The New Hampshire Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a program that gives families state funds for education costs outside public schools. It covers things like private tuition, homeschool materials, and tutoring.
As of 2024, 12 states have enacted universal or near-universal Education Savings Account (ESA) programs, with Arizona's program alone serving over 75,000 students — making state-funded homeschooling more accessible than ever (EdChoice, 2024). According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is the New Hampshire Education Freedom Account?
The New Hampshire Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a program that helps families by giving them state funds to cover education costs outside the public school system. Managed by the Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, the EFA deposits money every quarter. Families can use these funds for approved expenses like private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, and educational tech.
What EFA funds cannot cover
Not everything is covered by the EFA. You can’t use the funds for things like TVs, furniture, streaming services, or recreational equipment. Toys and games also don’t qualify. While parents teach their kids, they can’t get reimbursed for their time. Athletic gear for fun and entertainment costs like museum or zoo passes are usually excluded unless linked to educational programs.
Application and funding timeline
To get the full EFA grant for the school year, submit your application by July 15. There’s a cap of 10,000 students for 2025-26, and last enrollment almost hit that limit, leaving 295 students on a waitlist. If enrollment goes over 90% of the cap (over 9,000 students), it will increase to 12,500 for 2026-27. Funds are deposited quarterly and roll over each year until the student graduates or leaves the program.
The bottom line
The New Hampshire EFA offers valuable funding for educational expenses outside public schools. It’s available to everyone without income limits. With over $4,265 a year, it can help cover homeschool costs or lessen private school tuition. Think carefully if access to public school programs is important for your family. Apply early since there’s a cap on enrollment, and remember to track your residency, as you’ll need to reapply each year.
