The Overlooked Path Arkansas Parents Are Missing: Turning ESA Funds Into College Credits

 Many Arkansas families are discovering they can use ESA funds for real college courses.

When Lisa Harper from Conway first heard about Arkansas ESA college courses, she assumed it was something only meant for top-tier students already planning for Ivy League schools. Her son Caleb is smart and curious, but he prefers robotics and hands-on projects over writing essays or taking extra tests.

“I didn’t think this was for us,” Lisa says. “I thought it would be complicated or that Caleb would have to meet a bunch of special requirements.”

That changed when a friend from her homeschool group sent her a link to the Arkansas Department of Education’s Education Freedom Account program. She learned their $6,864 annual allocation could be used through ClassWallet to pay for approved educational vendors, including UPI Study, which offers online college-level courses that count for real credit.

Two weeks later, Caleb was starting his first computer science course without his parents paying a single dollar out of pocket.

What the Education Freedom Account actually is

The Education Freedom Account (EFA) program started in 2023 as part of the LEARNS Act. It gives families a set amount of money each school year to spend on educational expenses they choose. For the 2025–2026 school year, EFA funding has been set so families know exactly what they can budget for educational expenses. Students who are not receiving a Succeed Scholarship will have $6,864 available for the year, paid in quarterly installments of $1,716 through ClassWallet. Those who are Succeed Scholarship recipients will receive $7,627 for the year, or $1,906.75 each quarter. These figures are the net amounts after transaction fees, meaning families can use the full allocation toward approved educational costs.(Arkansas Department of Education).

Parents can use it for tuition, textbooks, tutoring, therapy, technology, and even Arkansas ESA college courses. ClassWallet is the system that processes the payments and shows the list of approved providers.

Many parents first hear about the program when they are looking for help paying for private school. What they often do not realize is that the same funding can help their child earn college credits before finishing high school.

Why this matters for your family’s budget

 Every college credit earned during high school is one less to pay for later.

College in Arkansas is not cheap. The National Center for Education Statistics reports the average in-state tuition for public four-year universities is now over $10,000 a year, and that does not include housing, meals, or fees.

If your child earns even 30 credits in high school through Arkansas ESA college courses, you could save $20,000 or more in tuition alone. That is before considering the savings on living expenses from finishing college early.

Students who arrive at college with credits often have more options. They can graduate sooner, add a second major, or take internships without worrying about delaying graduation.

Why parents often overlook this

Mark Ellison, Director of the Arkansas Homeschool Alliance, says most families focus their ESA funds on what they need right now. “They think about covering this year’s books or curriculum. They are not always thinking about how to use the money to get ahead for college.”

In smaller towns and homeschool circles, college credit is usually linked to AP classes or dual enrollment with a local college. If there is no college nearby or the high school does not offer these programs, parents assume early credit is not possible.

ESA funding through ClassWallet changes that. It gives access to online providers like UPI Study that make accredited courses available to any approved family starting as early as ninth grade.

How the process actually works

 Students who start with ESA funded college credit often arrive more confident on campus.

Lisa Harper says she was surprised by how straightforward the process was.

First, she logged into ClassWallet and opened the vendor directory. She typed “UPI Study” into the search bar, found the listing, and selected a course. Then she submitted it for ESA approval. Four days later, she had confirmation and Caleb was ready to start.

Courses are online and self-paced but have structure to keep students on track. Caleb says he likes being able to work ahead in weeks when his robotics schedule is lighter.

Not only for “gifted” students

One of the most common misconceptions is that Arkansas ESA college courses are only for advanced students. In reality, many courses are entry-level introductions with support built in for younger learners.

These courses give students a taste of college expectations while still having the safety net of being at home. Parents can see how their child handles the workload before committing to more credits.

Real families, real results

The Harper family is just one example. In Jonesboro, the Perez family used ESA funds to help their daughter Sofia finish two semesters’ worth of general education credits before graduating high school. In Fort Smith, the Long family focused on business and communication courses to give their son a head start toward a marketing degree.

All of them began in the same way by logging into ClassWallet and checking the vendor list.

“This opportunity was sitting there the whole time,” Lisa says. “We just did not know to look for it.”

How this could change the game for Arkansas students

If even a quarter of families using ESA funds chose to enroll in Arkansas ESA college courses, thousands of students could leave high school with a year or more of college already complete. That could mean less debt, more career options, and faster entry into the workforce.

It is also a way to level the playing field for students who might not have access to early college opportunities otherwise.

Taking action now

Lisa’s advice to other parents is simple. “Do not wait until senior year to think about college. Even one or two courses now can build confidence and save money later.”

Caleb is on track to graduate high school with at least 24 credits. “It feels good to know I am already working toward my degree,” he says.

For parents, the message is clear. The money is there. The opportunity is there. All it takes is logging into ClassWallet and starting the process.