Listen to this guide as a 6-minute podcast episode, or read on.
A homeschool family in Little Rock or Saline County can use the same Education Freedom Account that private school families use, up to $7,208 per student for 2026-27. The money doesn't come as cash. It sits in ClassWallet, and every purchase has to fit the program's rules. Most of the headaches homeschool families run into come from not knowing those rules before they shop.
Here is how it works, drawn from the state's EFA family handbook. The handbook we quote is the 2025-26 edition, so check the current version before a large purchase.
How the money arrives
The state deposits the account in four quarterly payments. In 2025-26 those came in August, October, February and April. Parents have to accept the ClassWallet affidavit before the funds become visible. Unused money rolls from quarter to quarter within the school year, and there are no cash withdrawals.
What the account can pay for
The handbook's examples of allowable homeschool expenses include:
- Curriculum, textbooks, workbooks and online course subscriptions for core subjects
- Educational software and apps, plus e-books or audiobooks needed for a course
- Tutoring and academic classes from approved providers
- Therapy for special needs from licensed providers
- Test fees, including AP, ACT, SAT and CLEP
- Computers, laptops and tablets used for school, plus basic peripherals such as printers or routers
- Microschool tuition, if the microschool is an approved EFA provider
- General school supplies, co-curricular courses and academic competition fees
- Transportation to a participating school or provider, up to the state mileage rate
The 25% cap
Extracurriculars, physical education and field trips are allowed, but together they're capped at 25% of the year's funds. On a $7,208 account, that's about $1,800. Dance, climbing gym PE, sports leagues and museum trips all draw from that same slice. Plan them at the start of the year so they don't crowd out curriculum.
What it won't pay for
The handbook lists expenses that are not allowed, including:
- Entertainment content and entertainment electronics such as TVs, gaming consoles and smartphones
- Medical and health costs, including medications and health insurance
- Home internet and phone plans (a router is allowed; the monthly plan isn't)
- Non-uniform clothing
- Recreational travel and lodging
- Late fees, penalties and donations
- College tuition after high school
A store showing up in the ClassWallet marketplace doesn't make every item in it eligible. The test is the item, not the store.
Two ways to pay: Direct Pay and reimbursement
Direct Pay sends money straight to an approved vendor. Ask the vendor for an invoice that shows the vendor's name, item descriptions, itemized prices, the total and your student's name, then upload it in ClassWallet. More than 1,000 vendors take Direct Pay. Some will accept a shopping-cart screenshot, including shipping and tax, if they agree to it first.
Reimbursement pays you back for an approved purchase. Upload the receipt in the Reimbursement section. It must show the vendor's name and contact information, item descriptions, itemized prices, the total and the purchase date. Approved reimbursements go to your bank account.
The handbook recommends paying through ClassWallet whenever you can, because it reduces your audit risk. Keep every receipt in a folder either way.
The paperwork that keeps the account open
- Notice of intent. File a homeschool notice of intent with your local school district before you start, and again every year. The handbook says it's typically due by August 15. The state verifies the notice before it funds a homeschool account.
- Annual testing. Homeschool students must take a standardized test in reading and math, plus other core subjects as they apply. You can use the state assessment or an approved norm-referenced test such as the Iowa (ITBS), Stanford-10, TerraNova, MAP Growth or CAT. Families arrange and pay for testing themselves and submit results to the state, generally by June 30. The test fee is an allowable expense.
- Link your homeschool. The student has to be linked to the homeschool in ClassWallet.
- Report changes within 5 days. A move out of state or full-time enrollment in public school ends eligibility.
Taking a class at a public school
A homeschooled EFA student can take an individual public school class or join an activity if the district allows it. You still file the notice of intent, and you tell the school the student isn't enrolled full-time. Required fees for those classes are allowable. What you can't do is enroll full-time in public school and keep the account.
Switching mid-year
Families can move between private school and homeschool during the year. Moving to homeschool means filing a notice of intent. Moving to a private school means notifying your district.
Where Little Rock families have spent theirs
Our homeschool page lists Central Arkansas providers that received EFA payments in 2024-25, from coding classes and college courses to co-ops and evaluations. If you want an accredited core program, an online school such as AmFaith can anchor the year. Confirm any provider's approval in ClassWallet before you pay. For the bigger picture, see our EFA guide, or start a funding check and an advisor will help map your year.
Sources
- Arkansas EFA Family Handbook 2025-26
- Arkansas DESE: Education Freedom Accounts
- Arkansas Advocate: Arkansas education department accepting applications for voucher program's fourth year
Episode transcript
Marcus: Welcome to the Little Rock Edu Funding podcast. I'm Marcus.
Dana: And I'm Dana. Today we're talking homeschooling on the Education Freedom Account. What ClassWallet will pay for, what it won't, and the paperwork that keeps your account open.
