Information current as of October 2026.

Homeschooling is a gift. It can also be expensive. The good news is that there are more ways to get help paying for it than there used to be.

We believe parents make the best teachers, and we want every family to get the help they’re entitled to. Whether you use these programs with us or with another trusted curriculum provider, what matters most is that your kids are learning with good, reputable materials and with you by their side.

Rules change often and every state is different. Please always check with the official program before you count on any money.

Five ways families get help paying

1. Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)An ESA is state money set aside for your child’s education. You spend it on approved things like curriculum, books, and tutoring.Most ESA programs only let you spend the money with approved vendors, through an online marketplace such as ClassWallet or Odyssey. You can’t usually buy from any store you like.Who qualifies: It depends on the state. A few states have a homeschool tier (Texas, Alabama, Utah, Wyoming). In others, you must enroll in the ESA program instead of homeschooling independently (Arizona, New Hampshire, Florida PEP, West Virginia). Some states don’t include homeschoolers at all.See programs by state →2. Charter and correspondence allotmentsSome public charter schools and correspondence programs give each enrolled student a yearly allotment for learning materials. Alaska and California are the best-known examples.You buy through the school’s own list of approved vendors. In California, charter funds can’t be used for religious materials.Who qualifies: Families who enroll their child in the charter or correspondence program. That means your child is a public school student, not an independent homeschooler.See programs by state →3. State tax credits and deductionsA few states let you take a tax credit or deduction for money you spend on your child’s education. You buy what you need, keep your receipts, and claim it on your state tax return.This is the one option that doesn’t require an approved vendor, so it works with any store.Who qualifies: Families who pay state income tax in a state that offers one, such as Minnesota, Louisiana, Illinois, Indiana, and Oklahoma. Each state has its own limits and rules.Learn about tax breaks →4. 529 plansFederal law now lets 529 savings plans pay for many K-12 expenses, including curriculum and books, up to $20,000 per student per year starting in 2026.For homeschoolers, though, this is a legal gray area. The law talks about public, private, and religious schools. It doesn’t mention homeschools. It’s clearest in states where the law treats a homeschool as a private school.Who qualifies: Anyone with 529 savings, but homeschool families should talk to a tax professional before using 529 money for homeschool costs.Learn about 529 plans →Coming in 2027: the federal scholarship tax creditStarting January 1, 2027, a new federal tax credit will reward people who donate to scholarship organizations in states that opt in. Those organizations then give scholarships to students.Who qualifies: Students in households at or below 300% of area median income, in a state that has opted in. Whether homeschoolers can get these scholarships is still uncertain.Read about federal changes →

Already know what you’re looking for? See how to use funds at Mrs. LaLanne’s.

This page is general information, not tax or legal advice. Please check with the official program or a qualified tax professional about your family’s situation.

Information current as of October 2026.