I am writing to share my family’s experience with Education Freedom Accounts (EFAs) this year, hoping it might be helpful for new families who are becoming eligible for EFAs next school year. My daughter, who has autism, faced significant challenges in the public school system, especially after moving to a larger middle school following the pandemic. Despite our efforts and the school administration’s kindness, she experienced relentless bullying, which led to depression and thoughts of self-harm.

Feeling helpless, my husband and I began looking for another school for our child. We knew that this would be a financial commitment for our family because a smaller environment is typically where she does best, and to access that, we would need to consider private schools in our area. Thankfully, we were able to access EFAs to help pay the tuition. While EFAs do not cover the entire tuition, they do provide significant assistance, allowing us to bridge the financial gap and provide a more suitable environment for our daughter. While we are supporters of public schools, we believe in finding the right fit for each child.

Since transitioning to a private school with the help of EFAs, our daughter has transformed. The smaller student-teacher ratios and the school’s focus on supporting her social and academic needs have made a world of difference. She is now thriving academically and is a much happier and more confident student.

While EFAs may not be the solution for everyone, I am grateful they were an option for our family. I encourage other families facing similar challenges to consider EFAs as a way to find the right educational environment for their children.

– Cindy Watson, Rogers