Education Savings Accounts in 2026: Which States Fund Homeschooling?
At least 18 states now offer some form of public funding for homeschool families. Here is which states have programs, how much they pay, who qualifies, and what to watch out for.
One of the biggest changes in homeschooling over the past three years is money. States are increasingly offering Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and similar programs that put public dollars directly into the hands of families who educate their children outside the traditional school system.
If you are homeschooling or considering it, your state might help pay for curriculum, tutoring, testing, and other educational expenses.
Here is the current landscape.
What is an ESA?
An Education Savings Account is a state-funded account that parents can use to pay for approved educational expenses. These typically include:
- Curriculum and textbooks
- Online courses
- Tutoring services
- Standardized testing fees
- Educational therapy (speech, occupational therapy)
- Some extracurricular programs
The funding comes from the state's per-pupil education budget. Instead of that money going to a public school, it goes to your family's ESA.
States with universal or near-universal ESA programs
These states offer ESAs to all or most homeschool families, regardless of income:
Arizona -- Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Approximately $7,000-$7,500 per student. Universal eligibility since 2022. Arizona was the first state to make ESAs available to all families and remains one of the most generous programs.
Arkansas -- LEARNS Act ESA. Approximately $6,864 per student ($1,716 per quarter). Universal eligibility for all Arkansas students.
New Hampshire -- Education Freedom Accounts. Approximately $4,266 per student. Universal eligibility since June 2025, when income restrictions were removed.
Utah -- Fits All Scholarship. $6,000-$8,000 per student depending on age and school type. Available to all K-12 Utah residents.
West Virginia -- Hope Scholarship. Covers curriculum, tuition, and qualifying expenses. Available to K-12 students enrolled or eligible for enrollment in a WV public school.
States with income-based or targeted ESA programs
These states offer ESAs but limit eligibility by income, school performance, or special needs status:
Alabama -- CHOOSE Act ESA. $2,000 per student for home education (capped at $4,000 per family). Income limit: 300% of federal poverty level.
Florida -- Personalized Education Program. Approximately $8,000 per student.
Georgia -- Promise Scholarship. Approximately $6,500 per student. Primarily for students zoned for low-performing schools, with income limits at 400% FPL.
Indiana -- Education Scholarship Account. $8,000-$20,000, with higher amounts for students with disabilities.
Louisiana -- GATOR Scholarships. $5,100-$15,253 depending on income and disability status. Note: families in Louisiana's Approved Home Study Program are not eligible while in that program.
Missouri -- Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Approximately $6,375-$7,145. Available to students with IEPs or low-income families.
Mississippi -- Equal Opportunity for Students with Special Needs Act. Approximately $8,007 per student. Limited to students with an active IEP.
South Carolina -- Education Scholarship Trust Fund. $7,500 per student. Income-restricted, expanding eligibility through 2027. All 10,000 scholarships for 2025-2026 have been awarded.
Tennessee -- ESA Pilot Program. Approximately $9,346 per student. Currently limited to Memphis, Nashville, and Hamilton County school zones.
Texas -- Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA). $2,000 per student for homeschool families. Note: the homeschool amount is significantly lower than the private school amount ($10,474).
Other programs worth knowing about
Iowa -- Students First ESA. Approximately $7,988 per student, but only for students enrolled in accredited nonpublic schools (not traditional homeschool).
Ohio -- EdChoice Scholarship. Available for students assigned to low-performing schools or families below 450% FPL. Multiple programs with different eligibility criteria.
Oklahoma -- Parental Choice Tax Credit. Up to $1,000 per student as a refundable tax credit for homeschool expenses. Not an ESA, but provides direct financial benefit.
What to watch out for
ESA money is not free money with no strings attached. Most programs come with compliance requirements that may be more extensive than your state's baseline homeschool requirements:
- Spending restrictions: You can only use ESA funds for approved expenses. States audit these.
- Additional reporting: Some ESA programs require more detailed record-keeping than standard homeschool law.
- Assessment requirements: Some programs require standardized testing even if your state otherwise does not.
- Platform restrictions: Many states route ESA funds through a specific platform (like ClassWallet) that approves purchases.
Before enrolling in an ESA program, compare the program's requirements to your state's standard homeschool requirements. In some states, the ESA compliance burden is significantly heavier than simply homeschooling without public funding.
Our ESA guide breaks down the trade-offs for each state.
The trend is clear
Three years ago, only a handful of states offered ESAs. Today, at least 18 states have some form of public funding available to homeschool families, and more states are considering legislation. Whether universal programs like Arizona's or targeted programs like Mississippi's, the direction is toward more school choice, not less.
If you are homeschooling or planning to, it is worth checking whether your state has a program you qualify for.