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Homeschooling in Arkansas is entering a defining moment. Participation continues to climb, education funding opportunities have expanded to unprecedented levels, and a growing ecosystem of hybrid and microschool models is reshaping what “home education” can look like. At the same time, the rules governing those opportunities are evolving quickly—creating both new possibilities but also some uncertainties for families trying to plan with confidence.
This guide is intended to serve as a data focused “Arkansas Homeschooling 2025” reference. One important note here before we get started: several statewide datasets—especially enrollment—are published on a reporting delay. As a result, some of the most current official figures available during 2025 reflect the latest released school-year reports immediately preceding 2025. Wherever that occurs, it is explicitly indicated so readers can interpret trends accurately.
Total Arkansas homeschool students: 32,767 (2023–24)
Homeschool share of all K–12 students: 6.7% (of 488,593 total K–12 enrollment)
Recent growth: up from 30,205 (2021–22), with continued acceleration into 2024 reporting cycles
Education Freedom Accounts (EFA) participants: 14,256 (2024–25), up 157% from 5,548 (2023–24)
Homeschoolers using EFA (first eligible year): 3,422 (24% of EFA participants in 2024–25)
EFA universal eligibility: launches 2025–26 (all K–12 Arkansas students eligible)
EFA amount (2025–26): $6,994 per student
EFA pre-approvals reported by fall 2025: 46,578
Major late-2025 policy shift: SB 625 restricts EFA spending categories starting 2025–26 (notably removing many sports/athletics/extracurricular expenses)
Arkansas homeschooling isn’t just an “urban” story or a “rural” story—it’s both. The largest raw counts show up around major population centers, but some rural counties have the highest percentage of students homeschooling.
Total homeschoolers: 32,767
Statewide K–12 total: 488,593
Homeschoolers are represented across all 75 counties
County range: as low as 30 students (Dallas County) up to 4,161 (Benton County)
Highest homeschool penetration: Searcy County at 24.1% of county K–12 population
Northwest Arkansas (Benton, Washington, Crawford): ~ 6,386 students (~ 19.5% of state homeschool total)
Central Arkansas (Pulaski, Faulkner, Saline, Lonoke, White): ~ 8,555 students (~ 26.1% of state homeschool total)
Combined, those two regions account for about 45.6% of all Arkansas homeschoolers.
If you’re tracking homeschool services, co-ops, curriculum demand, enrichment providers, or the impact of school choice policy, those two regions are where a lot of “what happens next” will show up first. [3] [6]
EFA has been the single loudest driver of Arkansas homeschool conversation in 2025—because it’s real money, real access, and real policy from families who value their children's education.
Active EFA participants: 14,256
Year-over-year growth: 157% (5,548 → 14,256)
Total spending: $93.8 million
Participants by sector:
Private schools: 10,834 (76%)
Homeschool: 3,422 (24%) (first year homeschool became eligible in the program reporting summarized here)
Students with disabilities: 36%
First-time kindergarteners: 27%
Active-duty/military reserve parents: 16%
Foster care/homeless: 6%
D- or F-rated public school attendees: 3%
Former Succeed Scholarship recipients: 4%
Law enforcement/first responder children: 2%
The table shows that Arkansas homeschool families using EFA are directing most funds toward the core building blocks of home education—especially supplies and curriculum.
If you’re a parent reading this, the practical takeaway is that Arkansas families are using EFA (when allowed) to build custom education—books, curriculum, materials, tutors, and targeted supports—rather than just purchasing a single “school-in-a-box.”
The report summarizes 12,218 test completions and shows homeschool EFA students performing above both private school EFA peers and national averages on percentiles reported.
