Arkansas EFA FAQ

The Arkansas Education Freedom Account (EFA) is a state program created by the Arkansas LEARNS Act of 2023. It gives Arkansas families the ability to use public education funding for approved educational expenses — including private school tuition, online learning, tutoring, and more. Instead of education dollars going directly to a public school, the state deposits funds into a digital account for your family, managed through the ClassWallet platform. You choose where and how your child learns.

The EFA is universally available to all Arkansas K–12 students. To qualify, your child must:

• Be a K–12 student who is a resident of Arkansas
• Have at least one parent or guardian who is also an Arkansas resident
• Be age-eligible (Kindergarteners must turn 5 by August 1st)

There are no income restrictions and no requirements based on which school your child previously attended. Homeschool students, public school students, and private school students may all apply.

Yes. The application and renewal window is open between March and June. We strongly encourage families to apply before the deadline to secure their student's place. Please refer to ArkansasEFA.com regarding the deadline. Returning EFA participants may renew directly in ClassWallet.

All applications are reviewed at the discretion of ArkansasEFA.com.

Yes. EFA awards are issued on a year-by-year basis. Families must apply or renew each year for every participating student. Returning families renew through ClassWallet, while new families apply through the FACTS portal at ArkansasEFA.com.

The EFA is similar to a school voucher but more flexible. It is an Education Freedom Account — the state deposits funds into a digital account in your child's name. You use those funds to pay for approved educational expenses through the ClassWallet platform. Unlike a traditional voucher, the EFA can cover a wide range of costs beyond just tuition, including tutoring, curriculum, technology, and more.

EFA funds are disbursed on an ADE-determined schedule. Once your application is approved and you have linked your student to Red Comet in ClassWallet, Red Comet's invoice will be handled by ClassWallet.

Once you are approved for the EFA and your student is enrolled at Red Comet, you will link your student to Red Comet Virtual Academy inside your ClassWallet account. Red Comet will then send you a payment request each quarter through ClassWallet. Once you accept the request, the payment goes directly to Red Comet. You can track all transactions in your ClassWallet dashboard at any time.

For information on unused EFA funds, please visit ArkansasEFA.com.

Red Comet uses a tiered refund schedule for full-time EFA students:

• Prior to first day of instruction: A processing fee of $150 will be deducted and the remaining amount will be refunded.
• Days 1–14 of instruction: 75% of annual tuition refunded
• Days 15–30 of instruction: 50% of annual tuition refunded
• After Day 30 of instruction: No refund

Any refundable EFA funds are returned directly to the student's EFA ClassWallet account or to the Arkansas Department of Education — not to the family as cash. To initiate a withdrawal, please contact us. The date of contact serves as the official withdrawal date.

Yes. Homeschool families are fully eligible for the EFA award and may use their ClassWallet funds to purchase individual Red Comet courses as a supplement to their home education. You do not need to enroll full-time at Red Comet to take advantage of this option — simply find Red Comet in the ClassWallet marketplace as a Service Provider.

Red Comet Virtual Academy is a fully accredited online K–12 school that has been serving students across the United States since 1999. We are an approved EFA Private School with the Arkansas Department of Education, and have been serving Arkansas students for over 8 years. Red Comet is based in Frisco, Texas, and is trusted by over 760 schools nationwide.

Yes. Red Comet holds full Cognia (AdvancEd) accreditation, which is recognized by the Arkansas State Board of Education. Our credits are accepted by schools and colleges across the country. Red Comet is also registered with the Arkansas Department of Education as both an approved EFA Private School and an EFA Service Provider.

When you enroll full-time at Red Comet, we become your child's official School of Record for the state of Arkansas. This means Red Comet:

• Maintains your child's official academic transcript
• Issues grades and manages all course reporting
• Handles all required state reporting to the ADE
• Issues a high school diploma upon graduation for qualifying students

This is different from using Red Comet as a supplemental Service Provider, where your child's primary school maintains the official record.

No. Red Comet is fully self-paced and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are no fixed class times, no mandatory live sessions, and no bus schedules. Your child studies when it works for your family — mornings, evenings, or weekends.

Yes. Every Red Comet course is paired with an Arkansas-certified teacher who monitors progress, answers questions, and provides support throughout the year. Teachers are reachable through the Red Comet platform and typically respond to questions within two to three business days and return graded work within five business days.

Red Comet offers over 200 accredited K–12 courses, including:

• Core subjects: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
• Electives: Fine Arts, Health & Fitness, World Languages, Life Skills
• Career Pathway courses (grades 9–12): Technology, Business, Health Sciences, and more — aligned to Arkansas DCTE Career Cluster standards
• Advanced Placement (AP): Rigorous college-prep courses for high school students

Please visit the https://redcomet.org/curriculumRed Comet Course Catalog for a full listing.

In accordance with the Arkansas LEARNS Act, all full-time EFA students enrolled at Red Comet in grades 3 through 10 are required to participate in an annual nationally norm-referenced assessment. Red Comet administers the NWEA MAP Growth (Reading and Math) each Spring semester, typically in April.

