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How to Use Arkansas ESA Funds for Homeschool Dual Enrollment

ByLinsey Knerl

The Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program (EFA) is a type of Educational Savings Account (ESA) available to families in the state. It offered up to $6,856 per student in 2024 and is on track to become available by 2025-2026 to all homeschooled students who wish to take advantage. 

The program lets families use their funds for a variety of educational courses, supplies, and even transportation, but does it pay for college courses? Yes! In some cases, the Arkansas EFA can be used for approved dual enrollment programs, allowing your student to earn college credits before graduating from 12th grade. 

Read on to learn how it works and which courses may be the best fit for your child.

Who Qualifies for Arkansas ESA Funding for Homeschoolers?

While the Arkansas ESA/EFA program originally made funds available only to private school students, the money has been opened up to include any student who wants to opt out of public school and file for homeschool status. 

Applications for the Arkansas EFA program are processed on a priority basis, with those from higher-need groups being served first. The priority order is currently:

  1. Returning EFA families
  2. Students with specialized needs (including homeless students, foster students, and those with an IDEA)
  3. Students from a school rated D or F the previous year
  4. Children of the military, first responders, and law enforcement
  5. First-time kindergarten students
  6. New students who don’t fall into any of the previous categories

The state plans to process all applications and distribute funds to each family within the state that qualifies.

How to Use the Arkansas ESA Program to Buy College Courses

To get access to these funds, families must:

  1. Apply for the ESA program by creating a FACTS account and filling out the application by the deadline each year, which includes proof of Arkansas residency and date of birth. (The following years’ renewals won’t require this proof.)
  2. Watch your email for confirmation and updates on the status of your application. Most applications take up to ten days to process. 
  3. Once approved, wait for the email to set up your ClassWallet account.
  4. Use your ClassWallet funds to make purchases for approved expenses, including dual enrollment courses such as those offered by Briar Cliff University (BCU), powered by TEL Education.

After enrollment, your student will receive instruction on how to complete the course and earn accredited college credits that can be applied toward a future degree at the institution of their choice.  (Note: Please double check your ClassWallet account and vendor list to be sure your chosen dual enrollment provider is covered. Vendor participation can change at any time.) 

Available dual enrollment courses for Arkansas ESA funds

Students can take any course available through an approved vendor with assurance that the EFA funds will cover it up to the amount of their annual allotment. While course offerings change, BCU offers the following as part of their larger catalog of homeschool high school classes that also count for college credit:

For students looking to prepare for college and explore career readiness skills, College and Career Readiness may also be a good fit. 

Each course costs a flat fee with no additional expenses for books or materials. Students have six months to complete each course from the time of enrollment and can schedule their course interaction around their homeschool activities, employment, and other commitments. 

“The BCU powered by TEL Dual Enrollment program has been a game-changer for the homeschool community. With year-round access, self-paced courses, and no rigid class schedules, it provides the flexibility students need to succeed on their own terms—without sacrificing academic rigor or college credit.” – Russ Pickett, VP of Customer & Business for TEL Education

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arkansas require testing to access ESA funds?

Yes, the state of Arkansas requires students to take a “national, norm-referenced test” each school year. The state offers a list of ADE-approved solutions, including the Classic Learning Test, ACT, PSAT, and Iowa Basic Skills Test.  

What colleges can I use my Arkansas ESA funds at?

Arkansas maintains a list of approved vendors for students to take courses through, which simplifies the payment process and eliminates the need for parents to submit reimbursement requests. Briar Cliff University, powered by TEL Education, is one possible vendor and provides courses like Spanish, Intro to Biology, College Composition, and more.

How can I use Arkansas EFA funds to earn college credits?

The Arkansas program grants families a set amount of money each year to use toward approved expenses, including courses and curriculum. Courses from Briar Cliff University (BCU) through the TEL Education platform are 100% self-paced, so college learning can take place during the student’s schedule and be paid for with the EFA funds. 

Looking for more resources? Be sure to check out the rest of our homeschool dual enrollment articles!

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