Hi friends — Janae here. I've spent fifteen years as a school registrar in Arizona, and every week I dig through the official ESA and homeschool-law pages so you don't have to. Here's what actually changed — no hype, just the plain version.
North Carolina: a second round of ESA+ offers just went out
If you applied for ESA+ in the 2026-27 priority window and got waitlisted, check MyPortal. NCSEAA started sending additional offers on July 27, funded by the new state budget, and you have until Monday, August 17 to accept or decline. If you're on that waitlist, don't let this sit unopened. Action: log into MyPortal today and respond before the 17th, even if it's just to confirm your spot.
New Hampshire: homeschooling just got a lot less paperwork
Gov. Ayotte signed the "Home Education Freedom Act" (HB 1268): notifying the state is now optional, annual evaluations aren't required, and you're no longer legally required to keep records. Less red tape — but I'd still keep a simple portfolio going. If you ever apply to an EFA, a college, or move to a stricter state, having records beats reconstructing them from memory. Action: decide as a family whether you'll keep voluntary records — I'd lean toward yes.
Missouri: a data scare parents should know about
Reporting this week showed the Missouri Treasurer's office had a spreadsheet exposing MOScholars families' names, emails, schools, and award amounts, sitting accessible for months. Lawmakers are pushing for a security review. This wasn't a hack of any app you use — it was the state's own file. Action: MOScholars families, watch for official communication from the Treasurer's office, and be wary of any email or text asking you to "verify" account details — that's what a phishing attempt would look like right now.
Arizona: the ballot fight for ESAs isn't over
Two things happened in my home state: a judge blocked HCR 2048 from the November ballot for combining unrelated provisions, and the "Protect Education Act" — now Prop 212 — is facing a lawsuit over its signature-gathering. Neither ruling changes your ESA today; this is a fight over the program's future, not this year's funds or expense rules. Action: nothing to do yet, but if you vote in Arizona, watch this through the fall.
Quick hits
- Texas TEFA just published its first report: over 85,000 student accounts funded in year one — no rule changes.
- South Carolina ESTF sent its first 2026-27 quarterly ClassWallet payment and refreshed its approved-provider list — worth a quick look if you're shopping for a new vendor.
- Utah Fits All and Louisiana LA GATOR: both still waiting — Utah on a Supreme Court ruling, Louisiana on 2026-27 award notifications. Nothing new on either.
- Florida, West Virginia, Arkansas, Iowa, Tennessee, Wyoming, Indiana, and Alabama: no material changes this week.
That's the whole list — busier than most weeks, but nothing that should catch a prepared family off guard.
*Not legal advice — always confirm against your program's current official handbook.*