Get an Eligibility Determination
Your child needs a special education Eligibility Determination from a North Carolina public school, issued within the last three years. A 504 plan isn’t accepted.
Coming soon to North Carolina ESA+
Once at Home: coming soon to North Carolina’s ESA+ program
Teach your child to read with fully scripted, one-to-one lessons in just 15 minutes a day. Once is coming soon to the North Carolina ESA+ marketplace. Get notified when North Carolina families can use ESA+ funds for Once.
North Carolina ESA+ status
Once is coming soon to North Carolina ESA+.
Home school option availableCurriculum is an allowed use
Reading instruction for North Carolina families
A complete reading plan without another subject to prep
Once tells you what to teach, what to say, and what comes next. You lead one focused lesson a day while Once provides the sequence and support.
Scripted curriculum
200+ ready-to-go lessons remove lesson-planning guesswork.
15 minutes a day
Short sessions fit around the rest of your family’s learning schedule.
Instructional coaching
Get guidance from a dedicated coach when you need support.
A clear path to reading
From letter sounds to connected stories
Each stage builds on the one before it, so you always know what to teach next.
1. Learn letter sounds
Build the foundation with focused, explicit practice connecting letters and sounds.
2. Blend sounds into words
Help your child combine sounds from left to right to read their first words.
3. Read connected stories
Build accuracy and fluency through one ongoing narrative with recurring characters.
How ESA+ works
For students with disabilities, with a home school option
ESA+ is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA) for children with disabilities who are eligible for special education. Families spend funds through ClassWallet. Once is coming soon to the North Carolina ESA+ marketplace.
Review NCSEAA’s ESA+ Program Rules and Requirements and 2026–27 eligibility requirements.
Apply to ESA+
The application for the 2027–28 school year opens on the first Monday in February. Students funded the prior year get renewal priority.
Spend through ClassWallet
Home school families buy curriculum from the ClassWallet marketplace, the only place to buy products with ESA+ funds. Once will appear there when it becomes available.
ESA+ details for 2026–27
What North Carolina families should know
ESA+ is only for students with disabilities. North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship pays private school tuition and fees only, so it can’t be used for Once at Home.
Kindergarten from age 5
Students must be 5 by August 31, or 4 by April 16 and approved for early kindergarten, and have a qualifying Eligibility Determination.
$9,000 or $17,000 a year
The base award is $9,000. Students with certain designated disabilities, such as autism or hearing impairment, may receive $17,000.
Home schoolers use the full award
Full-time home school students can spend the whole award on allowable expenses, including at least $500 on core subjects such as English/language arts.
Sources: North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority ESA+ page, Program Rules and Requirements, curriculum guidance, 2026–27 eligibility requirements, and Opportunity Scholarship FAQ. Program rules can change.
Questions from North Carolina families
ESA+ and Once FAQs
What is North Carolina’s ESA+ program?
Education Student Accounts (ESA+) help North Carolina families pay for education and services for children with disabilities. The program is administered by the North Carolina State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA). Funds can pay for private school tuition and allowable expenses such as curriculum, tutoring, educational technology, and therapies.
Is Once available through ESA+?
Once is coming soon to the North Carolina ESA+ marketplace. Until then, ESA+ funds can’t be used for Once at Home. Leave your details on this page and we’ll let you know when North Carolina families can use ESA+ funds for Once.
Who is eligible for ESA+?
ESA+ is for North Carolina children with a disability who are eligible for special education, as documented by an Eligibility Determination issued by a North Carolina public school within the last three years. A 504 plan is not accepted. Students must be at least 5 years old by August 31, or at least 4 by April 16 and approved for early kindergarten under state guidelines.
Can the Opportunity Scholarship pay for Once?
No. North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship can only pay tuition and required fees at registered private schools, and full-time home school is not an option for that program. ESA+ is the North Carolina program with a home school option and funds for curriculum.
How much is an ESA+ award?
The base award is $9,000 a year. Students with certain designated disabilities, including autism, hearing impairment, moderate or severe intellectual disability, orthopedic impairment, or visual impairment, may be eligible for $17,000 a year. Only the higher award allows some unused funds to roll over to the next school year.
Can home school families use ESA+?
Yes. Students enrolled in full-time home school can use the entire award for allowable expenses, such as curriculum and tutoring. For 2026–27, families must spend at least $500 per student on tuition, curriculum, or tutoring in core subjects, including English/language arts, to remain eligible and renew. Curriculum and other products can only be bought through the ClassWallet marketplace.
When can I apply?
The ESA+ application for the 2027–28 school year opens on the first Monday in February. Students funded in the prior year receive priority consideration as renewals.
How much does Once at Home cost?
Once at Home costs $49 per month and is free until your child reads their first three-letter word, with no credit card needed. You can start today while ESA+ availability is pending.
Start reading today
Begin 15 focused minutes a day now
Once at Home is free until your child reads their first three-letter word, with no credit card needed.
Get notified
Hear when Once is available through ESA+
Leave your name and email, and we’ll let you know when North Carolina families can use ESA+ funds for Once at Home. You can also send us a question.