Education Savings Accounts: A Practical Guide for Homeschool Families
· 2 min read · ESA & Funding · Facts reviewed Sep 2026
Understand Education Savings Accounts for homeschool families, including eligibility, common expenses, documentation, and ways to manage program funds.
Education Savings Accounts — ESAs — are one of the most significant policy shifts in K–12 education in a generation. Instead of funding following a child to a public school, ESA programs send a portion of state per-pupil funding directly to families, who spend it on approved educational expenses. For homeschoolers, that can mean curriculum, tutoring, co-op fees, educational software, and more.
Where ESAs Exist
As of September 2026, 18 states have active ESA or education choice programs, and 16 of them include homeschool families — with Texas launching the largest new program for the 2026–27 school year. Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account is the most established and most expansive, offering families roughly $7,000–$7,500 per child annually depending on grade level. Florida, Iowa, Indiana, and several other states have launched programs in the last two years.
Kindred's ESA eligibility checker covers all current programs and updates as new states launch.
What You Can Buy With ESA Funds
Eligible expenses vary by program, but common categories include:
- Curriculum, textbooks, and workbooks
- Online learning subscriptions
- Tutoring and private instruction
- Standardized testing fees
- Therapies (speech, OT, PT) for children with disabilities
- Co-op and class fees
- Educational software and apps
Non-eligible expenses typically include general school supplies, entertainment media, and non-educational services. Always check your specific program's allowable expense list before spending.
Recordkeeping for ESA Compliance
Most programs require families to submit receipts and annual account reviews. Failure to maintain proper documentation can result in repayment demands. Keep all receipts, categorize expenses by the program's taxonomy, and track your running balance so you never accidentally overspend in a category.
Kindred's ESA tracker imports expenses, categorizes them automatically, and generates the reports most programs require for their annual review — saving hours of spreadsheet work.
Is an ESA Right for Your Family?
ESAs are powerful but come with real accountability obligations. If the recordkeeping burden outweighs the financial benefit — or if your state's approved expense list doesn't cover your curriculum — they may not be worth the complexity. For most families spending $2,000+ annually on curriculum and enrichment, however, an ESA can be a significant financial benefit.