I spent way too many hours researching this. Here's what actually matters for Arkansas homeschool families.
Okay, so when Natalie and I decided to homeschool, one of my first questions was: "What does this LEARNS Act thing mean for us?"
I'm kind of a research nerd, so I went down a rabbit hole. I read the actual legislation. I called the Department of Education. I talked to other families. I joined every Arkansas homeschool Facebook group I could find. And honestly? I got pretty frustrated with how confusing and contradictory the information was online.
Some people were saying LEARNS Act created all these new requirements. Others were saying it changed nothing. Some were talking about mandatory testing. Others were saying Arkansas has no testing requirements. I was getting more confused, not less.
So I decided to figure this out once and for all. Here's what I learned, in plain English:
If you're planning to homeschool the traditional way (like we are), the LEARNS Act doesn't create any new requirements for you. At all. Zero. None.
The only thing you have to do is file a Notice of Intent by August 15. That's it. Same as it's been for years.
The LEARNS Act does create a new optional program called Education Freedom Accounts that gives you $6,864+ per kid, but it comes with strings attached (testing, specific subjects, etc.). You can choose to participate or not. More on that below.
After researching other states, I realized we're incredibly blessed to live in Arkansas. Seriously, Arkansas is one of the most family-friendly homeschool states in the country.
That's it. That's literally the entire list.
Honestly, compared to states like New York or Pennsylvania where families have to submit detailed lesson plans and test scores, Arkansas is basically homeschool paradise.
Starting this school year (2025-2026), Arkansas families can choose to participate in the Education Freedom Account program. Here's the deal:
For our family, we're planning to stick with traditional homeschooling. We want the complete freedom to follow our kids' interests, use whatever curriculum fits our values, and not worry about test scores or state oversight.
But I can see how the EFA funding could be really helpful for some families, especially if you're already planning to use a more structured curriculum and don't mind the testing requirements. $6,864 per kid is real money that could buy a lot of great curriculum and resources.
It's a personal choice, and the beautiful thing is that Arkansas gives you options.
Traditional homeschoolers: Absolutely not. Use whatever you want.
EFA participants: Must use funds appropriately, but curriculum choice is still flexible.
Traditional homeschoolers: No. Zero testing requirements.
EFA participants: Yes, annual testing required.
No! It actually just added a new funding option. Traditional homeschooling requirements didn't change at all.
Same as before. No state requirements for graduation. You can issue your own diploma.
After all my research, here's what gave me peace of mind: Arkansas trusts parents to educate their children. Whether you choose traditional homeschooling or participate in the EFA program, you have incredible freedom to create an education that fits your family's values and your children's needs.
The state basically says: "File your Notice of Intent so we know you're homeschooling, and then go create something beautiful for your kids."
And that's exactly what we're hoping to help other families do with Little Schoolhouse—create curriculum that's both excellent and authentically yours.