“Most homeschooling families in Arkansas have Neurospicy children, or students that were otherwise struggling in public school.”
— Ann S.
There seems to be a misunderstanding in the state when it comes to who uses the EFA program and funding. For some reason it is believed by many that rich people are using money to attend private schools in the state and disadvantaging the lower income students that are in the public school system. This is simply not true.
For one, the mass of the private school students that joined the program in year one of its implementation were in fact in private schools already, I am not remotely debating that fact. But what they fail to tell you is that those students for the most part were already receiving financial assistance. Many through scholarships for low income but quite a few were utilizing the Succeed scholarship. This was a scholarship created to help special needs and low income students struggling in the public schools where their needs were unable to be met the ability to move to a private setting.
This is a very helpful and beneficial program, but nothing about it is simple or easy. Due to that fact I can promise you nobody who can afford private school on their own is going to jump through hoops for access. Wealthy people are not taking the time to do any of this.
WHO is using it then you may ask?
Most homeschooling families in Arkansas have Neurospicy children, or students that were otherwise struggling in public school.
Yes, many of us were already homeschooling. But it was never fair.
The system was flawed on a very basic level. If your child could not be educated in the schools, you were simply told sorry… I mean you could try to fight for more services in the school, but this is a lengthy battle and even getting the things approved your child needed did not mean the plan would actually be followed.
So, homeschooling for the past several decades has become the only truly viable option for many children in the state. Often times to make this a possibility one parent had to stop working so that they could do the daily instruction and navigate therapies and other services for their child.
Why anyone ever deemed it ok that children thrust out of a broken system should be stuck with zero resources I cannot comprehend.
I have 10 children; our home is as spicy as they come. 8 of my 10 have an Autism diagnosis (some level 1, some level 2, and some level 3, we cover the whole spectrum here.) Most of them have a comorbid diagnosis of ADHD and several throw in Dyslexia and ODD as well. To say they would not manage well in a classroom setting is an understatement.
We actually DID start off with our oldest two (both level 3 ASD) in public schools. I cannot say enough how wonderful their teachers at Murrell Taylor Elementary in Jacksonville were. But, as they got older and moved onto junior high things fell apart. The structure was not provided that they needed and the catalyst to us leaving was the school LOSING my autistic child. You heard me… LOST HIM!! He got completely off campus completely alone in an area with heavy traffic.
But I was never planning to homeschool, that was not my plan when I had children, I did not even know much about it. I was thrown into a situation where I had no alternative. For 15 years I budgeted tight, made due with what I could put together and I educated my kids. Do not get me wrong I MADE IT WORK! But I could not provide extra tutoring services, I could not provide some of the more solid curriculum options.
Why did my children ever have to get by on less than when it was not even my choice to homeschool them. Choosing to protect your child and provide what they need is NOT the same thing as choosing private education as others report constantly.
My children now have wonderful tutors that help with issues I am not fully versed in. Such as dyslexia (Though I have now gotten pretty good training in that area) My kids take classes in animation and video editing that they love and are working towards making a career path.
My kids have access to the curriculum that BEST SUITS each of their learning styles.
After a year using all of the new services available to them because of funding my NONVERBAL level 2 7-year-old is now speaking. He is doing great in math, learning his letter sounds. This child literally could not talk a year ago. And the tools that got him here I could never outright pay for. Those tools would not have been provided in public school, and I know this because as I said I have been there already.
Choices are important. And just as every child has a right to a free public education, the children who cannot flourish in that setting deserve options too.
-Ann S.
We homeschool because it gives us back so much time as a family. I can teach my children the things I deem necessary for a successful future. Because of the EFA program, I have been able to order curriculum that best fits them, a lot of books for them to read, and personal devices to use as learning tools. They have been able to participate in self-defense classes and riding lessons. For one of my children, we have saved back fund to help pay for her to attend a cosmetology program. She should be a licensed cosmologist by the time she graduates high school.
- Kacey M.
I spent more than 20 years teaching in public education, and I loved being an educator. That experience gave me a deep appreciation for the importance of quality instruction, meaningful learning, and helping children reach their fullest potential. When it came time to make educational decisions for my own daughters, I realized that homeschooling was the best choice for our family.
