New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account (EFA) program covers tutoring as an approved expense. Families receive their student’s NH per-pupil adequate education grant, plus any applicable differentiated aid for income, English language learner status, or disability, currently averaging about $4,911 per year. Your tutor must be an approved vendor in the ClassWallet system before you can pay them with EFA funds.
New Hampshire’s EFA program went universal in June 2025, and the response was immediate. More than 11,000 families applied within about a month of the law taking effect, filling the 10,000-student cap before the summer 2025 deadline. If you’re one of the families weighing whether to use your EFA funds for tutoring, or you’re already enrolled and want to get it right, this guide walks through how ESA funds work for online tutoring, how much you can spend, and how to actually pay your tutor without running into ClassWallet headaches.
What Is the New Hampshire EFA Program?
The Education Freedom Account program lets New Hampshire families redirect a portion of state education funding into a dedicated account for approved private educational expenses, including tutoring. CSF-NH (Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire) administers the program under RSA 194-F, following guidance in the CSF-NH EFA parent handbook. As of the 2025 to 2026 school year, every NH family with a school-age child can apply, regardless of income.
Who Qualifies for an EFA
To qualify, your child needs to be a New Hampshire resident, at least 5 years old by September 30, and eligible to enroll in a NH public school. Students currently enrolled full-time in a resident district public school or public charter school don’t qualify for the program.
Priority Groups That Skip the Waitlist
Four groups get priority and aren’t subject to the enrollment cap:
- Renewing EFA students – Families already in the program keep their spot automatically.
- Siblings of current EFA students – Younger brothers and sisters can apply anytime.
- Children with disabilities – Students who qualify under RSA 186-C:2 skip the waitlist.
- Lower-income families – Households at or below 350% of the federal poverty level get priority placement.
How Much Can You Spend on Tutoring?
Base Grant and Differentiated Aid
Your EFA grant equals your student’s NH per-pupil adequate education grant amount, plus any applicable differentiated aid. The exact figure depends on your student’s eligibility category and the current state funding formula.
| Funding Type | Approximate Amount |
|---|---|
| Base grant | Per-pupil adequate education grant amount, varies by formula |
| Additional aid: income at or below 185% FPL | $700 to $2,000 more |
| Additional aid: English language learner | Extra funding available |
| Additional aid: qualifying disability (IEP or ISP) | Extra funding available |
| Average grant, 2025 to 2026 | About $4,911 |
There’s no spending cap on tutoring specifically. If tutoring is your family’s main educational expense, you can put your entire EFA balance toward it.
Why Funds Roll Over Year to Year
Unused funds roll over year to year until your student graduates or leaves the program, so you can save across multiple years for a bigger tutoring commitment or spend consistently throughout the year. Money arrives in quarterly installments: 20% in September, 20% in November, 30% in January, and 30% in April.
Is Tutoring an Approved EFA Expense?
Yes. RSA 194-F:2, II.(c) explicitly lists tutoring as an approved expense, and it’s one of the most popular ways families use their EFA funds.
What Tutoring Covers
- One-on-one or small group tutoring – In person or online, whichever fits your family.
- Subject-specific help – Math, reading, writing, and science tutoring all qualify.
- Specialized instruction – Programs like Orton-Gillingham for dyslexia or structured literacy support.
- Test prep and academic coaching – Support for standardized tests or ongoing skill-building.
Tutoring needs to connect to the core knowledge domains required under NH law, things like reading, writing, math, science, and history.
What Tutoring Doesn’t Cover
General enrichment or recreational lessons that can’t be tied to academics won’t qualify. You also can’t use hand-written receipts, and payments through cash or gift cards aren’t accepted.
How to Pay for Tutoring Through ClassWallet
All EFA funds run through ClassWallet, a digital wallet platform. You won’t get a check or direct deposit, everything happens inside the system.
Direct Pay
If your tutor already holds approved ClassWallet vendor status, you can pay them directly. You’ll need to upload an itemized invoice with the provider’s name, invoice date, your child’s first and last name, a description of the service, and the amount due.