Most common assessments listed in the report:
NWEA MAP (5,317 completions)
Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (2,380 completions)
Stanford Achievement Test (1,107 completions)
ATLAS performance snippet summarized in the report (300 EFA students, 4 schools):
49% proficient+ in ELA
52% proficient+ in Math
41% proficient+ in Science
EFA students continuing in program: 91%
Homeschool students continuing in EFA: 88%
Homeschool students staying in homeschool sector: 76%
ClassWallet platform rating: 4.0/5.0
ADE program administration rating: 4.3/5.0
All Arkansas K–12 students eligible (no targeting restrictions)
Enrollment cap removed (but note participation limited to state funding)
46,578 pre-approvals as of fall 2025 (as cited in the report)
Approved private/micro schools: 166
Approved service providers: 2,132+
EFA amount updated to $6,994
Governor proposed budget referenced: $277.5M
Projected participants referenced: 39,600 (about ~10% of Arkansas K–12)
The report highlights a major policy reversal: SB 625 restricts EFA fund usage starting 2025–26, removing coverage for categories like:
sports registration fees
athletic programs
PE program costs
extracurricular activities
The report also notes that homeschool families had been using an estimated ~25% of EFA funds for athletics and enrichment, so the restriction reduces flexibility for homeschoolers in particular. [1] [7] [17] [24] [29] [31]
By 2025, “homeschooling” in Arkansas often includes community-based instruction, hybrid formats, and online coursework—without families necessarily giving up homeschool freedom. Listed below are some noteworthy homeschool entities (non-exhaustive) that have an increasing presence in Arkansas:
ACRES Microschool (near Jonesboro / Craighead County): established Aug 2023; self-paced mastery learning; ages 5–13; waitlist; EFA-eligible (per report summary)
Prenda microschools: recruiting/expanding across Arkansas; project-based model; positioned as a middle ground between traditional schools and fully independent homeschooling (per report summary)
Virtual Arkansas: state-led, serves a large share of districts via district affiliations; includes core courses, CTE pathways, and concurrent credit options
iSchool Virtual Academy of Arkansas: tuition-free, grades 7–12 statewide; self-paced learning with certified teacher mentors; includes dual-credit/career pathways (as described in the report)
The report notes what most Arkansas homeschool parents already know: the state does not track co-ops in a formal database in the way it tracks school enrollment, but community groups are active—especially through Facebook groups and local networks—organizing enrichment classes, field trips, social time, and more. [12] [13] [15] [16] [19] [21]
HSLDA, Homeschool Law in Arkansas (Quick Overview)
Arkansas is often described as a very homeschool-friendly state, largely because of what it doesn’t require.
Filing window: June 15 – August 15 annually
Filing methods: online portal, in-person, or by mail
Online portal listed: noihs.ade.arkansas.gov
Late filings after Aug 15 may trigger a 5-day waiting period during which a student must attend public school (as summarized in the report)
Filed with: local school district superintendent
no parent qualifications
no required curriculum
no required subjects
no required standardized testing
no minimum hours/days
no state-imposed graduation requirements
Once the NOI is filed, families have no additional reporting requirements, inspections, or state monitoring—making Arkansas among the most permissive regulatory environments for homeschooling. A testing reporting requirement, however, is laid upon families accepting EFA funds. [6] [9] [10] [25]
Merit Teacher Incentive Fund distributions
minimum teacher salary increases
early childhood expansion
reading coach initiatives
SB 246 (Arkansas ACCESS Act): aligns K–12 education with postsecondary and workforce pathways (as summarized)
SB 142 (“Bell to Bell, No Cell”): phone-free learning environments in public schools (as summarized)
SB 624/HB 1945 (Open enrollment expansion): expands intra-district transfer options (as summarized)
A fair interpretation is that Arkansas in 2025 wasn’t only expanding “education choice,” but also tightening certain school-day structures on the public side (notably phones), while changing the competition landscape through open enrollment. [5] [27]
Arkansas Department of Education Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment
Phone: 501-683-1876
Email: ade.efa@ade.arkansas.gov
Homeschool division: ade.homeschool@ade.arkansas.gov
The Reform Alliance (education advocacy, EFA support, town halls/webinars)
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Education Division (GenCon + outdoor education initiatives)
Homeschool event-focused and EFA-focused Facebook groups (specific links listed in references)
And here’s the practical, parent-level reality I see every week through our bookstore community: the most effective homeschool families in Arkansas are usually plugged into one solid local network (co-op, church group, enrichment pod, or library group) and one steady information channel (often a statewide Facebook group or an advocacy org newsletter). That’s how you stay sane when policy changes hit. [11] [14] [17] [20]
Survey of homeschool discussions on social media and news highlights 2025 conversation as heavy on policy, funding, and community experience—with EFA dominating the volume.
