Education Freedom Accounts

An Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a publicly funded option offering exceptional flexibility to families interested in customizing their child’s educational experience. Once approved, a family will receive the same amount of funds provided by the state to public schools (called “adequacy aid”). In SY 2027, this amount is expected to be ~$4,350. For students with a qualifying disability or for families with a household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty line, this amount may be even more.

EFA funds can be used for nearly any educational-related expense including, but not limited to the following:

• Tuition and fees at a non-public / private school or online learning program, including career, technical, and trade schools
• Tutoring services
• Services provided by a public school provided it’s not full-time
• Textbooks, curricula, and other instructional materials
• Computer hardware and other technological services and devices used for educational purposes
• Educational software and applications
• Fees for nationally standardized assessments, advanced placement (AP) examinations, examinations related to college admissions, and tuition for preparatory courses for such exams
• Tuition and fees for summer programs and specialized education programs
• Educational services and therapies related to special needs
• Tuition and fees at an institution of higher learning if the student has not yet graduated high school
• Sports equipment and programs, musical instruction and instruments, and other extracurriculars

Although EFA funds may be used for private schools, it would likely make more sense for the family to use Croydon’s school choice program if the intention is to send the child to a private school while in grade levels serviced by the school choice program. That said, an EFA would be a viable option if a private school was desired while in grade levels serviced by Croydon Village School.

EFAs are defined under RSA 194-F, are managed by the Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF), with key requirements detailed below.

Requirement 1 – Eligibility

The student must be a New Hampshire resident and eligible to enroll in K-12. Kindergarten students must be 5 years old by September 30 of the school year. Students cannot participate in the EFA program if they are enrolled full-time (more than 50% of instructional time) in either a local public school or a chartered public school, including VLACS.

Requirement 2 – Application

The family must apply for each student, and admission is not guaranteed. The state legislature sets a maximum number of students for each year. The following applicants are exempt from the enrollment cap:

• Students currently enrolled in the program
• Siblings of students currently enrolled in the program
• Students with disabilities as defined by RSA 186-C:2
• Students whose family’s income is at or below 350% of the federal poverty guidelines

Requirement 3 – Evaluation

Students must complete a Record of Educational Attainment by July 15 of each year in order to remain eligible for the program. The following options qualify:

• A nationally recognized standardized test
• The NH state-wide assessment (NH SAS)
• A signed evaluation letter from a teacher of the student’s portfolio of work from the current school year
• A copy of the student’s report card from the school they are attending (full-time students only)

Disbursement Schedule

Funds are disbursed into ClassWallet on the following schedule:

• 20% in September
• 20% in November
• 30% in January
• 30% in April

Any unused funds will roll over into the following year as long as the child remains in the program.

How to Use the Funds

The following methods can be used for spending from ClassWallet:

• Marketplace (fastest) – an online marketplace of preapproved items from retailers using EFA funds directly from ClassWallet
• Direct Pay – invoices submitted into an approval queue and paid directly from EFA funds upon approval
• Reimbursement (slowest) – receipts uploaded into an approval queue and reimbursed to the parent; requires upfront payment

A Note on Homeschooling

Although education may look the same under an EFA, the child will no longer be legally considered a homeschooler once enrolled in the EFA program. Parents may still educate their children at home, and families still maintain control over curriculum, scheduling, and instruction. However, CSF will officially report the child as an EFA participant to the Department of Education.

Because EFA funds come from the state, the program has some requirements that homeschooling no longer does. EFA families must:

• Submit a Record of Educational Attainment to CSF by July 15 each year (see Requirement 3 above)
• Keep receipts and other records showing that funds were spent on approved educational expenses
• Provide instruction in the core subjects: science, mathematics, language, government, history, health, reading, writing, spelling, the history of the constitutions of New Hampshire and the United States, and exposure to and appreciation of art and music

State law gives EFA students access to courses and programs offered by the school district where they live. Because Croydon School District does not operate its own schools for grades 1–12, the district does not offer sports teams, clubs, or similar programs at those grade levels. Families interested in having their child participate in classes or activities at a public school in another district should contact us using the form below, and we will help determine what options may be available. Students who attend a public school full-time (more than 50% of instructional time) are not eligible for the EFA program.

If changing your child’s status from homeschooling to EFA, no notice to the district is required unless your child is currently participating in Croydon School District courses or programs. In that case, you must notify the district that your child is now participating in the EFA program.

Click here for more information on homeschooling.

Useful Links

• Everything You Need to Know about Education Freedom Accounts (CSF)
• Upper Valley Homeschoolers (Facebook, heavily Croydon and Newport)
• Claremont NH Area Homeschoolers (Facebook)
• Sullivan County NH / Windsor County VT Homeschoolers (Facebook)
• NH Homeschooling Network (Facebook)