New Hampshire EFA: Education Freedom Accounts
The New Hampshire EFA is an education savings account. About $4,800 on average for 2026-27, NHPR reported (August 14, 2026).
- Award
- About $4,800 on average for 2026-27, NHPR reported (August 14, 2026)
- Read
- Who qualifies
- Any New Hampshire K-12 student.
- Read
- School list
- The state publishes no list of participating schools.
- Application window
- Applications stay open through the program administrator, but new applicants without priority go to the waitlist.
- Read
Deadlines by state Homeschooling in New Hampshire All 126 private schools in New Hampshire
How EFA works
Checked against the program's own pages on
| What you get | About $4,800 on average for 2026-27, NHPR reported (August 14, 2026). The amount varies by student. Extra funding applies for special education, English learners and lower-income students. We could not confirm the exact 2026-27 figures. |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Any New Hampshire K-12 student. There is no income limit. |
| How full it is | The 12,500-student cap is full for 2026-27. On August 13, 2026 the program administrator, Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, reported 13,443 eligible students and 943 on the waitlist. Its parent handbook says the cap rises to 15,625 students in 2027-28. |
| When to apply | Applications stay open through the program administrator, but new applicants without priority go to the waitlist. |
| How the money moves | Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire administers the accounts. |
| What it covers | Tuition, tutoring, curriculum, online learning, therapies and textbooks. |
| Federal tax credit, 2027 | New Hampshire is on the IRS list of states that opted in to the federal scholarship tax credit (as of September 14, 2026), so scholarship organizations here can take federally credited gifts from January 2027. |
Worth knowing: Current students, siblings, students with disabilities and lower-income families are exempt from the cap.
We read this on from: NHPR, August 14, 2026; Children’s Scholarship Fund NH, August 13, 2026, cap reached (eligible students, waitlist); CSF NH, EFA parent handbook, August 2026 (2027-28 cap). Rules change when the legislature meets, so check the official program site before you count on a number.
EFA has no income limit: income sets who is funded first (2026-27)
Priority group and cap exemption
No income limit; 350% of the federal poverty guidelines sets priority, 2026-27. Any New Hampshire student eligible for public K-12 school can apply, with no income limit. Families at or below 350% of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines (based on total 2025 income; add $19,880 per extra person) are a priority group that is exempt from the enrollment cap. Source.
| Household size | Income |
|---|---|
| 2 | $75,740 |
| 3 | $95,620 |
| 4 | $115,500 |
| 5 | $135,380 |
| 6 | $155,260 |
| 7 | $175,140 |
| 8 | $195,020 |
Extra funding (differentiated aid)
185% of the federal poverty guidelines, 2026-27. Household income at or below 185% of the federal poverty guidelines adds differentiated aid to the grant; families must verify income each year. The program publishes this only as a percentage, not as a dollar table. Source.
Who goes first. Four groups are exempt from the 12,500-student cap for 2026-27 and can enroll at any time: current EFA students, siblings of current EFA students, children with disabilities under RSA 186-C:2, and students whose family income is at or below 350% of the federal poverty guidelines. Other applicants go on a waiting list once the cap is reached; the handbook says the cap rises to 15,625 for 2027-28.
Apply for the New Hampshire EFA: how it works
- Create an account and apply online through ScholaVia at nhefa.scholarshipfund.org, submitting only one application per family.
- Upload proof of New Hampshire residency (one primary or two secondary documents) and a document showing each student's age, such as a birth certificate.
- To claim the income priority or extra funding, upload income proof such as a federal 1040 tax return or a SNAP or TANF benefit letter; for disability funding, upload an IEP or ISP or a medical certification.
- Sign the annual EFA agreement, which covers the core subjects you will provide, a yearly record of educational attainment, and not enrolling full time in your resident district or a charter school.
- Wait for Children's Scholarship Fund to verify the application; it must be complete and verified by July 15 for a full grant, and later applications through February get a prorated grant.
- Once approved, open the ClassWallet welcome email and pay approved schools and providers by Direct Pay, buy items in the Marketplace, or request reimbursement.
- Each year, reapply, sign the agreement again and upload the student's record of educational attainment by July 15.
What to have ready
- Proof of New Hampshire residency: one primary document (utility bill from the last 90 days, not wireless; Medicaid or SNAP document; tax return; pay stub from the last 60 days) or two secondary documents (such as a NH driver's license, lease, mortgage statement or bank statement)
- Proof of each student's age (birth certificate, state ID or other government document)
- Optional income proof for priority or extra funding (federal 1040, SNAP or TANF benefit letter, or Social Security or VA letter with IRS verification of non-filing)
- Optional disability proof (IEP or ISP, or a medical certification of disability)
- Returning students: record of educational attainment (standardized test, state assessment, portfolio evaluation letter or report card)
Go to the official application
Steps and limits read on from: Children's Scholarship Fund NH, Education Freedom Accounts; CSF NH EFA Parent Handbook, updated August 2026; CSF NH, 350% 2026 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines chart; CSF NH EFA Parent FAQ, September 2025; RSA 194-F:1, definitions and priority guidelines; RSA 194-F:2, program and qualifying expenses; RSA 194-F:3, application. Limits change each year with the federal poverty guidelines, so confirm on the official site before you apply.
Which schools take it
We could not find a published list of participating New Hampshire schools. Ask the school.
