State Education Savings Accounts for Homeschool Students
While there are plenty of homeschool scholarships available, one of the best financial resources is your state’s Educational Savings Account (ESA) program. ESA programs give you the power to use your child’s public school education funds for private school or homeschool and can lower homeschooling costs.
Although traditionally available for public school students transferring to private schools, some states with ESA programs accept all students in grades K-12 — including homeschoolers!
Just like how homeschooling laws vary by state, so do rules about ESAs. Please keep in mind that program availability and qualifications vary, and financial aid benefits may depend on your eligibility.
What is an Education Savings Account (ESA)?
ESAs are publicly funded, government-approved savings accounts for education. The purpose of these accounts is to reallocate the taxes that you pay for your students to attend public school tuition-free. In the United States, the average annual cost of a public school education is $13,201 per student (WiseVoter). These accounts allow you to claim some money back to pay for alternative educational expenses.
ESAs are tax-deferred and federal tax-free and are meant to cover qualified K-12 or higher education expenses. Qualified expenses can include private school tuition, online homeschool curricula, school supplies, and in some cases, even room and board. At the time of writing, there are only 13 states that offer an ESA program:
How do you get an Education Savings Account?
The process will look slightly different depending on where you live. We’ve provided a basic description to help you know what to expect.
To get an ESA, first check to see if your state offers one. Then, determine your eligibility. You can find eligibility information on your education department website. Eligibility factors can include:
- Resource availability for the current school year
- Age or grade level of your students
- Total size of your family
- Total household income
- Disability or other learning difference
After approval, your account will be activated, and you can gain funding. Once you receive funding, check the ESA’s list of qualified education expenses before making a purchase.
Using Your Education Savings Account Funds
Each state’s ESA usage rules are different. To use your funds, you may need to:
- Purchase through an approved retailer
- Request approval before making purchases
- Provide receipts for your purchases
Again, each state is different, so be sure to know the laws where you live. Your purchase history may be audited, and you may be required to pay taxes on unauthorized withdrawals.
Education Savings Accounts for Homeschooling Students with Disabilities
Many parents find that public schools are unable to accommodate their disabled student due to lack of personnel, funds, or other resources. As a result, homeschooling can be a popular choice for students with disabilities. However, some parents worry about their child losing access to school-based services like speech-language therapy, occupational therapy, or academic interventions — the private equivalent of these services can often be pricey. Luckily, ESAs can help offset these costs.
Some states offer ESAs specifically for students with special needs or offer scholarships in addition to the state-wide ESA. Be sure to check with your state’s education department to see if you qualify for additional funding.
Homeschooling with Miacademy
At Miacademy, we’re always working to partner with state-funded resources to make our content more accessible to students. Visit your education department’s website to find out if Miacademy is a qualified educational purchase in your state today!
Our goal at Miacademy is to provide a quality education that’s engaging and accessible to every student. With thousands of lessons, activities, and fun educational games, there’s always something new to learn at Miacademy! Our comprehensive curriculum covers grades K-8 on Miacademy and high school grades 9-12th on MiaPrep!
If you’re interested to see how Miacademy’s online homeschool curriculum can make a positive impact on your student’s education, try us out for 30 days for only $1.99! If you’d like to know more about how to use ESA funds for Miacademy in your state, our friendly customer service team is here to help with any questions you may have!
Last updated: 11/13/2023. 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.