• Testing is conducted by Red Comet
• Students need a stable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone
• Individual scores are shared with parents; only aggregated group data is reported to the ADE
• Participation is a mandatory condition for continued EFA funding eligibility

Red Comet works with students with a wide range of learning needs. Our platform allows students to work at their own pace and revisit concepts as many times as needed. Teachers will make reasonable accommodations for students with documented special needs, including extending deadlines and providing assignments in accessible formats. Please contact us before enrolling to discuss your child's specific situation. Documentation will be required to activate any accommodations.

Many Spanish-speaking students have successfully completed courses on Red Comet. Our self-paced format gives students more time to work through material at their own comfort level. While all instruction and teacher support is provided in English, many Red Comet courses feature an AI companion that acts as a personal tutor — and it responds in the language your child uses, including Spanish.

Yes, a computer or laptop is required to complete coursework. Students may view lessons on tablets or mobile devices, but final tests must be completed on a computer or laptop with a stable internet connection (Chrome browser recommended). If your family does not yet have a device, your remaining EFA balance after tuition can be used in ClassWallet to purchase a laptop or tablet.

Yes. High school students enrolled full-time at Red Comet who successfully complete the required credits and meet Arkansas state graduation requirements are eligible to receive a high school diploma from Red Comet Virtual Academy. As your child's School of Record, Red Comet maintains their official academic transcript throughout their enrollment.

Follow these three steps:

• Step 1: Submit your Red Comet Interest Form at https://redcomet.org/arkansasredcomet.org/arkansas. Our team will reach out within one to three business days.
• Step 2: Apply for the EFA at ArkansasEFA.com. New students use the FACTS portal; returning participants renew in ClassWallet. The application window is open through June 1.
• Step 3: Select Red Comet in ClassWallet. Once approved, find "Red Comet Virtual Academy" in the ClassWallet marketplace, link your student, and authorize your quarterly tuition payment. Red Comet will handle the rest.

Yes. Our enrollment team is available to walk you through the EFA application process step by step. We can answer questions about eligibility, help you understand which application track to use, and guide you through the ClassWallet setup. Contact us so we can help you.

Once your EFA is approved and your Red Comet enrollment is complete, your child can begin coursework. Upon receiving the required student information and payment confirmation, Red Comet will send an Orientation Email and your student may begin coursework upon receipt. The 2026–27 school year begins in the fall.

Yes. Each child in your household qualifies for their own individual EFA award. You will need to submit a separate EFA application for each child and complete a separate Red Comet enrollment for each student. Our team can help coordinate multi-student enrollments.

Full-Time Private School (School of Record): Red Comet becomes your child's official school. Your child must enroll in all four core subjects (ELA, Math, Science, Social Studies), and Red Comet maintains all transcripts and handles state reporting. Best for families who want to fully use Red Comet as their complete educational program.

Supplemental (Service Provider): Your child remains enrolled in their primary school (homeschool or another private school) and takes individual Red Comet courses à la carte for $250–$500 per course. Great for families who want to supplement in a specific subject without switching schools.

The June deadline is the priority window for guaranteed funding consideration for the school year. Please refer to ArkansasEFA.com for complete details regarding deadline and funding approval.

If you miss the deadline, please still contact us so we can discuss your options and help you prepare for the next enrollment cycle.

Full-time students complete courses as part of a full academic year program. For students purchasing individual courses, students typically have 120 days (approximately four months) to complete a semester-length course. Time extensions may be granted for valid circumstances such as illness, family emergencies, or documented special needs.

Red Comet is fully Cognia-accredited, and our credits are generally accepted by accredited public and private schools across the country. Credit acceptance is always at the discretion of the receiving institution. We recommend checking with any school your child may transfer to before enrolling. If you need documentation of Red Comet's accreditation status, please contact us and we will provide it.

• Phone: 1-800-246-5061
• Contact Us Form: redcomet.org/contact-us
• Students working on their courses can message their teachers from within the Red Comet platform.

Our enrollment and support team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time. You can reach us at 1-800-246-5061 or via our Contact Us form. You can leave a message or submit a contact form at any time and we will respond within one to three business days. The Red Comet learning platform is available to students 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For questions about your ClassWallet account, fund disbursements, or EFA application status, contact the Arkansas Department of Education directly:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: 501-683-1876
• Website: ArkansasEFA.com

For questions about Red Comet tuition, invoices, or linking your student in ClassWallet, contact our team at redcomet.org/contact-us.

Contact Red Comet technical support at 1-888-730-1101 or Contact us. Technical issues do not excuse students from completing required coursework, so we encourage families to seek help promptly.

Red Comet Virtual Academy (operated by Jupiter Education Services, LLC) is headquartered in Frisco, Texas. We have been operating in Arkansas for over 8 years, with an in-state registered agent and Arkansas state-certified teachers on staff. Our courses are aligned to Arkansas Academic Standards and our accreditation is recognized by the Arkansas State Board of Education.