Browse private schools in New Hampshire
- Private schools in Manchester (19 nearby)
- Private schools in Bedford (18 nearby)
- Private schools in Salem (15 nearby)
- Private schools in Concord (12 nearby)
- Private schools in Nashua (11 nearby)
- Private schools in Dover (8 nearby)
- Private schools in Dublin (8 nearby)
- Private schools in Keene (6 nearby)
- Private schools in Berlin (3 nearby)
Related programs
Run your own numbers
What would you pay?
Enter amounts of $0 or more.
We could not confirm this year’s EFA amount, so type in the figure from your award letter. An award can never be more than the school actually charges. This is arithmetic, not a quote.
Put the next EFA window in your calendar
Most programs open once a year, and several ran out of money or seats in 2026. Pick your state's program to add its next dated window to your own calendar, with the official link, or subscribe to every program's dates.
No new EFA application dates are posted yet. How EFA works.
Every program's dates in one calendar that updates when we confirm new dates: subscribe in Google Calendar · subscribe in Apple Calendar or Outlook · all deadlines
Free. Nothing to sign up for: the calendar file is made in your browser and nothing is sent to us. Dates can change, so confirm on the official site.
Questions families ask
These are questions people search for about EFA. Each answer is our short summary of the official page linked under it.
What is an Education Freedom Account?
An account that the State of New Hampshire funds and the program's scholarship organization runs. The parent uses it to pay approved education costs for the student.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire (program administrator), EFA parent handbook, August 2026. Checked .
What can New Hampshire EFA money be used for?
Tuition at the school you choose, tutoring, online learning programs, educational supplies, curriculum, technology and other education costs. Each purchase has to support learning in the core subjects or another category the EFA law names.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire (program administrator), EFA parent handbook, August 2026. Checked .
Questions parents ask
Answers with a source line are short summaries of the program document named under them. Follow the link for the full wording.
How much does EFA pay in New Hampshire?
About $4,800 on average for 2026-27, NHPR reported (August 14, 2026). The amount varies by student. Extra funding applies for special education, English learners and lower-income students. We could not confirm the exact 2026-27 figures.
Who is eligible?
Any New Hampshire K-12 student. There is no income limit.
Does it cover the full cost of private school?
Not always. The award is a set amount and every school sets its own price. Ask each school for tuition plus fees, then subtract the award. The calculator on this page does the sum for you.
How do I know a school accepts EFA?
We could not find a published list of participating New Hampshire schools. Ask the school.
When do I apply?
Applications stay open through the program administrator, but new applicants without priority go to the waitlist.
How do I apply for the New Hampshire EFA?
Create an account and apply online through ScholaVia at nhefa.scholarshipfund.org, submitting only one application per family. The 7 steps are listed under “Apply for the New Hampshire EFA” on this page, with the documents to have ready.
Is there an income limit?
No. Any New Hampshire resident who is eligible to enroll in a public K-12 school can apply. Income at or below 350% of the poverty guidelines only gives priority and an exemption from the enrollment cap.
Do I have to reapply every year?
Yes. Families reapply and sign the agreement each year, and returning students must upload a record of educational attainment by July 15.
Can homeschoolers use it?
Yes. You can keep teaching at home, but legally your child becomes an EFA student instead of a home education student, and you must notify your prior participating agency.
Does it cover pre-K?
No. The program is for students eligible for public K-12 school, and a kindergartner must be 5 years old by September 30 of the school year.
Is the money taxable?
No. State law says EFA funds are not taxable income to the parent or the student.
What happens to unused money?
Unused funds roll over from quarter to quarter and year to year until you withdraw your child or your child graduates from high school. Money left after that goes back to the state's education trust fund.
Can my child get extra money on top of the base grant?
Yes. Extra funding, called differentiated aid, is added for each of three factors: household income at or below 185% of the poverty guidelines, being an English learner, or having a qualifying disability. The administrator estimates each factor adds about $700 to $2,000.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, STU-16 Qualifying for Differentiated Aid Policy, PDF dated September 21, 2026.
When do I need to apply?
Applications are rolling. To get the full grant, the application and all documents must be complete and verified by July 15. Families can apply through February for a smaller, prorated grant.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, NH Education Freedom Accounts, undated page, read October 7, 2026.
What happens if the program is full?
The cap is 12,500 students for 2026-27. Priority groups are not limited by the cap and can apply any time; others may go on a waiting list. The cap rises to 15,625 students for 2027-28.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, EFA Parent Handbook (updated August 2026), PDF dated September 3, 2026.
Who is in a priority group?
Current EFA students, their siblings, children with disabilities under state special education law, and students from families at or below 350% of the federal poverty guidelines. There is no appeal of priority status.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, EFA Parent Handbook (updated August 2026), PDF dated September 3, 2026.
Can my child attend public school part time?
Not full time. A student enrolled more than half the time in the local district school or a public charter school, including VLACS, cannot use an EFA. Moving out of state also ends it.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, EFA Parent Handbook (updated August 2026), PDF dated September 3, 2026.
When does the money arrive?
The state sends money four times a year: 20% in September, 20% in November, 30% in January and 30% in April. Funds are usually available about two weeks after each state release.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, EFA Parent Handbook (updated August 2026), PDF dated September 3, 2026.
Can siblings share one account?
No. Each account belongs to one student and money cannot be moved between children. Parents can pay out of pocket for costs the account does not cover.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, EFA Parent Handbook (updated August 2026), PDF dated September 3, 2026.
Can I use the account for things I bought before approval?
No. Only receipts and invoices dated on or after the day the application was verified count. Anything bought earlier cannot be paid with EFA money.
Source: Children's Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, EFA Parent Handbook (updated August 2026), PDF dated September 3, 2026.
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