. From January 1, 2027, donors can claim up to $1,700 for gifts to SGOs on Arkansas's list, and SGO scholarships could help families with costs the EFA doesn't cover. Treasury's rules are proposed, not final. See how the federal credit works and the Arkansas donor guide.