Arkansas tightens EFA rules; homeschool families and a state senator call for clearer guidance

LITTLE ROCK ' The state Board of Education last month approved tighter rules for Arkansas's Educational Freedom Account (EFA) program that require pre-approval for many non-core purchases and lower the amount of unused funds that can roll over each year, state and local officials said.

Supporters of the change say it provides clearer guidance and greater accountability for taxpayer dollars. "We also need to make sure that we have very clear guidances on what those purchases are that would qualify for an educational experience for your child," a news report quoted state officials saying.

Melissa Ferguson, a homeschooling mother of three in Northwest Arkansas, said the EFA program has given her family flexibility to meet individual learning needs but that the continuing evolution of rules has created uncertainty for parents. "I feel like there's a lot of disinformation out there, misinformation out there of people that think that parents are just able to buy whatever they want with the program, and that's not the case," Ferguson said.

The updated rules include examples of spending now considered ineligible. A report on the changes cited a specific example: purchases such as bookshelves may be classified as furniture and therefore not qualifying as instructional materials. The report also described a policy interpretation that would bar use of EFA funds for students on certain "more elite" competitive sports teams when not every student who tries out makes the team.

Sen. Missy Irvin said questions are an expected part of any system change and expressed hope the new process will provide more consistent guidance for families moving forward. "With any kind of a systems change, you're going to face some questions and hopefully it works well," she said.

The changes were presented as administrative rules adopted by the state Board of Education; the board's action and the described examples in reporting illustrate how officials are clarifying permissible and impermissible uses of EFA funds. Parents interviewed said they want clearer, consistent examples so families know which extracurricular activities and instructional purchases qualify.

Maya Ellison, THV 11 News, Little Rock.