Marcus: So homeschool families get the same account as private school families?
Dana: Same account. Up to seven thousand, two hundred eight dollars per student for 2026-27. But it doesn't come as cash. It sits in ClassWallet, and every purchase has to fit the program's rules.
Marcus: And I'm guessing that's where people get tripped up.
Dana: Most of the headaches come from not knowing the rules before you shop. So everything today comes from the state's E F A family handbook. The one we're quoting is the 2025-26 edition, so check the current version before any big purchase.
Marcus: Start with the basics. How does the money show up?
Dana: In four quarterly deposits. In 2025-26 those came in August, October, February and April. You have to accept the ClassWallet affidavit before the funds even become visible. Unused money rolls from quarter to quarter within the school year. And there are no cash withdrawals.
Marcus: Okay, the fun part. What can I buy?
Dana: Curriculum, textbooks, workbooks, and online course subscriptions for core subjects. Educational software and apps, and e-books or audiobooks you need for a course. Tutoring and academic classes from approved providers.
Marcus: What about therapy for kids with special needs?
Dana: Yes, from licensed providers. Also test fees, including AP, ACT, SAT and CLEP. And computers, laptops and tablets used for school, plus basic peripherals like printers or routers.
Marcus: What about microschools? Those are popping up everywhere.
Dana: Microschool tuition counts, if the microschool is an approved E F A provider. So are general school supplies, co-curricular courses, and academic competition fees. And transportation to a participating school or provider, up to the state mileage rate.
Marcus: Now, I've heard there's a cap on the fun stuff.
Dana: There is. Extracurriculars, P E and field trips are allowed, but together they're capped at 25 percent of the year's funds. On a seven-thousand-two-hundred-dollar account, that's about eighteen hundred dollars.
Marcus: So dance class, climbing gym P E, sports leagues...
Dana: And museum trips. All of it comes out of that same slice. Plan those at the start of the year so they don't crowd out curriculum.
Marcus: What's definitely not allowed?
Dana: Entertainment content and entertainment electronics, like TVs, gaming consoles and smartphones. Medical and health costs, including medications and health insurance. Home internet and phone plans.
Marcus: Wait, you said routers were okay.
Dana: The router is allowed. The monthly internet plan isn't. Also no non-uniform clothing, no recreational travel or lodging, no late fees, penalties or donations, and no college tuition after high school.
Marcus: And just because a store's in the ClassWallet marketplace...
Dana: Doesn't make every item in it eligible. The test is the item, not the store.
Marcus: Let's talk about actually paying. What are my options?
Dana: Two ways. Direct Pay sends money straight to an approved vendor. Ask the vendor for an invoice showing their name, item descriptions, itemized prices, the total, and your student's name. Then upload it in ClassWallet. More than a thousand vendors take Direct Pay.
Marcus: And the other way?
Dana: Reimbursement. You buy an approved item and get paid back. Upload the receipt in the Reimbursement section. It has to show the vendor's name and contact information, item descriptions, itemized prices, the total, and the purchase date. Approved reimbursements go to your bank account.
Marcus: Which one should families use?
Dana: The handbook says pay through ClassWallet whenever you can, because it reduces your audit risk. And keep every receipt in a folder either way.
Marcus: Okay, paperwork. What keeps the account open?
Dana: Four things. First, the notice of intent. File it with your local school district before you start homeschooling, and again every year. The handbook says it's typically due by August 15. And the state checks it before funding a homeschool account.
Marcus: Second?
Dana: Annual testing. Homeschool students take a standardized test in reading and math, plus other core subjects that apply. You can use the state assessment, or an approved test like the Iowa, Stanford 10, TerraNova, MAP Growth or the CAT. Families arrange and pay for it, and the test fee is an allowable expense. Results go to the state, generally by June 30.
Marcus: Third and fourth?
Dana: Link your student to the homeschool in ClassWallet. And report changes within five days, like a move out of state or full-time enrollment in public school.
Marcus: What if my homeschooler wants to take one class at the local public school?
Dana: You can, if the district allows it. You still file the notice of intent, and you tell the school your child isn't enrolled full-time. Required fees for those classes are allowable. What you can't do is enroll full-time in public school and keep the account.
Marcus: And switching mid-year?
Dana: Allowed. Moving to homeschool means filing a notice of intent. Moving to a private school means notifying your district.
Marcus: Where can Little Rock families see what others are buying?
Dana: Little Rock Edu Funding dot com has a homeschool page listing Central Arkansas providers that received E F A payments in 2024-25, from coding classes and college courses to co-ops and evaluations. And if you want an accredited core program, an online school such as AmFaith can anchor the year. Just confirm any provider's approval in ClassWallet before you pay.
Marcus: That's Little Rock Edu Funding dot com. Thanks for listening.
Dana: See you next time.