Welcome back to our weekly roundup of homeschool laws, funding, and programs from across the country. This week brings big news for Utah families, new ESA enrollment numbers out of Arizona, a fast-approaching deadline in Tennessee, a Missouri scholarship worth a fresh look, a new application timeline out of Wyoming, and the latest national growth data. Here is what families need to know.

Utah: Award Notifications Went Out June 16

If you applied for the Utah Fits All Scholarship for the 2026-27 year, check your email and your Odyssey account. Award notifications went out to selected families on June 16, 2026.

Awarded families need to accept their scholarship by June 30, because the new scholarship year begins July 1. Funds are scheduled to be issued by July 15, 2026, so accepting on time is what keeps you on track for that funding date.

If you were awarded, do not wait until the last day to accept. Log in to Odyssey, confirm your award, and complete any remaining steps now while you have time to fix anything that looks off.

Source: Odyssey, Utah Fits All Key Dates

Tennessee: June 30 Enrollment Verification Deadline Approaching

Families participating in Tennessee’s Education Savings Account program for the 2026-27 school year have a firm deadline of June 30, 2026 to select their school and complete enrollment verification.

If you applied and have not finished the verification step, do not wait. Missing the June 30 date can delay or forfeit your award for the year. Log in to your account and confirm every required field is complete.

Source: Tennessee Department of Education, ESA Program

Missouri: MOScholars Expands for 2026-27

Missouri’s MOScholars program is one homeschool families in the state should have on their radar. The tax-credit scholarship offers homeschool and Family Paced Education families roughly $6,000 to $8,000 per year for approved educational expenses.

For 2026-27, the application window has been extended, opening in October and running through March, which gives families far more time to apply at their own pace. Scholarship amounts vary by provider, so families should contact an approved Educational Assistance Organization to confirm their specific award.

Source: Children’s Education Alliance of Missouri

Wyoming: 2026-27 ESA Applications Open July 6

The Wyoming Department of Education has released its timeline for the 2026-27 Education Savings Account program. Applications go live at 9 a.m. on July 6 on the WDE ESA webpage. Returning families will see their previous information prepopulated for quick confirmation, while first-time applicants can review the ESA Family Handbook before they start.

Application processing is expected to be complete by the end of July, with funds available in student accounts for Marketplace purchases by September 1. Here is the detail to circle: students confirmed and eligible for 2025-26 will receive an additional $1,750 in rollover funds, usable only on eligible 2026-27 expenses. The program provides $7,000 per student per year, spent through the Odyssey Marketplace, and K-12 curriculum is an approved category.

Source: Wyoming Department of Education, Education Savings Accounts

Alabama: $250 Million Budgeted as CHOOSE Demand Climbs

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed a state budget that sets aside $250 million to cover the cost of roughly 50,000 students who applied to the Creating Hope and Opportunity for our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) ESA program.

That funding level signals strong and growing demand. For homeschool families weighing whether to participate, the takeaway is that the program is being funded to meet real application numbers rather than being capped well below interest.

Source: EdChoice

Arizona: Latest ESA Enrollment Numbers

As of June 15, 2026, Arizona reports 100,713 students enrolled in its Empowerment Scholarship Account program for the current school year, with 6,405 new students already enrolled for the year ahead.

Arizona remains the largest universal ESA program in the country, and these numbers show steady participation heading into the next school year. Families new to the program should review the qualified expense rules carefully before they start spending.

Source: Arizona Department of Education, ESA

Iowa: New December Window and Microschool Growth

Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds signed HF 2754, which updates the state’s Students First ESA and opens new options for families. The law adds a December application window that lets students access half of their funds for second-semester enrollment, a helpful change for families whose plans shift mid-year.

The bill also removed limits on the number of unrelated students in cooperative private instruction settings, clearing the way for more microschools and co-ops to grow across the state.

Source: Iowa Department of Education

National: Homeschooling Keeps Growing

The national picture stayed strong through the most recent reporting year. Homeschooling grew at an average rate of 5.4 percent in 2024-2025, which is nearly triple the pre-pandemic growth rate.

The fastest-growing states were South Carolina at plus 21.5 percent, Vermont at plus 17 percent, New Hampshire at plus 14 percent, and Georgia at plus 12.9 percent. Ten states reported their highest-ever homeschool enrollment numbers, a sign the movement is still expanding well beyond the pandemic surge.

Source: National Home Education Research Institute

Homeschool Facts and Tips for This Week

Did you know? Between 3.4 and 4.3 million students are now homeschooled in the United States, roughly 5.4 percent of all K-12 students. The sector has grown nearly three times faster than it did before 2020.

Cost tip. If your state offers an ESA, check the qualified expense list before you buy anything. Curriculum, tutoring, testing fees, and many supplies often qualify, but rules differ by state and spending outside the list can trigger a clawback.

Planning tip. Mark your state’s deadlines on a calendar now. Several programs, including Tennessee and Iowa, have June and December cutoffs that are easy to miss if you are not watching for them.

Academic edge. Use the summer to test-drive next year’s curriculum before you commit your full budget. A few sample lessons tell you more about fit than any review can.

Social tip. Look for a local co-op or microschool now while families are planning fall schedules. Spots fill over the summer, and joining early makes it easier to build friendships before the year starts.

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