Arkansas Learns Act

The Arkansas Department of Education has opened registration for Educational Freedom Account (EFA) funding. The EFA, made possible through the Arkansas LEARNS Act legislation, may be used by eligible families to cover private school tuition, fees, and some other required expenses. EFAs provide funding up to 90% of the state’s prior year per-student funding amount, which was $6,672 during the 2022-23 school year. 

Phase 1 was implemented for the 2023-24 School Year

Eligibility requirements for 2023-24, the first year of the Educational Freedom Account, included:

  • First-time kindergartners
  • Students coming from F-rated school or Level 5 districts
  • Students coming from the Succeed Scholarship Program
  • Specific special populations (homeless students, current or former foster care students, students with disabilities, and children of active-duty military personnel).

Phase 2 will be implemented 2024-25 School Year

Eligibility requirements for the 2024-25 school year include:

  • All of the criteria from Phase 1
  • Students who were enrolled during the 2023-24 school year in a “D-rated” school
  • Specific special populations (children of military veterans, children of first responders, children of law enforcement officers) 

APPLY for the LEARNS ACT

If you believe your student is eligible based on these criteria to receive EFA funding, please click the link above. ** EFA Applications have not yet opened for the 2024-25 school year. The Department of Education has stated that applications will be available in early April. 

Applications for funding will be processed and reviewed as they are submitted until August 1. After August 1, applications will be processed and reviewed pending funding.

EFA Application required documents information can be found here.

EFA Family Handbook (PDF)

If you have questions, contact Chrissy Avey at chrissya@crosschurch.com

As LEARNS EFAs are brand new to our state, we want to stay in regular communication with our families regarding all aspects of the program. Below, we will post all of our LEARNS-related communication related to using the funds to meet tuition requirements.