Arkansas’ Education Freedom Account program has experienced dramatic growth, with student participation tripling during the 2025-26 school year, according to a new report released Friday by the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform in collaboration with the Arkansas Department of Education.
The annual report found that 44,524 students participated during the program’s 1st year of universal eligibility, compared with 14,256 students during the 2024-25 school year.
That represents a 212% increase in just 1 year.
Researchers also reported improvements in student test scores, increased participation among students with disabilities and strong re-enrollment rates.
WHAT IS THE EDUCATION FREEDOM ACCOUNT PROGRAM?
Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts provide state-funded financial assistance that eligible families can use for approved educational expenses.
These include private school tuition, homeschooling materials, curriculum, tutoring, instructional services and other qualifying educational expenses.
The program was established through Arkansas’ LEARNS Act in 2023 and expanded eligibility over several years.
The 2025-26 school year marked the 1st year that all Arkansas K-12 students were eligible to participate, subject to program requirements.
PARTICIPATION GROWS FROM 5,548 TO 44,524 STUDENTS
According to the University of Arkansas report, participation has increased substantially since the program began.
2023-24: 5,548 students
2024-25: 14,256 students
2025-26: 44,524 students
The latest enrollment represents an increase of 30,268 students over the previous school year.
The report estimates that the EFA program now serves approximately 8.7% of Arkansas students.
STUDENT TEST SCORES RISE IN MATH AND READING
Researchers reported that students participating in the EFA program performed above national averages on nationally norm-referenced assessments.
Math performance increased from the 57th percentile during 2024-25 to the 62nd percentile during 2025-26.
Reading performance increased from the 59th percentile to the 66th percentile.
The report examined 38,892 assessments, compared with approximately 12,000 assessments during the previous year.
Homeschool and microschool students combined scored at the 65th percentile in math and the 70th percentile in English language arts.
These findings show higher reported performance among participating students. However, the results do not by themselves establish that participation in the EFA program caused the improvement.
The nationally norm-referenced assessments also should not be treated as a direct comparison with Arkansas public school test results without accounting for differences in testing and student populations.
1 IN 4 PARTICIPANTS CAME FROM PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The report found that approximately 25% of students participating in the 2025-26 EFA program had switched from public schools.
The proportion was particularly high among students in grades 3 through 6, where nearly 30% of participants had transferred from public schools.
This also means approximately 75% of participants were not identified as students who switched directly from public schools.
The findings raise an important question about how much EFA funding supports families newly leaving public education compared with families already pursuing private or home-based education.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES INCREASE 41%
Participation among students with disabilities also grew during the 2025-26 school year.
The report identified 7,254 EFA students with disabilities, a 41% increase from the previous year.
Students with disabilities accounted for 16.3% of EFA participation.
Researchers compared that figure with approximately 15% of Arkansas public school students identified as having disabilities.
The findings suggest that students with disabilities continue to represent a significant portion of EFA enrollment as the program expands.
NEARLY 96% OF ELIGIBLE RETURNING STUDENTS RE-ENROLLED
The report found that 95.8% of participating K-11 students re-enrolled in the EFA program for the 2025-26 school year.
The previous reported re-enrollment rate was 91%, although that figure included graduating seniors and is not directly comparable.
Parent surveys also indicated high satisfaction with the program’s administration.
According to the report, 73% of surveyed parents were highly satisfied with the Arkansas Department of Education’s administration, while 79% expressed high satisfaction with the program’s platform.
Academic opportunities were the most frequently selected primary reason for participation, cited by 39.6% of families.
EDUCATION FUNDING AND ESTIMATED STATE SAVINGS
Researchers estimated that EFA funding averaged approximately $6,994 per student, compared with $7,771 in state spending per Arkansas public school student.
The report describes the EFA amount as approximately 90 cents for every $1 in state public school spending per student.
It also estimates that students switching from public schools into the EFA program generated between $54 million and $62 million in state savings.
However, these estimates do not necessarily represent the complete financial effect on Arkansas school districts.
Public school districts may continue to face transportation, staffing, building maintenance and other fixed expenses when enrollment declines.
In addition, providing EFA funding to students who were already attending private schools or homeschooling may represent a new state expense.
A complete fiscal comparison would need to consider those factors along with the reported state savings.
MOST EFA FUNDS USED FOR EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES
According to the report, private school tuition and approved curriculum resources accounted for 79.4% of total EFA expenditures.
Families participating through homeschooling primarily spent funds on course tuition, curriculum materials, educational supplies and technology.
Less than 10% of reported spending went toward enrichment activities.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND MICROSCHOOLS EXPAND
Researchers identified 157 participating private schools and 108 microschools serving families across 55 of Arkansas’ 75 counties.
The report estimates that approximately 69% of Arkansas residents live within 15 miles of a participating school.
Another 156 microschools have reportedly been approved for the following school year.
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS RESEARCHERS RESPOND
Patrick Wolf, Distinguished Professor and 21st Century Endowed Chair in School Choice at the University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform, said the findings demonstrate that the program has continued serving students with educational disadvantages as eligibility expanded.
Wolf pointed to increased participation among students with disabilities, foster children and other groups, along with reported improvements in academic performance.
Josh McGee, Associate Professor of Education Reform and 21st Century Endowed Chair in Accountability and Transparency, highlighted the program’s approximately 96% re-enrollment rate as an indication that families are continuing with their educational choices.
WHAT THE FINDINGS MEAN FOR ARKANSAS FAMILIES
The report documents substantial expansion of the Arkansas Education Freedom Account program during its 1st year of universal eligibility.
Participation more than tripled compared with the previous school year, average reported test performance increased, and thousands of additional students with disabilities participated.
The report also highlights continuing questions concerning long-term academic outcomes, comparisons with public school achievement and the overall financial effects on Arkansas public education.
Families interested in participating can review program eligibility, approved educational expenses and application information through the Arkansas Department of Education.
The complete 2025-26 Education Freedom Accounts Annual Report is available at:
2025-26 Arkansas Education Freedom Accounts Program Annual Report
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