EFA expansion + restrictions
Debates over what EFA should cover (especially athletics/extracurricular costs)
Calls for public comment and organizing around proposed restrictions
Some discussion of misuse allegations and calls for oversight
LEARNS Act implementation + broader policy debates
Competing concerns: “education freedom” vs. “public school impact”
Equity arguments about rule differences by sector
Homeschool growth trends
Posts citing record highs nationally and Arkansas momentum
Praise for flexibility; concerns about oversight from critics
Events and community activities
Local library meetups, co-ops, university outreach, field trips, enrichment ideas
Challenges and criticism
Rural internet access as a limiting factor for online resources
Arguments that vouchers drain public funds vs. arguments that they expand access
Positive testimonials + advocacy
Parents sharing wins (custom pacing, reduced bullying, stronger family culture)
Calls for homeschool rights support resources
Important note for readers: For publication-grade numbers, default to the official program reporting summarized in the comprehensive statistics guide. [17] [29] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35] [36] [37]
From the data and the public debate summarized in the attachments, Arkansas ends 2025 at an inflection point:
Homeschooling is structurally mainstream in Arkansas now
6.7% statewide is not niche. It’s a real sector.
EFA is reshaping the ecosystem—beyond just private school tuition
The homeschool spending pattern (supplies + curriculum) tells you families are building customized education models.
Policy tightening is the new storyline
SB 625 represents a shift from expansion to restriction, and that conflict is likely to keep producing news and organizing.
The “third way” is growing
Microschools + hybrid + district virtual options offer alternatives to “traditional school vs. kitchen-table homeschool.”
Geography matters
NW Arkansas and Central Arkansas are major hubs by volume, while rural counties can be leaders by percentage.
If you’re reading all of this and thinking, “Okay… but can I actually homeschool?”—yes. You can. Arkansas law gives families a wide lane, and the 2025 landscape is full of ways to get support: co-ops, enrichment, microschools, virtual options, tutors, and curriculum tools that fit real budgets.
If you need affordable curriculum or you’re trying to stretch funds (EFA or not), that’s exactly why we built First Homeschool as a neighborhood homeschool bookstore—online and here in Springdale—serving families from ABCs to ACTs with practical support and budget-friendly new and used options. [1] [3] [6] [12] [13] [15] [16] [17] [24] [29] [31]
Parents and interested parties can find more information about the Arkansas EFA program at the official state website:
https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/office-of-school-choice-and-parent-empowerment/education-freedom-accounts/information-for-families
Parents and interested parties can find more information about Arkansas vendors and schools at a Google Sites webpage, which is linked at the state website:
https://sites.google.com/pdarkansas.net/service-provider-information?usp=sharing
In Arkansas, homeschooling means the family directs the education at home with maximum flexibility, while microschools are small-group learning communities that provide more structure and peer interaction. Hybrid programs blend home education with scheduled in-person classes, and virtual academies deliver a full online school program—often with public-school-style pacing and oversight. Families usually choose based on how much structure they want, how much teaching time they can provide, the child’s learning style, and whether they prefer a fully customizable plan or a more turnkey program.
