Arkansas Department of Education (Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment)
Education Freedom Accounts: participating private school
Tuition money, not a grant: families pay tuition from their Education Freedom Account. An accredited private school, or one in the accreditation process, can become a participating school.
- Amount
- 2026-27: $7,208 per student ($1,802 quarterly); 'Succeed' students $8,011 ($2,002.75 quarterly). Paid by families from their EFA.
- Can a for-profit school apply?
- Yes, a for-profit school can apply
- Deadline
- Open
- Who this fits
- Private school · MicroschoolPrivate schools (any ownership type, religious or not) that are accredited or in the accreditation process. A microschool that becomes an accredited private school can use this route.
- New schools
- Not stated for new schools
- Where
- Arkansas
- Last checked
- Oct 1, 2026on dese.ade.arkansas.gov
Unconfirmed: check with the funder
We couldn’t confirm these on an official page. Treat them as open questions, not facts.
- The February deposit date: ADE's page says “February 4, 2026,” which is almost certainly meant to be 2027. Check with ADE.
- Amended 2026 EFA rules (a rollover cap and a non-qualifying expense list) have been reported for 2026-27, but they aren't in ADE's posted rule yet.
How to apply
- Step 1: Read ADE's 'Information for Private and Micro Schools' page
- Step 2: Start accreditation (ANSAA or another approved accreditor)
- Step 3: Submit the 2026-2027 Private School Application linked on that page
- Step 4: Set up background checks/fingerprinting
- Step 5: Pick an ADE-approved norm-referenced test
- Step 6: Verify each EFA student in the ADE portal before each quarterly deposit
- Step 7: File an accreditation progress report by Sept 30 each year while 'in process'
Funders change their requirements. Check the official page before you apply. Getting ready? See what funders usually ask for.
Who can apply
“Be an associate member of, or be in the process of applying to, the Arkansas Nonpublic School Accrediting Association or another accrediting association recognized by the State Board.”
The money goes to the family's ClassWallet account, and the school is paid when the parent accepts its ClassWallet payment request. ADE says receiving EFA funds “does not impact schools' religious affiliation or curriculum.”
- Accredited, or associate member/applying to ANSAA or another State-Board-recognized accreditor; fully accredited by July 1 of the 4th year
- One year in operation, OR a CPA note on insurance and capital, OR a surety bond/letter of credit equal to a quarter's funds
- Background checks + fingerprinting (every 5 years; by Aug 1)
- Nationally norm-referenced test for EFA students yearly
- Teach ELA, math, science, social studies
- Same tuition for EFA and non-EFA families
Timing
2026-27 deposits to families: Aug 20 and Oct 29, 2026; one in February 2027 (see below); Apr 8, 2027. School applications are open now; no deadline is posted.