Testing Requirements for School Year 2025-2026 EFA Homeschool Students
Submit Test Results by June 30th, 2026
The Gist
- Required for all students in grades K–10 who homeschooled in the 2025-2026 school year
- Students must be tested in reading and math on an approved test
- All tests are eligible to be paid for by EFA funds
- All tests must be completed between March 1 and June 30, 2026
Online tests process in 2-3 days (vs. 2-3 weeks for paper)
The Steps
- 1Pick a Test
You can pick from any test on this list of approved tests. Here are the most common ones families choose:
Iowa Assessments
Solid, traditional academic benchmark aligned with Common Core Standards
$40-50Performance Series Standard
Adaptive, nationally-normed test with built-in diagnostic and benchmarking reports
$35NWEA MAP
Designed to measure student progress over time, a less detailed assessment but much quicker to take
$60-90 - 2Buy the Test
Some vendors are pre-approved in ClassWallet and are direct-pay (e.g. BJU Press), while others are reimbursement only. You are welcome to buy the test from any vendor that sells and administers the test. Here are the main ones:
Each card links to the vendor's website where you can purchase the test. - 3Take & Submit
Some tests are online only, while others are offered in a paper-and-pencil format. We recommend online tests for faster processing (2-3 days vs 2-3 weeks for paper).
RecommendedOnline Tests:
Your child will take the test through an electronic device (e.g. PC, Macbook, Chromebook, etc); some vendors will let you take the test at any time, while others have set test administration times (e.g. every Wednesday and Friday)
Paper and Pencil Tests:
Often require the parent to be an approved administrator and go through a training process.
Submitting Your Results
The Arkansas Department of Education will request EFA test results and/or testing exemptions by email in late May/early June. If you already have your student’s test results, hold onto them until ADE sends this email.
Once the Arkansas Department of Education requests EFA test results, you will need to submit them to ADE by June 30th, 2026. This maintains your student's eligibility in the EFA for the 2026-27 school year.
You can follow this step-by-step guide to read and submit your student’s test scores to ADE.
Common Questions
My child needs specific testing accommodations, but does not qualify for a testing exemption. What testing suggestions do you have?
Many tests provide accommodations for your child (e.g. extra/unlimited time, large print, read-aloud, etc). You will want to contact your testing vendor to see what documentation (if any) you need to provide to receive certain accommodations.
Additionally, some tests (like the NWEA MAP) are “adaptive,” which means the questions automatically adjust based on how a student responds — getting harder or easier as they go. This allows many students to build confidence as they move through the questions.
My child has an exemption. How do I share that with the Arkansas Department of Education?
Test exemptions are rare. To request an exemption, you must upload documentation from a licensed professional (e.g. therapist, pediatrician, school IEP) explaining how your student’s condition affects their ability to participate in standardized testing, and why your student needs a testing exemption even if accommodations were available.
To make this process easier, you can use this sample exemption form and share it with your child’s qualified provider.
What will the Arkansas Department of Education do with my child's test scores?
The Office of School Choice collects test scores to measure the overall effectiveness of the program in supporting student learning. Our primary focus is on trends in student growth over time, rather than requiring students to meet a specific score.
We do review individual student progress over multiple years to ensure they are making positive academic gains. If a student shows multiple years of decline, we may reach out to discuss whether any additional resources or support could help improve their learning experience. However, our goal is always to support families, not to impose rigid benchmarks.
In rare cases where a student shows a consistent negative growth trend and a parent refuses to engage in any efforts to support their child's education, funding may be at risk. This would only happen if there is a clear and ongoing disregard for the student's educational needs. Our intent is always to partner with families to ensure students receive the support they need to succeed.