How to Use Your State's Education Savings Account (ESA) for Classical Education

If your state offers an Education Savings Account program, you may already be sitting on funds that can pay for classical education tools — including educational software subscriptions. Many homeschool families do not realize that ESA dollars often qualify for exactly the kinds of practice apps their children use every day.

This guide explains what ESAs are, which states currently have programs, what typically qualifies as an approved expense, and how to use those funds practically.

Note: ESA rules vary significantly by state and are updated regularly. Always verify your specific state's current approved expense list before making a purchase intended for reimbursement.

What Is an Education Savings Account?

An Education Savings Account — sometimes called an ESA, an education scholarship account, or a school choice account depending on the state — is a state-funded account that puts education dollars directly in the hands of families rather than school districts. Instead of funding following a child to a particular school, families receive funds they can direct toward approved educational expenses of their choice.

ESAs are distinct from 529 college savings plans (which are federally defined) and from traditional school vouchers (which typically pay tuition to a specific private school). ESAs are more flexible — most programs allow funds to be used across a range of approved expense categories including curriculum, tutoring, therapy services, and educational software.

The amount available varies considerably by state. Some programs fund the full per-pupil expenditure amount, others fund a portion. Eligibility requirements also vary — some states limit ESAs to students with special needs or low-income families, while others are open to all students who opt out of public school.

Which States Have ESA Programs?

The school choice movement has grown considerably in recent years. As of 2026, at least 18 states have active ESA or education scholarship account programs of some kind. States with established programs include:

• Arizona — Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), one of the oldest and broadest programs, open to all students
• Florida — Family Empowerment Scholarship, Step Up For Students
• North Carolina — Opportunity Scholarship
• South Carolina — Education Scholarship Trust Fund
• Utah — Utah Fits All Scholarship
• Texas — Texas Education Savings Account program
• New Hampshire — Education Freedom Accounts
• Indiana — Choice Scholarship Program
• Iowa — Student First Scholarship
• Tennessee — Education Savings Account pilot
• West Virginia — Hope Scholarship
• Ohio — Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship, EdChoice

Several additional states have passed ESA legislation that is being phased in or implemented. If your state is not on this list, it is worth checking your state legislature's education committee activity — school choice legislation has been moving quickly.

Does Educational Software Qualify?

In most ESA programs, educational software and subscription-based learning tools qualify as approved expenses. The typical language in state guidelines covers "instructional materials," "educational curricula," or "educational technology" — categories broad enough to include practice apps and software subscriptions used as part of a child's educational program.

Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account program, for example, explicitly lists "educational software" and "instructional materials" as approved uses. West Virginia's Hope Scholarship covers "educational technology" purchases. New Hampshire's Education Freedom Accounts allow funds to be used for "educational software or applications."

The key is that the software must be educational in purpose — tools used primarily for entertainment would not qualify, but structured practice software used as part of a homeschool curriculum generally does.

How Classical Education Aligns With ESA Goals

Classical education is a natural fit for ESA programs because both are built around the idea of parent-directed learning. Classical homeschool families are already making deliberate, structured educational choices — ESA funds simply give them financial support to do it.

Classical curricula typically cover a wide range of subjects in a coordinated way: Latin, history, geography, science, mathematics, English grammar, and rhetoric. A subscription to a classical practice platform that covers multiple subjects simultaneously can represent a particularly efficient use of ESA funds compared to purchasing single-subject materials separately.

Via Latina, for example, covers seven classical subjects in a single subscription: Latin vocabulary and grammar, geography, math facts, English grammar, science classifications, timeline history, and typing. For families using ESA funds, this means one subscription potentially covers a significant portion of their practice needs across the school year.

See the full subject coverage on the pricing page — the free tier is available to try without any commitment.

How to Use ESA Funds for Educational Software: A Practical Overview

The exact process varies by state, but the general steps are similar across most programs:

1. Check Your State's Approved Expense List

Before purchasing anything, look up your state's current approved expense categories. Most state ESA programs publish a list of eligible expense types — search for your state name plus "ESA approved expenses" or visit your state education department's school choice page. Look specifically for language covering "educational software," "instructional technology," or "educational curricula."

2. Purchase the Subscription

Once you have confirmed that educational software qualifies in your state, purchase the subscription as you normally would. For Via Latina, subscriptions are available at vialatina.app/pricing.

3. Save Your Receipt and Documentation

Most ESA programs require documentation to support reimbursement or direct payment requests. Save your purchase confirmation email and any invoice or receipt generated at the time of purchase. It is good practice to note what subject areas the subscription covers, as some programs ask for a brief description of educational purpose.

4. Submit for Reimbursement Through Your State's Platform

Many states use a third-party platform to manage ESA fund requests and reimbursements. ClassWallet is the most common — it is used by Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and several other states. Other states use their own portals or a different vendor. Log in to your state's designated platform, submit the expense with your documentation, and follow the state's review and approval process.

Reimbursement timelines vary by state — some are very fast (a few business days), others take several weeks. Keeping good records throughout the school year makes year-end documentation straightforward.

Common Questions

Can I use ESA funds for a monthly subscription?

In most states, yes — recurring subscriptions are treated the same as one-time purchases as long as they fall within the approved expense category. You would submit each billing period's receipt separately. Some families prefer to pay for an annual subscription upfront to simplify the documentation process.

What if my state is not listed above?

Check your state's current education department website — the landscape is changing rapidly and new programs are being introduced regularly. Even if a formal ESA program does not exist yet, some states have tax credit scholarship programs or other school choice mechanisms that may cover similar expenses.

Do I need to be fully homeschooling?

Eligibility requirements differ by state. Some ESA programs require full withdrawal from public school, while others allow participation from students currently enrolled in public school who use educational supplements. Check your specific state's eligibility requirements carefully.

Making the Most of Your ESA Budget

Families who plan their ESA spending at the start of the school year tend to get the most out of their funds. A few practical suggestions:

• Prioritize tools your child will use consistently — a subscription that gets used daily is worth far more than one that gets used occasionally.
• Look for multi-subject coverage — platforms that address several subjects reduce the number of separate purchases you need to manage and document.
• Start free when possible — many educational software tools offer a free tier. Try it before committing ESA funds to a subscription you are unsure about.
• Keep a simple receipt folder — a dedicated folder in your email or on your desktop for ESA purchase confirmations saves significant time at reimbursement submission time.

Via Latina has a free tier that covers a meaningful amount of practice content — families can try it thoroughly before deciding whether the full subscription is worth their ESA funds. Start at vialatina.app/try-free.

A Note on Changing Rules

ESA program rules are set by state legislatures and administrative agencies and can change year to year. What qualifies as an approved expense in one state may be handled differently in another, and rules can be updated mid-year. Always verify current requirements directly with your state's program administrator before making a purchase you intend to submit for reimbursement.

This guide is intended as a starting point for understanding how ESAs work generally, not as legal or financial advice specific to your state's program.