Homeschoolers in Arkansas EFA Program outperform private school students on test scores, data shows

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — New data from the Arkansas Department of Education shows homeschool students participating in the Educational Freedom Account, or EFA, program under the LEARNS Act are outperforming private school students on required nationally recognized tests.

According to data obtained by Arkansas Family Council through a Freedom of Information Act request, homeschool students scored in the 63rd percentile nationally in math and the 68th percentile in reading. Private school students enrolled in the same EFA program scored in the 55th percentile in math and the 57th percentile in reading. 

The EFA program provides public funding for approved educational expenses, including private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, tutoring, educational therapies and other qualifying services.

Supporters of homeschooling say the results highlight the benefits of individualized learning and parental choice.

“If the student teacher ratio in public school or private school was one teacher for every student, then their scores would be better too,” said Jerry Cox, executive director of the Arkansas Family Council. “It’s not a competition between public, private home and all that, but it’s an indicator of what actually works, and the more individualized you can make a student’s instruction, the better they will do.” 

Cox also emphasized that families should have flexibility when choosing the best educational path for their children.

“I fully support parents being able to choose public school. I fully support them being able to choose a private school, and I fully support them being able to choose a home school, because homeschooling may not fit every student, just like private or public may not fit every student. You have to find what works,” Cox said. “Once you empower parents to make choices based on what’s best for their child, then you get really good outcomes.” 

Family Council leaders say they hope the latest test data will help preserve EFA funding for homeschool families as lawmakers continue discussions over future program regulations.