State Funds May Help Pay for your Homeschool and Reclass Before High School

Let’s face it—elite athletics are not just physically exhausting; at the end of the season, your bank account may be exhausted as well.

Combine training and competition costs with those for curriculum, classes, and tutoring, and the price tag for your reclass can quickly add up.

But relief may be in store for you if you are lucky enough to live in a state that offers Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to help cover education expenses for homeschooling, including your Reclass year. ESAs allow families to use state funding for their child’s education on a variety of expenses, covering instructional resources like textbooks, online learning programs, community classes and activities, tutoring, and in many cases, sports training and equipment. As of December 2024, twelve states have adopted ESA programs that cover homeschool expenses, and six more states will introduce similar ESAs in 2025.

States with ESA programs 2024-2025

These states have active ESA programs that support homeschooling in 2024:

1. Arizona

2. Arkansas

3. Florida

4. Idaho

5. Mississippi

6. Nevada

7. North Carolina

8. Ohio

9. Oklahoma

10. Tennessee

11. Utah

12. West Virginia

    
    

Each of these states offer families great freedom and flexibility when homeschooling to educate their children. They cover a wide variety of expenses that often include athletic programs.

Homeschooling and educational choice gain more traction each year. In response, the following states have passed legislation that establishes new ESA programs beginning in 2025:

1. Alabama

2. Georgia

3. Indiana

4. Kansas

5. Montana

6. South Carolina

   
   

Most of these states will initiate their ESA programs on January 1, 2025.

Using ESA Funds for Sports Training and Equipment

Depending on your state’s specific rules, ESA funds often cover physical education and athletic development expenses, as well as extracurricular activities, including sports training and equipment.

Here’s what to look for as eligible ESA expenses:

1. Sports Training and Coaching: Private lessons, coaching, and training sessions are often covered expenses.

2. Sports Equipment: Sports equipment, such as uniforms, shoes, and training gear.

3. Fitness Classes: Many states cover enrollment in fitness or sports-related classes outside the home.

4. Recreational and Competitive Sports Fees: In some states, funds may be used for registration fees for sports leagues.

5. Travel Expenses for Competitions: Some ESA programs may allow funds to be used for transportation and lodging for competitive sports events, especially when the athlete is competing at an elite level.

6. Supplemental Learning for Athletes: ESA funds may even cover educational resources related to sports science, nutrition, and training, if you can show how these courses and activities support core instruction in science, health, or physical education.

   
   

Elite athletic training and competition can be very expensive, so investigating your own state’s coverage of these expenses is certainly warranted. Contact the homeschool office of your local school district and ask if your state has an ESA program that covers homeschool expenses. If so, ask how it may apply to athletic training. Be sure to review all handbooks and guides relating to your state’s ESA program and reach out for assistance if you need help.

EdChoice provides a list of states that have ESA programs with links to the programs available in each and additional interactive tools for comparison purposes.