Arkansas State Board of Education Finalizes Rules for Education Freedom Accounts
The Arkansas State Board of Education has taken a pivotal step forward in the development of the state’s Education Freedom Accounts program by finalizing the rules for its administration. This move marks significant progress in empowering parents with more choices for their children’s education.
Key Provisions of the Finalized Rules
Under the finalized rules, eligible children can receive funding for private or home schooling. Additionally, homeschool students must meet specific eligibility requirements and participate in nationally norm-referenced assessments in spring 2025, the results of which must be reported to the Arkansas Department of Education.
Homeschool families can also use EFA funds to cover these testing expenses. Furthermore, unused EFA funds will roll over from year to year up to a maximum amount determined by the ADE, starting from the 2024-25 school year.
Eligibility and Enrollment Process
To qualify for an Education Freedom Account, children must meet one of several eligibility criteria, such as being part of the Succeed Scholarship Program, having a disability, being a current or former foster care child, experiencing homelessness, or being a child of active-duty military personnel, among others.
Applicants do not need to gain admission into a participating private school before applying for the EFA. Funding will only be deposited into the student’s account once they are enrolled in a private school or have filed a Notice of Intent to Homeschool.
Support and Resources for Families
For assistance with the EFA program, families can contact the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment at the Arkansas Department of Education, which provides support through phone and email channels.
Additionally, Class Wallet Support offers technical assistance through a dedicated phone number and email for any issues related to the platform.
Looking Ahead
As the program moves forward, it is expected that a maximum of 1.5% of the 2022-23 public school student enrollment will be approved for the EFAs in the 2023-24 school year. This number will increase further in subsequent years.
