The Arkansas Educational Freedom Account (EFA)
At Miacademy, we’ve been hard at work partnering with various state funding agencies across the country. Our goal is to make a quality education accessible for every student, and we’re accomplishing our goal one state at a time.
If you’re homeschooling in Arkansas, we have some exciting news to share with you!
As of 2024, Miacademy is now an approved purchase for the EFA in Arkansas!
You can now access Miacademy’s accredited online homeschool curriculum with funding provided by the Arkansas Department of Education.
What is the Arkansas EFA Program?
Created under the LEARNS Act in 2023, the Arkansas Education Freedom Account (EFA) provides funding for families to cover their students’ academic expenses. Initially limited to specific student groups, the program has expanded to include all K-12 students for the 2025-2026 school year.
Families can use EFA funds for private school tuition, curricula, tutoring, testing fees, technology, and transportation. Funding will be distributed quarterly throughout the school year. The total funding amount for students who are NOT receiving the Succeed scholarship is $6,864, while students who are receiving the Succeed scholarship will receive $7,627.
While all Arkansas families who apply are expected to receive funding, if demand exceeds fund availability, funding will be given to the highest-priority groups first. Eligible students who are not immediately funded will be placed on a rolling waitlist and considered when there are new openings. The priority list is as follows:
- Returning EFA students
- Students with special needs, including:
- Succeed scholarship recipients
- Students with a disability under IDEA
- Homeless or foster students
- Students who attended a school rated D or F in the previous year
- Military, first responder, or law enforcement families
- First-time kindergarten students
- Students who do not meet any of the above
Who Qualifies for the EFA in Arkansas?
The EFA in Arkansas is open to all K-12 students in the state.
To apply for the EFA, you must:
- Be an Arkansas resident
- Have a student who is eligible to enroll in a public elementary or secondary school in Arkansas
To apply, all families, new and returning, must submit an EFA application for the 2025-2026 school year at https://dese.link/efa. New families will need to create an account, while returning families can use their previously created account.
Once you’re logged in, simply provide your information to complete the application. Renewal applicants will answer a few questions but won’t need to upload documents, while new applicants must submit proof of Arkansas residency and the student’s birth certificate.
Applications typically take up to 10 days to process and are approved on a rolling basis.
How Do I Get Miacademy with the Arkansas EFA?
Once your EFA application is approved, your funding will be dispersed in quarterly payments.To use your EFA for Miacademy, just log into your EFA portal, open the ClassWallet marketplace, and find Miacademy. You can purchase your membership in the marketplace using your funding. Need a little extra help? Check out this step-by-step guide on making payments through ClassWallet!
Please keep in mind, EFA funds cannot be used for the following expenses:
- Public school tuition or fees (including charter schools receiving state funding)
- Non-educational expenses such as food, clothing (except approved uniforms), or household items
- Entertainment and recreational activities like theme parks, sports clubs, or hobby-based programs
- Luxury or non-essential technology including televisions, gaming consoles, or smartphones
- Travel and lodging costs unrelated to educational needs
- Tuition at a school that receives state aid (such as a district conversion charter school)
Funds must be spent only on approved educational services and materials to ensure compliance with program guidelines.
FAQ
What are eligible expenses for the Arkansas EFA?
You can use your Arkansas EFA funding to cover private school tuition, fees, uniforms, school supplies required by your private school, and pre-approved purchases in the Classwallet marketplace.
The information provided on this site is intended for research purposes only. Miaplaza is not responsible for any errors, omissions, or outdated information, or for the results yielded through use of this information.