We chose to homeschool because we wanted to provide a safe, nurturing environment where our girls could learn at their own pace, explore their interests, and spend these precious years growing together as a family. Childhood is fleeting, and homeschooling has given us the gift of time—time to learn, discover, create, and build memories that will last a lifetime.
The Arkansas Educational Freedom Account has been an incredible blessing to our family. It has opened doors that simply would not have been available to us otherwise. Through this program, our daughters have had access to high-quality curriculum, educational supplies, hands-on learning materials, and enriching co-curricular opportunities, including culinary arts programs that have become a true passion for them.
These experiences have done so much more than teach academic skills. They have built confidence, encouraged creativity, strengthened problem-solving, and helped our girls develop responsibility, perseverance, and real-life skills. Watching them light up as they discover new interests and gain confidence in their abilities has been one of the greatest joys of our homeschooling journey.
As someone who dedicated more than two decades to public education, I understand how important it is to equip children with the tools they need to succeed. This program has allowed us to provide an education that is individualized, engaging, and filled with opportunities that meet our daughters where they are while encouraging them to dream even bigger.
We are incredibly grateful to the state of Arkansas for investing in families like ours. This program is not simply helping us purchase curriculum or supplies—it is investing in our children’s futures. Because of this support, our daughters are thriving academically, socially, and emotionally, and they are developing a lifelong love of learning.
Thank you for believing in educational choice and for making it possible for homeschool families to provide rich, meaningful educational experiences. The impact of this program reaches far beyond the classroom, and our family is deeply thankful for the opportunities it has given our daughters.
- Emily A
My family homeschools because our children are neurodiverse and after watching our friends with similar children constantly battle public schools for proper help, we decided it would take less time, effort, and stress to simply educate our children ourselves!
That has worked well for my kids, but they were missing out on some of the things that I received as a public-school student. We simply couldn’t afford the private pay version of things like orchestra and athletics.
EFA has allowed my children to take up violin and piano, play in concerts, participate in athletic classes and sports functions, pursue interests that run concurrent with their education on a deeper level, and allowed me to purchase new, not used curriculum and online classes that were out of reach before.
The way this program has enhanced our lives is immeasurable at this point. My children are now receiving a top-notch education, plus extracurriculars, plus arts, plus athletics, without feeling frustrated or stressed every day in a school environment that is not designed for their functional ability.
I can help them grow into functional adults without overwhelming them and still giving them all the opportunities public school children receive.
It is a true blessing.
Carrie S.
Our family's experience with the EFA program has been truly life changing. One of the greatest benefits has been the opportunity to provide my homeschooler with individualized instruction tailored to her unique learning needs. Aside from occasional co-op classes, nearly all of her education is one-on-one, allowing her to receive personalized support that has helped her thrive.
Through the EFA program, she has had access to exceptional tutors and teachers in reading, writing, and music, as well as high-quality curriculum that she is able to complete independently with my guidance and oversight as her parent. As a teenager, this balance of independent learning and one-on-one instruction has helped her develop responsibility, confidence, and a strong work ethic. These educational opportunities would have been much more difficult to afford without the support of the EFA program, and the quality instruction and resources have made a meaningful difference in her academic growth and love of learning.
My daughter takes her education very seriously and is genuinely grateful for the privilege of being homeschooled. As her parent, I am fully invested in her educational journey and committed to helping her reach her greatest potential. The EFA program has made it possible for us to partner with skilled professionals in an environment that is supportive and conducive to learning.
We are incredibly grateful for the EFA program and the opportunities it has provided our family. Its impact on my daughter's education has been invaluable, and we sincerely appreciate the investment it makes in homeschooling families like ours.
~ Misty P.
Our family is part of the education freedom accounts program and have been from the first year it was available. We are a low to middle class income family at best. Before the program we were doing online public school, and I was having to go through every assignment ahead of time and skip over things we didn't approve of. I'd have to sit right there by my kid the whole day monitoring the content and couldn't get anything done around the house. I have always dreamed of being able to send my kids to a private Christian school but with our income level that was just not going to be in the cards for us. When this program opened up we were so thrilled. Finally, we were able to make that happen. I always see comments stating that the program only helps the rich or that it doesn't help kids with special needs and I wonder where they get that idea from... Because both of my kids are neurodiverse (autism and adhd) and we live paycheck to paycheck and barely make it by. Yet my kids are now thriving in a Christian microschool (it was considered a private school the first year we had EFA but changed its status to micro the second year) because their EFA funds completely cover their tuition and book fees! With them in this school I never have to worry about what they are being taught, if they are safe, what influences are around them, if they are getting the one-on-one time they need with their teacher in class, or if I'll have time to get everything done that I need to get done. All of this to say, this program has been the greatest blessing to our family, and we never would have had this opportunity without this program because we could never afford it otherwise.
