Quick answer: The Arkansas Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a state-funded account that pays for private school tuition and other approved education costs for Arkansas students who are not enrolled full time in public school. For 2026-27 it is $7,208 per student, or $8,011 for Succeed Scholarship students, paid in four quarterly deposits through an online platform called ClassWallet. A family can use it for an online private school only if that school takes part in the program, so the first step is to check the school against the state’s list.
This guide explains how the Arkansas Education Freedom Account works for a family weighing an online private school: who qualifies, what it pays, when to apply, how the school side works, the testing rule and how money moves from the state to the school. Every rule below comes from the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) or its program pages, which I read on October 10, 2026. For the wider picture, see our hub on school choice, ESAs and vouchers for online school.
Table of Contents
Who qualifies for the Arkansas Education Freedom Account?
ADE’s 2025-26 EFA Family Handbook sets the basic rules. ADE’s page says the 2026-27 handbook was due to be posted on September 1, so check it for any change.
- Age and grade. The student must be eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12 in an Arkansas public school. Students who have graduated or reached age 21 are not eligible.
- Residency. The student must live in Arkansas, and a parent or guardian must be an Arkansas resident. The handbook lists moving out of the state as a reason eligibility ends.
- No income test. The handbook says that from 2025-26 the program is not limited by income, school zone or other categories.
- Not full-time in public school. A student enrolled full time in a public school, including a public charter school, cannot use an EFA at the same time.
- Apply and be approved. Meeting the rules is not enough. Each student needs an approved application.
Applications are reviewed in a set order, according to ADE’s EFA FAQ (updated October 1, 2026):
- Returning EFA students
- Students with specialized needs: Succeed Scholarship recipients, students with a disability under IDEA, and homeless or foster students
- Students previously enrolled in a school rated D or F
- Military, veteran, Arkansas National Guard, law enforcement and first responder families
- First-time kindergarten students
- New students who do not fall into the groups above
How much is the EFA in 2026-27?
ADE’s information for families page lists two amounts for 2026-27. ADE says these are the net amounts after transaction fees, so families can spend all of it.
| Student group | Total for the year | Each quarter |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Succeed students | $7,208 | $1,802 |
| Succeed Scholarship students | $8,011 | $2,002.75 |
The amounts change from year to year. The 2025-26 handbook quoted about $6,800, so read the current figure on ADE’s page before you budget.
When can you apply for the Arkansas EFA?
The application and renewal period for 2026-27 ran from March 9 to June 1, 2026. Families apply through the FACTS portal, reached from arkansasefa.com, and each student needs a separate application. Returning families renew every year. ADE’s page says applications sent after June 29, 2026 may be reviewed depending on funding and program rules, but sending one does not guarantee a review.
The FAQ says the application for 2027-28 opens in March 2027. The handbook says approved families then link their student to a school in ClassWallet so the school can confirm enrollment before funds arrive. A missed link can delay funding, so do it as soon as the account opens.
Can you use the Arkansas EFA for an online school?
Yes, if the school is a participating private school. ADE publishes a current EFA schools list with a name and a city for each school. When I read it, some entries showed “Online Only” in the city column, so an online school can be on the list. Ask any school you are considering whether it appears on the list.
ADE’s page for private and micro schools sets what a school must do to take part. It lists:
- Accreditation by an accreditor recognized by the State Board of Education, or associate membership in, or an application to, such an accreditor
- One of three financial checks: at least one year in operation, a CPA note on insurance and capital, or a surety bond or letter of credit
- Teachers with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, plus background checks and fingerprinting for all employees
- Core instruction in English language arts, math, science and social studies
- An annual ADE-approved, nationally norm-referenced test for participating students
- Enrollment checks before each quarterly payment
The page does not say whether a school must have a building in Arkansas, and it has no separate rule for online schools. If you are weighing an out-of-state online school, ask the school to confirm in writing that it is approved and ask ADE’s Office of School Choice at ade.efa@ade.arkansas.gov or 501-683-1876.
How the payment flow works
The school path, as the handbook describes it, has five steps.
