Best online enrichment programs to book with your ESA funds in 2026-27

If your family has an Education Savings Account, now is the right time to plan your enrichment lineup for the 2026-27 school year — before fall schedules fill up and budgets get stretched. ESA programs in most states cover a broad range of online learning expenses, including enrichment classes in subjects that traditional schools can't offer or barely have time for.

Here's a category-by-category look at what families are booking, plus how to use your ESA funds on Outschool depending on how your state's program works.

What counts as "enrichment" under most ESA programs?

ESA eligibility varies by state, but most programs allow funds for online educational programs, supplemental instruction, and tutoring. Enrichment classes — coding, music, visual art, foreign languages, writing, STEM projects — typically qualify when provided by an approved vendor or submitted for reimbursement.

How payment works depends on your state's model:

Before booking, confirm your state's approved vendors or eligible expense categories. Our ESA approved expenses guide has a full breakdown of what each type of program typically covers.

Coding and computer science

Coding is consistently among the most-booked enrichment subjects for ESA families — and among the highest-value uses of those funds. It builds problem-solving, logical thinking, and persistence that transfers across every other subject, and for kids growing up in an AI-embedded world, computational thinking is increasingly foundational.

Outschool's coding catalog runs from visual block coding for younger kids (Scratch, Tynker) through Python, JavaScript, game design, web development, and app building for teens. Classes are live and interactive, with small class sizes — kids get real feedback from a real teacher, not auto-graded exercises.

Browse coding classes on Outschool

Music and performing arts

Music instruction is one of the most underserved enrichment areas for homeschool families — and one where ESA funds make a real difference. Piano, guitar, violin, vocal music, music theory, songwriting — Outschool's catalog covers a wide range, with both group classes and 1-on-1 private lessons available.

For kids who are serious about an instrument, a recurring weekly class with a consistent teacher builds the kind of relationship and progression that moves skill development forward over a full year.

Browse music classes on Outschool

Visual arts

Drawing, painting, illustration, graphic design, and digital art are available as live classes — not just prerecorded tutorials. The live format matters: a teacher who can see your kid's work in real time and respond directly is a meaningfully different experience from watching a video alone. Outschool's art catalog spans foundational technique through portfolio development for high schoolers with bigger ambitions.

Browse art classes on Outschool

Foreign languages

Language learning works best when it's interactive, consistent, and starts young. A weekly live class with a real teacher is one of the most research-supported approaches to language acquisition for kids — and one of the most underutilized uses of ESA funds.

Outschool's language catalog includes Spanish, French, Mandarin, Japanese, American Sign Language, and more, across beginner to advanced levels for kids ages 3–18. For families serious about fluency, booking a recurring weekly class compounds fastest over the school year.

Browse language classes on Outschool

Writing and humanities

Creative writing, essay writing, journalism, debate, logic, philosophy, history — these are subjects where a lot of homeschool families feel under-resourced, particularly for middle and high schoolers working toward college-level writing and critical thinking. Live online classes provide access to subject-matter experts in a way that's hard to replicate from a workbook alone.

Strong writing pays off across every other academic subject and standardized test. For families who want to invest enrichment funds in a skill with wide transfer value, writing classes are a natural choice.

STEM and science enrichment

For kids who want to go deeper than most homeschool science curricula allow, live STEM classes can introduce concepts, surface new interests, and push academically driven kids further. Outschool's science catalog ranges from curiosity-driven exploration classes for younger kids through rigorous chemistry, biology, physics, and environmental science for middle and high schoolers.

Browse science classes on Outschool

How to book Outschool classes with your ESA funds

ClassWallet: Log into ClassWallet, find Outschool in the vendor directory, and shop directly from your balance.

Odyssey: Browse and book through the Odyssey marketplace.

Direct reimbursement: Pay at checkout on Outschool, then submit your receipt through your state's portal. Most programs process reimbursements within 4–6 weeks.

Not sure which model your state uses? Find your state's full guide at Outschool's ESA guide collection.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use ESA funds for multiple subjects on Outschool?

Yes. There's no bundling required — you can book a coding class, a piano lesson, and a writing workshop in the same week, all through the same platform and the same ESA balance (in ClassWallet or Odyssey states).

Can I book 1-on-1 tutoring with ESA funds?

In most states, yes — tutoring is an explicitly eligible expense in almost every ESA program. Outschool offers 1-on-1 tutoring across academic subjects alongside group enrichment classes. Browse tutoring options here.

Do ESA funds expire?

This depends on your state's program rules. Some accounts roll funds over year to year; others have annual spending windows. Check your program's parent portal before any end-of-year deadlines.

Is Outschool ESA-eligible in my state?

Outschool is an approved vendor in ClassWallet and Odyssey states, and reimbursable in most direct-reimbursement states as an online educational program. Check your state's approved vendor list or Outschool's financial assistance page for state-specific confirmation.

Browse enrichment classes on Outschool — pay only for what your kids want to learn.