Welcome back to our weekly roundup of homeschool news, laws, funding, and programs from across the country. This week we are leading with some fun free field-trip opportunities for fall, then catching you up on the flurry of education savings account news, since several states just funded their accounts. Here is what families need to know.

Free National Park Days for Fall Field Trips

Mark your calendars for two free entrance days that land right in the fall field-trip season. The National Park Service is waiving entrance fees on August 25, 2026, the 110th birthday of the National Park Service, and again on September 17, 2026, for Constitution Day. Every park that normally charges an entrance fee is free those days, which makes them perfect for a hands-on history or nature lesson. Two details for this year: fee-free entry is for U.S. citizens and residents, and the waiver covers entrance fees only, not camping, tours, or parking. If you have a fourth grader, remember they still qualify for a free year-long pass at everykidoutdoors.gov.

Source: National Park Service fee-free days.

Fall Field-Trip Season Opens With Free Family Events

Fall registration is opening up, and there are some great low-cost and free options to help your family ease back into a routine. Free Home Depot Kids Workshops run on Saturdays, where kids build a small take-home project, and Discovery Park of America hosts monthly homeschool days with STEM, history, and creative arts for ages 6 to 17. Community back-to-homeschool events are also kicking off, so it is a good week to check your local co-op and library calendars for what is happening near you.

Source: Homeschool Roster weekly roundup.

Utah: Fits All Funds Landed July 15

If your family was awarded a Utah Fits All Scholarship for the 2026-2027 school year, your funds became available July 15, 2026, which means Utah families are actively shopping for curriculum this week. It was a record year, with 27,560 students applying and 19,800 scholarships awarded at an average of about $6,400. Demand outpaced funding again, and roughly 7,500 students landed on the waitlist, so if that is you, keep an eye on your status in case more awards open up. (Look for A to Z for Moms Like Me in the Odyssey Marketplace)

Source: Utah Education Fits All.

Texas: First Education Freedom Account Deposits Are Out

Texas launched the largest first-year school choice program in the nation, and on July 1, 2026, the first deposits went out. Homeschool and other non-private-school students who confirmed enrollment by June 15 received their full $2,000 for the year, while private-school students received the first 25 percent of their award. More than 100,000 students were awarded funds. Applications for 2026-2027 are now closed, but if your family was approved, that $2,000 is ready to spend on curriculum now. (Look for A to Z for Moms Like Me in the Odyssey Marketplace)

Source: Texas Education Freedom.

Alabama: CHOOSE Act Funds Are Live for 2026-2027

Alabama’s CHOOSE Act education savings accounts are fully funded for the 2026-2027 school year. Homeschool students receive $2,000 each, capped at $4,000 per family, while students at participating schools receive $7,000. It was a record year here too, with about 49,000 students applying and more than 34,000 approved, including roughly 12,371 who plan to homeschool. Approved families received a ClassWallet welcome email around July 1 with instructions to access their funds. One to watch: the income cap is scheduled to be removed for 2027-2028, which would open eligibility to all Alabama families next year. (Be sure to look for us in the CW Marketplace!)

Source: Office of the Governor of Alabama.

West Virginia: Hope Scholarship Opens to Every Student

Beginning July 1, 2026, West Virginia’s Hope Scholarship reached full universal eligibility, opening to all school-age children regardless of whether they previously attended public, private, or home school. This is the first year existing private-school and traditional homeschool families qualify. The projected award is about $5,435 per student, now paid on a quarterly schedule. Families who applied by June 15 receive 100 percent funding, and applications submitted June 16 through September 15 still receive 75 percent, so there is still time to apply this summer.

Source: West Virginia Hope Scholarship.

New Hampshire: Homeschool Notification Is Now Optional

On July 13, 2026, Governor Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 1268, one of the most significant reductions in homeschool oversight of the year. Parents are no longer required to notify the state or their local school district that they are homeschooling, annual evaluations are no longer required, and keeping educational records for two years is now a family choice rather than a mandate. Existing benefits, like taking public-school courses for free and joining extracurriculars, stay in place. Whatever your view on paperwork, this is a notable signal of where state homeschool policy is trending. (Be sure to look for us in the CW Marketplace!)

Source: New Hampshire Public Radio.

North Carolina: Budget Funds More ESA+ Families Off the Waitlist

On July 7, 2026, North Carolina’s state budget was signed into law with additional funding for families who applied for ESA+ during the February priority window but were not initially selected. NCSEAA begins extending 2026-2027 award offers the week of July 27, 2026, notifying families by email and through MyPortal, with three weeks to accept. ESA+ serves students with disabilities, with awards ranging from $9,000 to $17,000 that can fund homeschool curriculum and services. If you are a waitlisted North Carolina family, watch your inbox the week of July 27. (Be sure to look for us in the CW Marketplace!)

Source: North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority.

Upcoming Homeschool Events

• Homeschool Yo Kids Expo, Las Vegas, NV: August 8, 2026. A family-friendly homeschool expo with vendors, resources, and activities. See the organizer’s schedule for venue details. homeschoolyokidsexpo.com
• Homeschool Yo Kids Expo, Phoenix, AZ: August 15, 2026. The same expo comes to Phoenix the following week, great for Arizona and Southwest families. homeschoolyokidsexpo.com

Homeschool Facts and Tips for This Week

Did you know? About 80 percent of reporting states saw homeschool participation grow in 2024-2025, with South Carolina leading the way. If you are just starting out, you are joining a large and fast-growing community, not a fringe one.

Myth, busted. Homeschoolers cannot get into good colleges? Not true. Colleges actively recruit homeschool students, who often stand out for self-direction and strong writing, and admissions offices have clear, homeschool-friendly application paths.

Encouragement. You do not have to do school-at-home. The best homeschool days often look nothing like a classroom, a read-aloud on the couch, a science experiment in the kitchen, a nature walk that becomes a lesson. Learning counts even when it does not look like school.

Free resource. Many national parks, zoos, and nature centers run low-cost or free homeschool days throughout the year. Pair one with the free National Park entrance days above and you have a full fall of hands-on field trips for very little money.

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