Reclaiming Enrollment: What Districts Need to Know About Homeschool, ESA Programs, and Part-Time Options

Across the U.S., school districts face a shifting enrollment landscape. One of the most significant trends? The growing number of families opting out of traditional public school in favor of homeschooling, often supported by state-funded Education Savings Account (ESA) programs.

This trend presents challenges for district enrollment and funding, but also offers new opportunities for school systems to bring students back by thinking strategically. Flexible offerings, part-time enrollment, and even becoming an approved ESA provider are options for districts to consider.

Homeschool Growth: A Nationwide Shift

The rise in homeschool participation isn’t isolated—it’s happening across nearly every state. According to EdChoice’s 2025 ABCs of School Choice report:

• In Idaho, Alaska, and North Carolina, over 8% of students are homeschooled.
• Florida, Texas, and Georgia report some of the largest raw numbers of homeschool students.
• Families who choose to homeschool increasingly cite flexibility, safety, personalized learning, and dissatisfaction with traditional schooling as drivers.

The result? Fewer full-time enrollees in public schools and a direct hit to district budgets tied to Average Daily Membership (ADM) or Average Daily Attendance (ADA).

ESA Programs and Homeschool Access

Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) provide families with state funds to use on approved educational expenses, including online courses, tutoring, and supplemental curriculum. ESA programs in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina with active ESA programs explicitly include homeschool students.

In states like Arizona, where the ESA program is universal, districts can register as ESA vendors, offering part-time courses, tutoring, or credit-bearing virtual classes that homeschool families can purchase with ESA funds.

For districts, this is a chance to re-engage learners through non-traditional channels.

Part-Time Enrollment: A Prorated Path Forward

Another approach that’s gaining traction is part-time enrollment for homeschooled students. In some states, laws allow homeschoolers to enroll in one or more public school classes, which generates prorated funding for the district.

States with clear statutory language supporting part-time public school enrollment include:

• Illinois
• Indiana
• North Carolina (including ESA+ students)
• Wisconsin

Districts in these states can expand access to online electives, lab-based science courses, or CTE programs to incentivize re-engagement from homeschool families—without requiring full-time enrollment. And even in states without explicit language, local policy or board action may still allow part-time enrollment.

What Can Districts Do?

Forward-thinking school systems are proactively responding to these trends. Here’s how:

• Become an ESA provider: In states like Arizona or Alabama, districts can list approved courses, tutoring programs, or enrichment offerings on ESA marketplaces, reaching homeschool families directly.
• Offer flexible part-time pathways: Create course bundles or intervention services homeschool families can “opt into” based on need or interest.
• Market virtual and hybrid options: Highlight flexible, high-quality learning experiences available through your district—particularly for hard-to-staff subjects like AP, world languages, and STEM.
• Track local policy shifts: Monitor your state's ESA expansion and part-time rules. Laws are evolving quickly, and your district can be a leader. 

Families are seeking choice and flexibility. Districts that respond with adaptive programming, open access, and innovative partnerships stand the best chance not only of stemming enrollment losses, but turning them into opportunities for growth.

Learn how Edmentum can help you meet families' needs for flexibility and quality education while keeping students enrolled in your district with EdOptions Academy’s turnkey virtual learning.