EFA Testing for Arkansas Homeschoolers: Who Tests, Which Tests, and When

Let's talk about the word that makes homeschool parents flinch: testing. If your child is a homeschooled student on an Arkansas Education Freedom Account, testing is part of the deal. So let's lay out exactly what it is, and what it isn't.

Who Has to Test?

For the 2025–26 school year, EFA students in grades K–10 who homeschooled had to test in reading and math on an approved test. The test had to be taken between March 1 and June 30, 2026, and results had to be submitted to ADE by June 30, 2026 to keep eligibility for 2026–27.

Read that last part again. This isn't a suggestion. It's tied to keeping your funding. And don't assume next year's window is identical. Check the ADE-linked testing page for the current year's dates.

Which Tests Count?

The testing page lists common choices including the Iowa Assessments, Performance Series and NWEA MAP. The key word is approved. Don't grab some random worksheet quiz off the internet and call it a test. Make sure what you pick is on the approved list.

Here's the good news. The test can be paid for with EFA funds. So cost is not an excuse.

Take Jenna, a homeschool mom in Bentonville with a second grader and a seventh grader. She picked an approved test for both, paid for it through their EFA accounts, and scheduled it in April instead of the last week of June. Her seventh grader did fine. Her second grader's reading score came in lower than Jenna hoped. She didn't panic. She submitted both sets of results well before June 30, then adjusted the reading plan for the fall.

(A composite example — names and details are illustrative, drawn from situations homeschool families commonly describe.)

Is This Pass or Fail?

No. And this is the part worth hearing. ADE says it looks at growth trends over time rather than a pass/fail score. One rough test day doesn't sink your child. ADE may reach out if a student shows multiple years of decline.

Is that fair? Think about it. The state is putting public money into your child's education. Asking whether the child is moving forward over time is not an outrageous request. And a family that's actually teaching has nothing to fear from a growth trend.

What About Exemptions?

Don't count on one. Exemptions are rare and need documentation from a licensed professional. If you believe your child has a legitimate reason, get that documentation lined up early and check the testing page for the process. Don't wait until June and hope.

One more thing: test early. Spring is crowded. The testing window overlaps with the EFA application and renewal season. For 2026–27, that window ran March 9 to June 1, 2026. Stack both on the same week in late May and you're making your own life harder. Test early, submit early, and move on.

The Bottom Line

EFA testing is a once-a-year check on growth, not a judgment day. Do it on time, keep your results, and use the data to teach better.

• Check the current testing page for this year's grade range, window and submission deadline.
• Pick a test from the approved list, such as Iowa Assessments, Performance Series or NWEA MAP.
• Pay for the test with EFA funds and keep the receipt.
• Test early in the window and submit results well before the deadline.
• Save every year's results so you can see your own child's growth trend.
• Find testing and tutoring options at Find Vendors.

My Learning Source is an independent marketplace and is not affiliated with the Arkansas Department of Education, the Education Freedom Accounts program or ClassWallet. Program rules, amounts and dates change every year — confirm details with the Office of School Choice and Parent Empowerment before making financial decisions. Family examples are composites, not real individuals.