Layla G.
The EFA program has been truly a blessing in all ways to our family. This program has given us access to homeschooling in a way that never would’ve been an opportunity for us otherwise.
My children have gotten to try different curriculums to find the ones that worked best with their personal learning styles, (now they’re thriving!) and we have done educational projects that greatly enriched their learning experiences.
We’ve used hobby based learning to teach all kinds of skills, including engineering and early entrepreneurial skills that so many do not acquire in public schools for several more years. We also get to incorporate our religious beliefs in their studies as we see fit and make homeschooling flexible to our needs. Even with extra curricular activities capping at a certain amount, it is such a blessing. It has still been enough that we’ve also gotten to attend psychical educational classes and acquired necessary materials for their other activities.
My kids are going into a tutoring program this upcoming year that without the EFA program would’ve never been accessible to us.
This program has given us more resources than I could’ve imagined. We are learning the way that we’ve only dreamed of until now.
Huge thank you to everyone in and outside of the program that has made this possible. God Bless you all!
-Anna C.
My name is LaKeisha J., and I homeschool my two children in Arkansas.
Homeschooling wasn't simply a preference for our family—it became a necessity. My son has learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, and other educational needs that require individualized instruction, while my daughter also benefits from a learning environment that allows her to grow at her own pace. Traditional education was not meeting their unique needs.
The Arkansas Education Freedom Account program has given my children opportunities they otherwise would not have had. Through this program, I have been able to provide curriculum that fits each child's learning style, educational assessments, technology, specialized tutoring, educational materials, and resources that I simply could not afford on my own.
My son receives individualized instruction tailored to his strengths and challenges instead of being expected to learn the same way as everyone else. My daughter has been able to thrive academically while exploring subjects that inspire her curiosity. We are no longer limited to a one-size-fits-all education.
Beyond academics, homeschooling has allowed me to create a stable, structured environment where my children can learn at a pace that builds confidence instead of frustration. We incorporate life skills, educational field trips, hands-on learning, reading, science, history, geography, and community experiences that prepare them for adulthood—not just standardized tests.
As a single mother, these funds are not a luxury. They make educational choice possible. Without this program, many Arkansas families like mine would lose access to the very resources that allow our children to succeed.
Every child learns differently. Parents know their children better than anyone else, and this program gives families the ability to meet those individual needs. It is an investment in Arkansas children—not just today, but in their futures.
I hope those making decisions about this program remember that behind every dollar is a real child whose education, confidence, and future are being shaped because their family finally has the tools they need.
— LaKeisha J.
Whether Homeschooling, using a microschool or private school, most families could not afford to provide these opportunities without the blessing of this program.
I’m a private school teacher, and I think the idea that EFA only helps wealthy private school families is simply not what I’ve seen.
I work with students who have ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, math disabilities, and slower processing speeds. I hear story after story from families whose children were never properly identified or received very little support in the public school system. By the time they come to us, many are exhausted and just looking for someone to help their child succeed.
I’ve seen EFA funds make a real difference. Some of my English Language Learners have been able to receive individualized tutoring that their parents never could have afforded otherwise. It has also helped our school provide more professional development for teachers and supplemental tutoring services that would have been out of reach for families who were already stretching every dollar just to pay tuition so their children could be in a safe, structured environment.
A decade ago, my own family didn't have EFA. We paid out of pocket for tuition, tutoring, and the many extra expenses that came with raising children with dyslexia. We made those sacrifices because it was better than constantly fighting for services we couldn't get. Looking back, I only wish EFA had existed then.
A lot of families are making incredible sacrifices to do what is best for their kids. That doesn't mean they're wealthy or that they can easily afford specialized services. It just means they're doing everything they can so their kid can get a quality education.
I don't understand why the conversation isn't about giving all Arkansas kids more opportunities and giving parents more choices, regardless of income. Every child deserves the chance to learn in the environment that fits them best.
— Kim D.