What is an Education Freedom Account, and does my child qualify?
What is an Education Freedom Account (EFA)?
An Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a government-approved savings account that can be used to pay for various educational expenses. EFAs let families use their state per-pupil adequate education grant to purchase educational services outside of their assigned public school. The grant amount will vary by student. The average grant is estimated to be about $4,600 per student in the 2021-2022 school year.
Why Would I Want an EFA?
Not every child thrives in his or her assigned public school. With an EFA, families can get help paying for an alternative education. An EFA puts the family, rather than the school district, in charge of a child’s education dollars. It allows families the freedom to choose the schooling option that works best for their children.
Who is Eligible for an EFA?
The eligibility requirements are fairly simple. A New Hampshire resident who is eligible to enroll in a public K-12 school, and whose family earns no more than 300% of the federal poverty level, is eligible for an EFA. School-age students who meet the income requirement can qualify for an EFA even if they are currently home-schooled enrolled in a private school.
The income eligibility (300% of the federal poverty level) breaks down as follows:
| Household size | Annual Income |
| 2 | $52,260 |
| 3 | $65,880 |
| 4 | $79,500 |
| 5 | $93,120 |
| 6 | $106,740 |
What Types of Education Expenses are Eligible for EFA Funding?
- Private School Tuition
- Community College Courses
- Curriculum for homeschooling
- Fees for national tests
- Educational Therapies
- School supplies
- Tuition to another public school
- And More! *Scroll to the bottom for a complete list of eligible expenses
How Can I Apply for an EFA?
Children’s Scholarship Fund NH administers the program. Apply through their website at https://nh.scholarshipfund.org/apply/nh-education-freedom-accounts/
How do I Use the EFA Money?
The state deposits money quarterly into the EFA. Children’s Scholarship Fund NH provides an online platform, Classwallet, that makes payments to education vendors or for other approved expenses (third party payment, similar to Pay Pal).
Where Can I Find More Info about EFAs?
Full list of qualifying EFA expenses:
(a) Tuition and fees at a private school.
(b) Tuition and fees for non-public online learning programs.
(c) Tutoring services provided by an individual or a tutoring facility.
(d) Services contracted for and provided by a district public school, chartered public school, public academy, or independent school, including, but not limited to, individual classes and curricular activities and programs.
(e) Textbooks, curriculum, or other instructional materials, including, but not limited to, any supplemental materials or associated online instruction required by either a curriculum or an education service provider.
(f) Computer hardware, Internet connectivity, or other technological services and devices, that are primarily used to help meet an EFA student’s educational needs.
(g) Educational software and applications.
(h) School uniforms.
(i) Fees for nationally standardized assessments, advanced placement examinations, examinations related to college or university admission or awarding of credits and tuition and/or fees for preparatory courses for such exams.
(j) Tuition and fees for summer education programs and specialized education programs.
(k) Tuition, fees, instructional materials, and examination fees at a career or technical school.
(l) Educational services and therapies, including, but not limited to, occupational, behavioral, physical, speech-language, and audiology therapies.
(m) Tuition and fees at an institution of higher education.
(n) Fees for transportation paid to a fee-for-service transportation provider for the student to travel to and from an education service provider.
(o) Any other educational expense approved by the scholarship organization.
