Families have different educational needs, and there are a number of ways to find an education that works for a child and their family. Some families choose traditional public or private schools. Others choose microschools, hybrid programs, or homeschooling.
Homeschooling can look very different from one family to another, and so can the cost. Some families rely mostly on free or low-cost resources, while others pay for curriculum, tutors, classes, co-ops, or other educational services.
If you’re considering homeschooling, or already homeschooling and looking for ways to make it work for your family, you may be wondering what financial help is available. There isn’t one national homeschool scholarship program, and the options depend heavily on where you live and how your state defines homeschooling.
This guide explains what homeschooling means, what it can cost, where families may find financial help, and what the new Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) could mean for homeschool families. For a broader look at the financial aid and scholarship options available to families choosing private education, AFC’s guide to private school financial aid covers that territory in more depth.
Choosing a K-12 Education That Works for Your Family
Public school, private school, microschools, hybrid programs, and homeschooling are all ways families put together an education that fits their child. Homeschooling means a parent or guardian takes primary responsibility for a child’s K-12 education outside a traditional school building. The legal definition varies by state.
In practice, homeschooling takes several forms: parent-led instruction, online curricula, tutors, co-ops, structured programs from a curriculum provider, or some combination of these.
What Does Homeschooling Cost?
Homeschooling isn’t automatically free. A family using library resources and a low-cost curriculum may spend relatively little; a family paying for a structured curriculum, tutors, co-op fees, or technology can spend a meaningful amount over a school year.
What Are K-12 Homeschool Scholarships?
When families search “homeschool scholarships” or “k-12 homeschool scholarships”, they typically run into several different things: private scholarships from nonprofits or community organizations, state education programs, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), state tax-credit programs, and starting in 2027, the federal EFTC.
A program’s name doesn’t tell you whether homeschool families can use it. What matters is who qualifies and what the money can be used for.
Where Financial Help for Homeschooling Comes From
State ESAs and education accounts. Some states allow homeschool families to participate in education savings account programs, although eligibility and the effect on a family’s legal homeschool status vary by state. Enrolling can sometimes shift a child’s legal classification, so it’s worth reading a program’s rules closely rather than assuming it works like a simple reimbursement.
Be the First to Know
Get notified when the Education Freedom Tax Credit launches so you don’t miss the opportunity to support K–12 students while benefiting from a federal tax credit.
State tax-credit scholarship programs. Some states run programs where donors receive a state tax credit for contributing to an approved scholarship organization.
Other state education programs. A handful of states run additional funding mechanisms outside the ESA and tax-credit categories. Again, availability and homeschool eligibility depend entirely on the specific state.
Private and community scholarships. Local nonprofits, homeschool co-ops, religious organizations, and community groups sometimes offer scholarships or grants for homeschool families. These are typically small-scale and locally organized rather than part of any government program. Ask within your local homeschool community.
Does the Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) Help Homeschool Families?
The Education Freedom Tax Credit is a federal tax credit that helps fund K-12 scholarships through Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). Donors who make qualifying contributions to an approved SGO can claim a dollar-for-dollar credit (up to $1,700 for individuals, or up to $3,400 for married couples filing jointly), and SGOs use those contributions to fund scholarships for eligible students. The IRS’s Federal Scholarship Tax Credit page has the current mechanics, and the credit begins January 1, 2027.
General eligibility for an EFTC-funded scholarship is based on household income and applies to students across public, private, and other eligible settings. Who is eligible for the Education Freedom Tax Credit covers the specifics.
Whether an EFTC-funded scholarship can be used by a homeschool family depends in part on how that family’s state treats homeschooling under its own law. Treasury’s current guidance indicates that a home school can qualify as a “school” for this purpose if it is treated as a school under state law. AFC’s guide to how state law affects EFTC homeschool eligibility walks through what that test means in practice.
The federal rules and state classifications are still developing. Families can check their eligibility for an EFTC-funded scholarship as a starting point, then confirm their state’s specific homeschool rules.
Finding Current Rules for Your State
States take different approaches to education funding for homeschool families. Some allow homeschoolers to participate in education account programs; others limit funding to students enrolled in particular types of schools or programs.
The most direct way to find out where your state stands:
- Check your state’s education agency for any ESA, tax-credit, or other funding program.
- Read the program’s actual eligibility requirements, not just its name.
- Check its allowable-expense rules — a program that covers private school tuition doesn’t necessarily cover homeschool curriculum.
- Confirm whether the program distinguishes between private-school students and homeschool students, since many do.
A parent or guardian taking primary responsibility for a child's K-12 education outside a traditional school, with rules that vary by state.
It varies by family and by state requirement. Approaches range from fully parent-led instruction to online curricula, tutors, and co-ops.
That depends on several things: your state's legal requirements, your child's educational needs, your family's educational goals, the time and resources you have available, local support and programs, and cost. Researching your state's specific requirements and realistically weighing the time and cost involved is a useful starting point before deciding.
Some exist, mostly through private organizations, community groups, or specific state programs. There's no single national homeschool scholarship, and eligibility depends on each program's rules.
In some states, yes, though eligibility and the effect on a family's legal homeschool status vary by state. Check your state's program directly.
It depends on whether your state's law treats homeschooling as a form of schooling. Check your state's current law and Treasury's latest guidance.
Some states offer ESAs or other programs that reach homeschool families; others don't. Check your state's department of education for current rules.
It depends on the specific program — some cover only tuition-like expenses, others cover curriculum, tutoring, and therapies. Check a program's allowable-expense rules before assuming.
Start with your state's department of education for any state program, then check with local homeschool co-ops, support groups, and community organizations for smaller private scholarships.
