ATTENTION ALL PARENTS!
The EFA (Education Freedom Account) portal opens Monday, March 3rd and ALL parents will need to login to either renew or apply for the 2025-2026 school year. Please do this ASAP to ensure your child receives an EFA as there are priority timelines and we want all SH families to be approved.
NOTE: The EFA portal is in FACTS Grain and Aid Management. If you have applied for ACE or SH tuition assistance, you should use that password. If you have not, you will need to create a new account.
First Things First (for students who currently have an EFA ONLY)
One important step in this year’s process is linking your existing ClassWallet account with your FACTS application. To avoid delays, we strongly encourage you to retrieve your Student ID from ClassWallet before you begin your application. This ID is required when submitting your FACTS application and will help prevent duplicate ClassWallet accounts from being created.
How to Find Your Student ID in ClassWallet (ONLY FOR STUDENTS WHO CURRENTLY HAVE AN EFA):
- Log in to your ClassWallet account at app.classwallet.com.
- Navigate to Account Settings > Personal Settings.
- Your Student ID will be displayed under Student ID.
Why This Step Matters:
Having your Student ID ready before starting your FACTS application will save time and ensure a smoother submission process. It also helps prevent duplicate ClassWallet accounts, which could delay access to your EFA funds.
If you have any questions or need help locating your Student ID, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team at 877.969.5536 or help@classwallet.com
Complete your Application
All families, new and returning, will be required to create an account and submit an EFA application for the 25-26 school year. New and returning families can begin the application process by clicking on the application link at https://dese.link/efa. The primary parent or guardian will need to create an account with FACTS. If you already have a FACTS account, simply log in using your existing credentials. For new users, create an account first, then log in through the application portal.
Once logged in, the primary EFA contact will complete the application by providing personal and demographic information. The next section of the application will collect student data, allowing families to add multiple students under the same family login.
- Renewal applicants will be asked to answer a few questions about their current experience in the program but will not need to upload additional documents.
- New applicants will need to complete the full application and provide proof of Arkansas residency and verification of student date of birth (such as a birth certificate or other official document).
Typically, applications take up to 10 days to process. However, due to the high volume of applications expected in the first priority window, approvals may take longer during the initial review period.
How Applications Are Processed
Applications are not reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. Instead, they are evaluated and approved based on funding priority categories within designated application priority windows. Once a priority window closes, all submitted applications are reviewed together, with priority given to students in higher funding categories.
We remain optimistic that all Arkansas families who choose to participate in the EFA program will receive funding. However, if the number of applications exceeds available funding, those in the highest priority groups will be awarded first until all funds have been allocated. Any remaining eligible students will be placed on a rolling waitlist and will be considered for funding as openings occur, based on both their priority category and the date their eligibility was approved.
Who Gets Funded First? (Funding Priority Categories)
When applications are processed, they are reviewed in the following order:
- Priority 1: Returning EFA Participants – Students who are continuing in the EFA program.
- Priority 2: Students with Specialized Needs – Students who require additional educational support:
- Succeed Scholarship recipients
- Students with a disability under IDEA
- Homeless or foster students
- Priority 3: Students from Underserved Educational Environments – Students previously enrolled in a school rated D or F in the previous academic year. Priority 4: Military, First Responders & Law Enforcement Families – Students who are, or whose parents are:
- Active duty military
- Veterans
- Arkansas National Guard members
- Law enforcement officers
- First responders
- Priority 5: Early Education Students – First-time kindergarten students.
- Priority 6: New Students Without a Priority Qualification – Students who do not fall into any of the above categories.
Key Points to Remember
- The application will open at 8am on Monday, March 3. FACTS has prepared their server infrastructure to handle high application volume on the first few days, but if you experience any system slowness, please be patient and continue trying
- The link to the application and detailed EFA information will be on the EFA website here: http://dese.link/efa
- If you need to contact the EFA office, email us at ade.efa@ade.arkansas.gov or call us at 501-683-1876
- If you need support from ClassWallet, reach out to our support team at 877.969.5536 or help@classwallet.com
THIS SCHOOL YEAR'S EFA update:
- Current EFA families should have uploaded your Q3 to Classwallet. To pay your invoice, go to app.classwallet.com and login. Click Direct Pay and find Sacred Heart. Enter the amount listed on your invoice. The invoice number can be left blank. Click submit.
- Q4 invoices be sent in April and funds should be disbursed to pay the invoices by April 10, 2025.