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North Carolina Homeschool Funding

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Last updated: October 8, 2025

North Carolina Homeschool Funding

ESA+ (special needs), Opportunity Scholarships (private school), and how access works for homeschoolers.

NC
Funding guide
State programs

Main program

Program name: Education Student Accounts (ESA+)

Admin: North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)

Typical award

Amount: $9,000 (Base) or $17,000 (Designated Disabilities) per eligible student with disabilities.

Disbursement: Direct pay to providers/schools and parent reimbursements through the NCSEAA portal.

Opportunity Scholarship (separate program) is income-tiered and applied to private school tuition (not homeschool purchases).

Who qualifies

  • Residency: NC resident student (K–12 age).
  • Needs/other: ESA+ requires documented qualifying disability. Opportunity Scholarship is income-based and for private school enrollees.
  • Homeschool access: Registered home schools are eligible settings for ESA+ spending.

Timeline

  • Application (priority): Early February → Early March (exact dates vary by year).
  • Fund availability: Late summer for fall; spring payment in January.

Overview

North Carolina does not fund general homeschooling. The main state aid a homeschool can use directly is ESA+ for students with qualifying disabilities; ESA+ funds can pay for curriculum, tutoring, therapies, and more while enrolled in a registered home school. Opportunity Scholarship is separate—an income-based award paid toward private school tuition and fees—and cannot be used for homeschool purchases. Eligible high school homeschoolers can also take community college courses via Career & College Promise (CCP) if they meet entry criteria.

Programs

Education Student Accounts (ESA+)

  • Type: Education Savings Account (special needs)
  • Award: $9,000 Base or $17,000 for Designated Disabilities (annual)
  • Uses: Tuition, tutoring/instruction, curriculum, therapies, assessments, educational technology, and more (see “Allowable Expenses”).
  • Admin: NC State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA)
  • Homeschool access: Registered home schools are eligible settings for ESA+ spending.

ESA+ program page

Opportunity Scholarship (private school)

  • Type: State-funded private school scholarship (voucher)
  • Award: Income-tiered, about $3,000–$7,000 paid to participating nonpublic schools
  • Uses: Private school tuition/fees only (no homeschool purchases)
  • Admin: NCSEAA

Opportunity Scholarship program page

Career & College Promise (CCP) – dual enrollment

  • Type: Tuition-free community college courses for eligible high school students
  • Award: Tuition covered; books/fees vary by college
  • Uses: College transfer and CTE pathways
  • Admin: NC Community College System (local colleges)

CCP overview (NC Community Colleges)

Eligibility

  • Residency: Student is a North Carolina resident.
  • Age/grade: K–12 school-age students (per compulsory attendance and program rules).
  • Prior enrollment:
    • ESA+: Student has a qualifying disability; may be enrolled in a home school, private school, or other approved setting.
    • Opportunity Scholarship: Student must enroll in a participating private school; awards are income-tiered.
  • Documentation:
    • ESA+: Requires disability documentation per program rules.
    • OSP: Requires income documentation and school participation.
  • Stacking: Programs can’t be stacked for the same tuition costs; OSP funds cannot be used for homeschool purchases.

How to apply

  1. Create a MyPortal account (or sign in) during the priority window.
  2. Complete the application for ESA+ and/or Opportunity Scholarship and upload required documentation (residency; income for OSP; disability documentation for ESA+; homeschool Notice of Intent if applicable).
  3. Choose providers/schools: For ESA+, submit direct-pay or reimbursement requests to approved providers; for OSP, select a participating private school.
  4. Track and accept awards in the portal; submit receipts as required for reimbursements.

Go to NCSEAA MyPortal (K–12)

Covered expenses

  • Curriculum & textbooks
  • Tutoring / instructor services
  • Special education therapies (OT, PT, speech, ABA, etc.)
  • Tests & psychoeducational assessments
  • Educational software & adaptive technology
  • Supplies & instructional materials
  • Transportation related to services (per program rules)
  • Tuition & fees (if using a participating nonpublic school)
  • Educational field experiences (as allowed)
  • Note: Opportunity Scholarship funds are for private school tuition/fees only—no homeschool purchases.

See the detailed, program-maintained list of ESA+ Allowable Expenses for current categories, caps, and documentation requirements.

Deadlines

Milestone Date Notes
Priority application window (ESA+ & OSP) Early Feb → Early Mar Check current-year dates on NCSEAA’s K–12 pages.
Award notifications Spring–Summer Accept award by portal deadline.
Fall payment cycle Aug–Sep Direct-pay and reimbursements begin for approved expenses.
Spring payment cycle Jan Second semester disbursements.

Docs & forms

Official sources

FAQs

Can ESA+ funds cover extracurriculars?
Possibly, if the activity has a clear educational purpose and fits an allowable expense category (e.g., instructional classes, educational field experiences) with the right documentation. Always check ESA+ Allowable Expenses and ask NCSEAA if unsure.
Do Opportunity Scholarship funds work for homeschooling?
No. OSP only pays private school tuition/required fees at participating schools. It can’t be used to purchase homeschool curriculum, supplies, or services.
How long do ESA+ reimbursements take?
Processing times vary by volume and documentation completeness. Expect several weeks from submission to payment; using direct-pay to providers can be faster.
Can my homeschooler dual-enroll?
Yes—eligible NC homeschool high schoolers may take community college courses tuition-free through Career & College Promise (local college entry criteria apply). Access to public-school classes/extracurriculars is at local district discretion.

Contacts

NCSEAA — K-12 Programs

Email (ESA+): ESA@ncseaa.edu
Email (Opportunity Scholarship): OpportunityScholarships@ncseaa.edu
Phone: 855-330-3955
Portal: myportal.ncseaa.edu

NC Division of Non-Public Education (DNPE)

Homeschool website & Notice of Intent

Law & regulations