Homeschool funding & ESAs in Arkansas

Can I get paid to homeschool in Arkansas?

Not as a salary. What Arkansas offers is an education savings account: the LEARNS Act Education Freedom Account puts about $6,900 per student per year into an account you spend on expenses the program approves, rather than paying you to teach. An ESA comes with conditions — what the money may be spent on, what has to be reported, and in some states whether the child is still counted as a homeschooler. The program details below set those out. Romeschool tracks and organizes what you spend, so a receipt is ready the moment a program asks for one — it never files or submits anything on your behalf. Arkansas's homeschool rules require no test or evaluation of their own, so there is nothing on that side to arrange.

Arkansas ESA program

What does Arkansas require of homeschoolers — and what should I plan for?

Arkansas does not require a test or an evaluation, so there is no assessment to arrange. What Arkansas asks for — notice, instruction time, testing and records — is set out below, straight from the reviewed rules.

Notice

Yes. Arkansas requires homeschooling families to file a notice. Where it goes: Local school district superintendent. How: Notice of Intent form (paper to the district, or online via the DESE portal). When: By August 15 each year (DESE accepts forms for the coming school year from June 1). To withdraw a child from public school after that date, file at least 5 school days before the withdrawal; the superintendent or the local school board may waive that wait. If you move into a different school district during the school year, from elsewhere in Arkansas or from another state, file written notice with the new district's superintendent within 30 calendar days of establishing residency (§ 6-15-503(a)(2)). File one notice for your family each school year. For each child it gives the name, sex, date of birth, grade level, and the name and address of the school last attended, if any. It also gives the home school's mailing address and telephone number, the name of the parent or legal guardian providing the home school, and whether the children plan to take part in public-school interscholastic activities or to seek a high school equivalency diploma this year (§ 6-15-503(a)(3)); leaving the activities answer blank does not bar a child from taking part. The parent signs it, and by signing agrees to be responsible for the children's education. On the state form the Social Security number column and the ATLAS testing box are for Education Freedom Account participants only, and DESE says an incomplete form will not be accepted.

Testing or evaluation

No. Arkansas does not require standardized testing for homeschooled students. Mandatory homeschool testing was repealed by Act 832 of 2015 — none is required. Separately, families who accept LEARNS Act EFA funds must administer an annual nationally-normed test as an EFA condition — that is an ESA accountability rule, not a homeschool requirement.

Days and hours

None. Arkansas does not set a minimum number of instructional days or hours for homeschoolers. No minimum days or hours required by statute.

Records

Arkansas does not require homeschooling families to keep specific records. No state-mandated record-keeping for independent homeschoolers.

Full Arkansas homeschool requirements →

Common questions about homeschool funding in Arkansas

Does Arkansas have an education savings account (ESA) for homeschoolers?

Yes. Arkansas offers the LEARNS Act Education Freedom Account (about $6,900 per student per year), which independent homeschooling families can use for approved education expenses. Arkansas's LEARNS Act EFA is universal. EFA participants take on an annual standardized-testing accountability condition.

How much is Arkansas's homeschool ESA worth?

LEARNS Act Education Freedom Account provides approximately $6,900 per eligible student per year. Awards and eligibility change from year to year — confirm the current amount with the program before you rely on it.

Nationwide grants

• ACT Today! Grant · Autism Care Today
  For U.S. families of a child with an autism diagnosis (priority to household income under $100k).
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific, but useful for therapy costs.
• Dyslexia Services Foundation Grant · Dyslexia Services Foundation
  For low-income U.S. children with dyslexia who cannot otherwise afford treatment (need shown via free/reduced lunch, Medicaid, or SNAP).
  Typically identified through a teacher or provider; not homeschool-specific.
• HSLDA Compassion Curriculum Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For HSLDA members with significant financial need (legal custody of a child 6-19, homeschooling 3+ months).
  You must privately fund your homeschool (not receiving ESA or other public funds).
• HSLDA Disaster Relief Grant · Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)
  For homeschooling families (child 6-19) with physical disaster damage in the past 18 months.
• MyGOAL Autism Grant · MyGOAL Inc.
  For the primary caregiver of a child under 18 with autism, with demonstrated financial need.
  Open to any family of a child with autism — not homeschool-specific.
• Our Military Kids Grant · Our Military Kids
  For children (1-18) of deployed National Guard/Reserve members (60+ days) or of post-9/11 combat-injured service members and veterans.
  Funds organized, provider-led activities (not parent-taught core instruction).
• UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Grant · UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation
  For U.S. children aged 16 or under with commercial (non-public) health insurance, subject to income guidelines.
  Medical (not education) funding — useful for special-needs homeschoolers' therapy costs.

Full details, amounts and deadlines for every program →