- Choose a participating school and complete its admissions process.
- Apply to ADE for the EFA through FACTS.
- After approval, set up your ClassWallet account and accept its terms.
- Link your student to the school in ClassWallet.
- Each quarter, the school sends a payment request through ClassWallet for tuition and fees. When you accept it, the money goes straight to the school.
Tuition is paid first. ADE’s school page says schools may receive payment only for tuition for the time a student is enrolled, and a school returns a share if a student leaves early. If tuition is higher than the EFA, you pay the balance. No cash withdrawals are allowed.
Worked example
This is an illustration with a made-up tuition of $9,000 for one student, not any school’s price. The deposit dates come from ADE’s EFA page. That page prints the third date as February 4, 2026, which looks like a typo for 2027, so confirm it.
| Quarter | Deposit date | Non-Succeed deposit | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | August 20, 2026 | $1,802 | $1,802 |
| Q2 | October 29, 2026 | $1,802 | $3,604 |
| Q3 | February 4 (year to confirm) | $1,802 | $5,406 |
| Q4 | April 8, 2027 | $1,802 | $7,208 |
Against $9,000 in tuition, the EFA covers $7,208 and the family pays the other $1,792 to the school. A Succeed student receives $8,011, which leaves $989. Check how your school bills. Ask how the school bills between deposits.
What the testing requirement means for an online school family
ADE’s FAQ says students in grades K-10 who receive EFA funds must take a national, norm-referenced test every year and submit math and reading results from an ADE-approved list. A participating private school gives the test and reports results. The handbook says that for students in a participating private school, the school handles this. ADE’s testing page covers homeschool students, with a March 1 to June 30 window in 2026.
For an online school family, the useful question is how the school tests Arkansas students. Ask whether testing is online or at a site near you, who proctors it and which approved test it uses.
Questions to ask an online school before you apply
- Is the school on ADE’s current EFA schools list, and under what name?
- Who is the school’s accreditor, and does ADE recognize it for the EFA?
- What are the full-year tuition and every fee, in writing?
- How does the school bill through ClassWallet, and how does it handle payments between deposits?
- Which approved test does the school use, and how does an Arkansas student take it?
- What happens to the account if you move, change schools mid-year or withdraw?
- Does the school take new enrollments any time of the year, or only at set dates?
Where Forest Trail Academy fits
Forest Trail Academy is a private, accredited, secular online K-12 school in West Palm Beach, Florida. Courses are self-paced, taught by certified teachers, and enrollment is open any week of the year. FTA’s voucher program page lists the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program among the ESA programs it accepts, and says guidelines vary by state and families should contact admissions to confirm how their state program applies. FTA’s Arkansas page covers its programs for Arkansas students, and the tuition page lists current prices. Ask admissions to confirm that FTA can be paid from your student’s account.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Arkansas Education Freedom Account?
It is a state-funded account for eligible Arkansas students that pays for approved education costs, including private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring and therapies. ADE runs it, and families use ClassWallet to spend it.
How much money is in an Arkansas EFA?
For 2026-27, $7,208 for non-Succeed students and $8,011 for Succeed Scholarship students, paid in four quarterly deposits.
Who is eligible for the Arkansas EFA?
Students who can enroll in grades K-12 in an Arkansas public school and live in Arkansas with a parent or guardian who is an Arkansas resident. Income does not limit eligibility, according to the 2025-26 handbook.
Can I use the Arkansas EFA for online school?
Yes, when the online school participates in the program. Check ADE’s EFA schools list and ask the school to confirm.
Can a student be in public school and use an EFA?
No. Full-time enrollment in a public school, including a charter school, ends EFA use.
Does the Arkansas EFA require testing?
Yes. Students in grades K-10 take an approved national, norm-referenced test each year and results go to ADE. Private schools handle this for their students.
When does the application open for 2027-28?
ADE’s FAQ says March 2027. Returning families renew each year.
Book a call with admissions to ask whether your Arkansas EFA can be applied to Forest Trail Academy tuition.
