Real faces of school choice: Empowering homeschool families to learn

A former public school teacher turned homeschooling mom is transforming her children’s education with the help of state-funded education savings accounts.

Paula Bean taught public school for two years before starting private tutoring, which introduced her to homeschoolers.

She liked their motivation to learn and the freedom to try new experiences, so when her oldest child entered kindergarten, she chose to homeschool.

The Conway, Arkansas, mom of four now homeschools all of her children. 

When Arkansas rolled out its Education Freedom Accounts in 2024, she inquired. 

“Only one of my four kids qualified, because he’s in the first grade and was diagnosed with a learning disability,” she told Opportunity Arkansas, a pro-school choice think tank. “My other three are not-so-patiently waiting for their turn. They’re super excited.” 

Money for education

The program, which grants families about $6,800 toward their child’s education, will be universally available this fall. 

When Bean received her first deposit of school choice funds last year, she cried. The money allowed her to buy extra science and STEM activities for her son, and to get therapy tools recommended by his therapist. 

The funds also helped the family, which lives in the country, improve its internet access to contribute to learning. 

Bean called it “a huge blessing” that her middle-class family could get these tools and resources without “taking away from our grocery money.” 

Her other three kids are anxious to participate so they can take art and music classes. 

An equal playing field

Bean thanked lawmakers who made her feel “seen” as a homeschool mom. But she takes strong issue with headlines about the program such as “Your tax dollars are being used to pay for rich people’s kids to take horseback riding lessons.” 

“Every child in Arkansas is eligible for tax dollars to receive an education,” she says. “If our children were in the public school, they would be receiving tax dollars to get an education. They would be taking photography classes, art classes, performing in plays, playing football and basketball, etc., all on the taxpayers’ dime. 

“I get frustrated when people seem to believe that my child doesn’t deserve the same funds to receive an education just because we have chosen to educate differently.” 

School choice students, including homeschoolers, receive 90% of what the state spends per public school student, which saves the state money.  

Additionally, schools would be overwhelmed if all homeschooling families sent their children to local schools, Bean says. 

Giving families options

“We need options for education to give each child their best chance at receiving the best care and attention. There are great, individualized opportunities for my children to succeed that would not be possible without the support of the EFA funds,” she adds. 

Opponents have tried various tactics to roll back or restrict the program, but Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Republican Legislature have resisted. 

Still, Bean’s “biggest fear is that people will hate this program and work to shut it down. Then all of these children who are waiting for their chance will have to face the reality that this chance isn’t coming. I cry thinking about it because there are so many waiting and hopeful kids right now. 

“What homeschooling shows – and what the government is seeing – is that not every child is the same. EFA funds give us the opportunity to teach each individual child, no matter the setting. I think we’ll see lots of benefits from that.” 

Arkansas is one of 18 states that have approved universal school choice, meaning there are no income or residency restrictions. Nationally, 35 states and Washington, D.C., have some form of school choice. 

A national school choice tax credit will also become available starting in 2027 in states that agree to accept it when President Donald Trump signs the recently passed “Big, Beautiful Bill.”