ESA · Secular Curriculum
Common secular homeschool curriculum options families consider for ESA funds
There isn’t one universally best secular homeschool curriculum for ESA fundsbecause reimbursement depends on your state’s rules, your program’s allowed expense categories, and often whether the purchase must go through an approved marketplace or provider at the time you buy.
Why “best” is tricky with ESA funds
“Secular” means the content is not religious. “ESA-eligible” means your specific state’s ESA program allows that category of expense and that your purchase follows any provider or portal rules. Those are two different checks, and both matter.
Before you buy: a quick ESA checklist
- Is the item in an allowed category? Look for curriculum, textbooks, tutoring, or instructional services.
- Does your program require a specific purchase path? Some ESAs use reimbursement or require approved providers.
- Is the provider or platform approved in your state? Approval varies by state and product.
- Do you need proof of educational use? Save receipts, course outlines, login pages, and curriculum descriptions.
The secular curriculum options families often consider for ESA funds
| Program | Type | Best for | ESA note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time4Learning | Full online curriculum | Families who want one structured daily program with less planning | Easiest to map to 'curriculum' category — still verify your state's rules |
| Khan Academy / Khanmigo | Practice, review, targeted support | Skill practice, filling gaps, pairing with a main curriculum | Often treated as supplemental — verify your state's instructional-materials category |
| IXL Learning | Graded practice, skill review | Math, grammar, spelling, reading extra practice | Supplemental tool — check whether your state's ESA allows online learning support |
| Outschool | Live online classes with a teacher | Writing, science, history, art, enrichment with live instruction | Trickiest category — approval varies by state, program, and platform rules |
Time4Learning: full online curriculum
Time4Learning is a strong fit for families who want a full structured online curriculum — it works like a full curriculum, not just a workbook, and can reduce parent prep time. A full curriculum is often easier to map to a state’s “curriculum” allowance than a loose bundle of educational tools. But you still need to verify your state’s rules before purchase.
Khan Academy / Khanmigo: practice and targeted support
Good for practice, review, and targeted support in subjects like math and reading. Not a full homeschool program the same way Time4Learning is, but can be a smart part of a secular homeschool plan. Often best thought of as a supplemental learning tool. Whether it is reimbursable depends on how your state treats instructional materials or online learning support.
IXL Learning: graded practice and skill review
Solid choice for families who want graded practice and skill review — especially useful if your child needs extra work in math, grammar, spelling, or reading. As with Khan Academy, the question is not only whether it is secular. The question is whether your ESA will treat it as an allowed instructional expense.
Outschool: live online classes
Useful for families who want live online classes with a teacher. Outschool may be reimbursable depending on your state’s eligible category and platform/provider rules. Live classes may fit one ESA’s allowable category rules but not another’s. Check before you book.
State reality check: why your location changes the answer
Arizona
Arizona’s ESA rules show how much documentation can matter. ADE says it will approve reasonable education-related expenses, but for items not usually known as educational, families may need to show proof of a course of study and a formal curriculum. Arizona also keeps final approval authority.
Wyoming
Wyoming’s ESA page says the program was established in 2024 and amended in 2025 under the Steamboat Legacy Scholarship Act. The state ESA amount is $7,000 annually for 2025–26. Eligibility includes Wyoming residents in pre-K through grade 12 who are not enrolled in a public school for 2025–26. The fourth quarter payment of $1,750 for 2025–26 can be rolled over into 2026–27 for previously approved students who were not enrolled in public school for 2025–26.
How to choose
- Need a full school plan? Start with Time4Learning.
- Need practice in one subject? Start with Khan Academy or IXL.
- Need live classes? Look at Outschool, then check approval rules first.