Arkansas EFA Private School Tuition: How to Use Your Account for Tuition

What the EFA Covers for Private School Families

The $7,208 annual EFA award (2026-27) can go directly toward private school tuition, and for many families, this is the primary use of the account. Private school participants actually make up the majority of EFA users — 76% of all enrolled students during the 2024-25 programme year attended private schools rather than homeschooling.

Tuition is a core educational expense with no spending cap beyond the total account balance. The 25% extracurricular cap does not apply to tuition or mandatory academic fees.

Here is what qualifies under the tuition and fees category:

• Full tuition at an accredited Arkansas private school
• Registration fees charged by the school
• Building and facility fees required for enrollment
• Mandatory academic fees (lab fees, technology fees billed by the school)
• Required textbook packages sold through the school

Application fees for a school the student does not attend, optional donations, and meal plans are not clearly listed as qualifying expenses. Confirm with ADE before charging those items to the EFA.

How Payment Actually Works Through ClassWallet

Private school tuition payments do not work like a typical reimbursement. Most participating private schools are registered as vendors in ClassWallet, which means the payment flows directly from your EFA account to the school — no out-of-pocket spending required.

The process looks like this:

1. Your private school generates an invoice inside ClassWallet for tuition and mandatory fees
2. You log into your ClassWallet account and review the invoice
3. You authorize the payment, and funds transfer directly from your EFA balance to the school
4. The transaction appears in your account history with the school's name and itemized charges

This direct invoicing model avoids the out-of-pocket reimbursement process and its receipt upload. The invoice still has to be authorized in ClassWallet and meet program rules; direct billing does not guarantee approval.

If your school is not yet set up in ClassWallet, ask its business office to complete the vendor onboarding process. A participating school must be linked in ClassWallet before it can invoice your account.

When Tuition Exceeds the EFA Award

The $7,208 standard award may not cover the full tuition at every private school. Arkansas private school tuition ranges from around $5,000 for smaller parochial schools to $15,000 or more for college-prep academies, so compare the school's actual invoice with the available EFA balance.

If tuition exceeds your EFA balance, ADE says any amount owed by the family is handled between the family and the school. Confirm the balance and payment arrangement with the school before enrolling.

Starting in 2027, families can potentially supplement EFA funds with scholarships from qualified Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) funded through the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit. This dual-track structure could help bridge the gap between EFA funding and higher tuition costs.

For 2026-27, ADE lists a net award of $8,011 for continuing Succeed students, compared with $7,208 for other students.

Using Remaining Funds After Tuition

After tuition is paid, leftover EFA funds can go toward other approved educational expenses. Private school families commonly use the remaining balance for:

• Curriculum materials and textbooks not included in tuition
• School uniforms required by the school's published dress code
• Standardized testing fees (AP exams, SAT/ACT)
• Tutoring from approved providers
• Educational technology (ADE or an Arkansas-licensed physician must approve each device; annual technology costs over $1,000 require a specific school or college requirement, or a qualified professional's determination that the technology is necessary)

Unspent funds roll over quarter to quarter and year to year while the EFA remains in force. Under current rules, the EFA remains in force until its balance exceeds $8,500 or the amount set by statute, whichever is lower, or the parent withdraws the student or the agreement is terminated. Families must apply or renew each year.

Testing and Compliance for Private School Students

Private school EFA participants have it somewhat simpler than homeschool participants on the testing front. The school itself administers the required annual standardized assessment and submits composite scores directly to ADE on behalf of the student. You do not need to independently arrange testing or submit results.

Your school handles the reporting. Just confirm with the school's administration that they are submitting EFA assessment results to ADE by the June 30 deadline.

For the full breakdown of how to set up ClassWallet payments with your school, manage your quarterly disbursements around the tuition billing cycle, and handle the annual renewal process, the Arkansas EFA Parent Guide covers the complete private school workflow from application through graduation.

See more Arkansas guides →