ARKANSAS (KNWA/KFTA) — A surge in Arkansas Education Freedom Account applications shows growing interest in school choice — these are the rules for using the funds.
The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) reports that more than 34,000 students have applied for Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) for the 2025-26 school year, an increase of about 20,000 from last year.
Governor Huckabee Sanders expanded EFA eligibility to all Arkansas families for 2025-26. About 70% of those applicants chose private schools, with over 3,000 using vouchers for homeschooling in 2024-25.
Voucher amounts for the upcoming school year start at $6,864. Here’s what families can—and cannot—use the funds for.
Eligible Expenses
According to the ADE, allowable uses of EFA funds include:
Tuition and fees
Standardized testing costs
Required school uniforms
Educational supplies, such as pencils, paper and other basic materials
Instructional materials and services in both core subjects and co-curricular areas
Co-curricular services may include art, music, foreign language and Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Tutoring
Curricula and supplemental course materials
Educational therapy (non-medical)
Technology used for educational purposes, including laptops, tablets, printers, accessories and connectivity devices
Educational software and apps
Assistive and accessibility technology
Transportation to and from a participating school or provider, reimbursed at $0.52 per mile, up to 25% of a student’s annual funds
Extracurricular activity, physical education and field trip fees within Arkansas, subject to conditions and capped at 25% of a student’s funds
All expenses are reviewed under ADE’s Ordinary and Necessary Framework, which assesses if the purchase is considered typical and supports the student’s learning goals. Additional documentation may be requested, according to the ADE.
Ineligible Expenses
The following categories are not eligible for reimbursement under the EFA Program:
After-school care
Food or lunch-related fees
Household items such as paper towels, wet wipes, Ziploc bags
Graduation expenses (caps, gowns)
Entertainment and general-use electronics, including televisions, gaming consoles, and smart home devices
Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers
Cell phones and service fees
Internet service fees
Four Arkansans filed a federal lawsuit against multiple state departments over the state’s Educational Freedom Accounts in June, claiming it violates the United States Constitution.
For more information about EFAs, head to the ADE website.
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