Arkansas LEARNS Act

The Arkansas Department of Education has announced the opening of applications for the Educational Freedom Account (EFA) program funding. Enabled by the Arkansas LEARNS Act, this program allows qualifying families to apply the funds towards expenses such as private school tuition and fees. The EFA program will allocate an amount equivalent to 90% of the state's per-student funding from the previous year, which stood at $6,672 for the 2022-23 academic year. The program's first phase has been launched for the 2023-24 academic year.

For the inaugural year of the EFA program (2023-24), eligibility was extended to:

• Students entering kindergarten for the first time
• Students transferring from schools or districts rated as F or Level 5
• Participants from the Succeed Scholarship Program
• Certain special groups, including homeless students, those in or formerly in foster care, students with disabilities, and children of active military members.

The second phase is set to roll out for the 2024-25 academic year, expanding eligibility to:

• All Phase 1 eligibility criteria
• Students enrolled in "D-rated" schools during the 2023-24 academic year
• Special groups including children of military veterans, first responders, and law enforcement officers

Application Information for the LEARNS ACT

Families who meet the eligibility criteria are encouraged to apply for EFA funding through the link provided. **Note: Applications for the 2024-25 academic year have not yet opened but are expected to be available in early April.

The deadline for submitting applications is August 1, after which applications will continue to be accepted and reviewed as long as funds remain available.

Further information on required documents for the EFA application can be found via the provided link.

For additional guidance, the EFA Family Handbook is available in PDF format.

For inquiries, please reach out to Natalie at natalie@thehillschool.com.

As the LEARNS EFA program is a new initiative in our state, we are committed to maintaining open communication with our families about all aspects of the program, including how to utilize the funds for tuition needs. We will keep you updated with all communications related to the LEARNS program here.