ClassWallet Marketplace
Some tutoring platforms, including Savvy Learning, list their services directly in the marketplace. You can search, pick a plan, and pay with just a few clicks.
Reimbursement
If you’ve already paid out of pocket, you can submit a reimbursement request with your receipts. CSF-NH notes reimbursements generally take longer to process than Marketplace or Direct Pay, since receipts require additional review.
Making Sure Your Tutor Is EFA-Approved
Here’s the part that trips up a lot of families: every tutoring provider must hold EFA approval before any payment goes through, whether you’re using Direct Pay or seeking reimbursement. There are no exceptions.
If you already have a tutor you love, check whether they’re listed in ClassWallet before you assume your funds will cover them. If they’re not registered, they’ll need to apply through CSF-NH as an Educational Service Provider. The approval process checks for a legitimate business entity, a background check, and relevant credentials or experience. Good news for families: tutors don’t need a state teaching certification to qualify, though certified teachers get fast-tracked.
One important rule to know: parents can’t pay themselves for tutoring their own EFA-enrolled children. CSF-NH policy explicitly prohibits this.
Tutoring for Kids With Dyslexia, ADHD, or Learning Differences
For families supporting kids with learning differences, EFA tutoring funds can open doors that might otherwise be out of reach. Specialized interventions like Orton-Gillingham tutoring, which can run $80 to $150 an hour or more, become far more manageable when covered by an EFA grant instead of paid entirely out of pocket. Our guide on ESA funding for dyslexia tutoring covers eligibility and approved programs in more depth.
Programs built around structured literacy, one-on-one instruction, and consistent weekly sessions tend to work well within the EFA framework, since they clearly connect to the core academic domains the program requires.
Things to Know Before You Enroll
A few practical considerations worth thinking through:
- Vendor approval takes time. If your preferred tutor isn’t approved yet, build in time for the application process before you’re counting on funds to flow.
- Reimbursements move slower than Direct Pay. Direct Pay or the ClassWallet Marketplace will generally get money to your tutor faster than a reimbursement request.
- The enrollment cap matters. New Hampshire’s cap grows to 12,500 students for 2026 to 2027, but not every applicant is guaranteed a spot outside the priority groups.
- Documentation has to be exact. Missing a student’s name or an unclear service description on an invoice is a common reason for denial.
- District enrollment affects eligibility. Full-time enrollment in your resident district public school or a public charter school affects EFA eligibility, though some public-school classes, activities, or services may still qualify as EFA expenses when properly arranged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a spending cap on tutoring specifically?
No. Unlike some expense categories, there’s no cap on how much of your EFA grant you can put toward tutoring. Fully homeschooled students can allocate their entire balance to it if that’s where their needs are.
How long does reimbursement take through ClassWallet?
CSF-NH doesn’t publish a fixed timeline, but reimbursements generally take longer to process than Direct Pay or Marketplace purchases because receipts require additional review.
Can I pay a family member or myself to tutor my child?
You can’t pay yourself to tutor your own EFA-enrolled child under CSF-NH policy. Other family members may be able to provide tutoring if they go through the standard approval process as an independent provider.
What happens if my tutor isn’t EFA-approved yet?
Payments can’t be processed until your provider registers in ClassWallet, even for reimbursements. Your tutor will need to apply through CSF-NH as an Educational Service Provider before you can use EFA funds for their services.
When is the deadline to apply for 2026 to 2027?
Applications for the 2026 to 2027 school year are open now, with a July 15 deadline for the full grant award. Mid-year, prorated applications are typically accepted through around February.
Key Takeaways
- Universal eligibility – Every NH family with a school-age child can apply, and the average grant runs about $4,911 per year.
- No tutoring spending cap – Unused funds roll over year to year, so families can save or spend consistently on tutoring.
- Vendor approval is required – Your tutor must register in ClassWallet before any payment, Direct Pay or reimbursement, can go through.
Ready to see how your EFA funds could work for your family? Schedule a free reading assessment and we’ll help you figure out the right fit.
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