Important EFA Updates
Dear EFA Families,
With Q1 funding set to drop on Thursday, we wanted to provide some additional guidance throughout the week to help support you as we begin the 2026-27 school year. The first thing we wanted to provide is the list of nonqualifying expenses for the program which can be accessed by clicking below.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/18feFOIcXSjZATcCNxD62TqTjUiewh4B4/view
This list is required by the following section of the EFA Program Rules:
6 CAR § 35-111(a)(2)(I)
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/Education_Freedom_Account_Program_-_6_CAR_pt.35_Legal.pdf
Items on this list purchased on or after August 18, 2026 will not be eligible for payment with EFA funds.
CLARIFYING QUESTIONS
Is furniture still eligible?
A student desk under $300 and a student chair under $150 will be eligible. The description of the item must say "desk" or "chair". Storage furniture is not eligible. If you purchased a desk or chair last year, then your student would not be eligible for another desk or chair this year. Gaming chairs are not eligible.
I received preapproval for a bookshelf (or other item that is now ineligible) last year and already purchased it. Can I submit it for reimbursement when my Q1 funds drop?
If you had a preapproval request approved and purchased this item prior to August 18, then it would be eligible for reimbursement through the end of August. We will not continue to honor last year's preapprovals for these items beyond that date. If you received preapproval but have not purchased the item yet, then it would not be eligible.
I purchased a backpack or lunchbox during tax-free weekend, but they are now on the nonqualifying expense list. Can I submit it for reimbursement when my Q1 funds drop?
Yes, if it was purchased prior to August 18, then we will allow backpacks and lunchboxes to be submitted for reimbursement.
What is a modest, instructional size greenhouse? What is a large chicken coop/run?
We are finalizing an eligible items list with some pricing guidance that should go out tomorrow, and this information will be included there.
Other FAQs
My student is new this year, and I linked to my school/homeschool. Why does it still say "Pending Enrollment Verification" in the account settings?
This text was entered for the school on every new student's account. This does not update automatically, but it also does not affect your account in any way. ClassWallet will update this information based on the school that you linked to at some point later this year. If the school in your account settings is incorrect, it will not have any impact on your student's eligibility with the EFA program.
Is every item in the ClassWallet marketplace eligible?
No. You also should not use pricing in the marketplace as a guide to purchase items outside of the marketplace. We are not able to curate the catalog of every vendor that appears in the ClassWallet marketplace, so there may be items that are ineligible or have pricing that exceeds what is eligible for the program listed.
I am so confused about preapproval. What items are required to have preapproval to be eligible?
Right now, preapproval is not required for any purchase. If you have questions about whether an expense would be eligible or not, we highly encourage you to submit a preapproval request before you spend your own money.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVfJmztt3u5LcN86X1eHW18u79YjNy_J0dYGWsy0bi48JF6Q/viewform
Sometime in December, preapproval will become required for the reimbursement of any non-core expense. We will have more information on this process and what expenses would require preapproval later this fall.
We are looking forward to an exciting new year in the EFA program. Please be on the lookout for additional information throughout the week!
ADE EFA Team