“I have a son and a daughter; my son is school age and attends Mountain Home Christian Academy (MHCA). We started him at MHCA in preschool, and it went so well that we kept him there in Kindergarten and this year in first grade.
We love that he’s getting a Christian education. Our son is also a big people person, and he loves his class and his teacher. Our area is very community based, so it’s nice to have the opportunity to go to a smaller community school.
Last year, our school was eligible to be qualified [for Education Freedom Accounts], so they started that process and completed it toward the end of the year. Once they did that, we parents all knew about it and participated at different points. Last year, only part of the school year qualified for funding, because our school hadn’t gone through the whole process. But this year, our son’s first grade education fully qualified.
Using the program itself has been super easy. The first hurdle is knowing about it, because it’s new, but afterward it’s super easy. Creating an account didn’t take long, and I could figure it out. When we first heard about the program, I talked to other parents who were also worried about being able to figure it out. But we all did it easily.
I love that the EFA program opens up the freedom to go to whichever school you want, no matter the cost. You don’t have to worry about tuition, because the act allows for freedom in that. You’re able to choose the school that’s best for your child, which differs per kid.
For our son and our family, choosing a smaller Christian school has been a big blessing. Anybody can now choose that if they want. They’re not limited on what school they can attend.
I want to say the biggest thank you to the people who worked to put this in place. However much hard work it took to get here, we’re thankful for the end product. It’s been a game-changer.”
Melissa Walker
Arkansas mom and Education Freedom beneficiary