[1] https://edre.uark.edu/_resources/pdf/edre-policyreport2025-01.pdf
[2] https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/pub_private_Arkansas_MAP.pdf
[3] https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/StudentCountbyDistrictReport_23-24_OSCPE.pdf
[4] https://www.primecenter.org/education-reports-database/homeschooling
[5] https://learns.ade.arkansas.gov
[6] https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/Home-School-Report-2021-22_LS.pdf
[7] https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/23_24_Annual_Report__revised_3_2025_OSCPE.pdf
[8] https://www.facebook.com/TheWashingtonTimes/posts/students-who-entered-arkansas-school-voucher-program-rocketed-by-157-in-its-seco/1168134195176623/
[9] https://onlyinark.com/culture/arkansas-homeschool-resources/
[10] https://familycouncil.org/?p=29693
[11] https://thereformalliance.org/news-stories/
[12] https://www.prenda.com/post/arkansas-childrens-educational-freedom-account-program-everything-you-need-to-know
[13] http://www.digitallearningcollab.com/state-profiles/arkansas
[14] https://www.agfc.com/news/inaugural-gencon-education-summit-draws-more-than-110-arkansas-schools/
[15] https://www.growwithacres.com
[16] https://www.ischoolvirtualar.com
[17] https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/office-of-school-choice-and-parent-empowerment/education-freedom-accounts/information-for-families
[18] https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Offices/office-of-school-choice-and-parent-empowerment/education-freedom-accounts/information-for-private-and-micro-schools
[19] https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/Files/Approved_Digital_Providers_LS.pdf
[20] https://www.facebook.com/groups/761643439328988/
[21] https://www.kaipodlearning.com/microschools-near-me/acres-microschool-and-homeschool-hybrid/
[22] https://www.arkansasheritage.com/events/2026/02/20/default-calendar/winter-homeschool-fair---afternoon-session
[23] https://thathomeschoolfamily.com/homeschool-conventions-conferences-by-state/
[24] https://www.edchoice.org/school-choice/programs/arkansas-childrens-educational-freedom-account-program/
[25] https://miacademy.co/homeschool-curriculum/by-state/homeschooling-in-arkansas/
[26] https://reason.org/commentary/fiscal-analysis-how-arkansas-education-freedom-account-program-is-impacting-taxpayers-and-students/
[27] https://excelinedinaction.org/2025/05/19/arkansas-2025-education-reforms-access-act-open-enrollment-and-phone-free-schools/
[28] https://studyville.com/arkansas-education-freedom-accounts-efas/
[29] https://katv.com/news/local/arkansas-parents-voice-concerns-over-voucher-changes-affecting-homeschool-sports-funding-home-school-private-school-arkansas-department-of-education-freedom-accounts-atheltics-subjects
[30] https://www.christianbook.com/page/homeschool/homeschool-conventions
[31] https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/20/arkansas-receives-about-250-comments-opposed-to/
[32] https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2025/11/17/school-voucher-confidential-yes-the-other-parents-are-talking-about-you
[33] https://arkansasadvocate.com/2025/09/11/private-school-students-make-up-60-of-those-receiving-arkansas-school-vouchers-report-shows/
[34] https://spn.org/arkansas-passes-school-choice/
[35] https://progresslearning.com/news-blog/the-arkansas-learns-act-what-is-it-and-how-can-schools-prepare/
[36] https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2025-10-15/learns-1-000-days-later
[37] https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/dec/26/the-real-story-behind-education-freedom-accounts/
[38] https://education.jhu.edu/edpolicy/policy-research-initiatives/homeschool-hub/states/arkansas/
Gregory Melvin
A homeschool father of three, an education major, and the owner of First Homeschool Bookstore - a used and new curriculum bookstore serving families in Northwest Arkansas and nationwide. He spends his days helping parents find practical, affordable resources, sharing what’s worked (and what hasn’t) in her own homeschool, and cheering on families who are just getting started on their home education journey. He is also a Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Market Pro Realty in Bentonville, AR
