Short answer: your Arkansas Education Freedom Account (EFA) covers far more than tuition. Curriculum, educational software, online learning, tutoring, and materials are eligible, and you spend it through ClassWallet. Arkansas EFA names online educational subscriptions in its handbook, a direct fit. Here is the plain-English version of what the money covers for a struggling reader, and the smartest way to spend it.
The basics
- How much: about $6,800 per student.
- Status: active and universal for the current program year. Amounts and rules shift year to year, so confirm the live number with your program before you buy.
- How you spend it: through ClassWallet. Keep every receipt and your child's progress documentation.
What reading families can buy
- Curriculum and textbooks for every subject, including a full structured-literacy reading curriculum.
- Educational software and online learning from approved vendors. This category stretches your dollars furthest, because a single annual license often covers a whole year of instruction for every child in the family.
- Tutoring from approved providers. Worth knowing: certified structured-literacy tutors run $80 to $120 an hour, which adds up fast. See what reading tutors cost.
- Services and therapies for students with a documented disability such as dyslexia.
One example in the software category
A New Page is a structured-literacy reading program for struggling and dyslexic readers ages 3 to 18, built on the science of reading. A free placement check finds your child's exact level, then explicit phonics is delivered inside illustrated stories they unlock by reading aloud. The Arkansas offering is a $399 annual license that covers every child in the household. Before you spend anything, run the free reading check so you know exactly where your child stands.
A smart order of operations for a struggling reader
- Step 1, free: the free reading check finds your child's exact level and the specific skill that is breaking down. No funds spent.
- Step 2, $399: a full year of structured-literacy instruction through A New Page, built at that exact level, for every child in the family.
- Step 3, the rest: decodable books, the remainder of your curriculum, and targeted tutoring only if the data says you need it.
What you cannot buy
- Anything from a vendor who is not approved in the program. Check before you commit money.
- General household goods, electronics with no clear educational purpose, and entertainment subscriptions.
- Anything outside the program year's rules. The program office has the final word on every purchase.