New Hampshire EFA Program Introduces ScholaVia Application System for Upcoming School Year

CONCORD, NH — The Children’s Scholarship Fund announced that applications for the New Hampshire Education Freedom Account program are open for the upcoming school year.

To support this cycle, the organization is launching a new online application system called ScholaVia. This platform is designed to provide families with a faster and more responsive experience when applying for program benefits.

The Education Freedom Account program allows families in New Hampshire to direct state adequacy grants toward various educational expenses. These expenses include school tuition, tutoring, instructional materials, online coursework, and other learning supports. As participation in the program has grown, the organization has invested in this new technology to simplify the application process. The system offers instantaneous feedback to applicants throughout the submission process.

One notable feature is the integration of Optical Character Recognition technology. This tool reviews uploaded documents in real time to determine if they meet program requirements. If a document does not pass the automated check, it is reviewed by staff for compliance. This allows parents to identify and correct potential issues immediately while they complete their application.

ScholaVia also provides families with greater transparency regarding their status, the org said. Once an application is completed and verified, families can see their place in line and their estimated grant award. The system includes live chat support for parents to receive assistance from staff during office hours.

The name ScholaVia reflects the mission behind the program — in Latin, schola means “school” and via means “path” or “way.” Together, the name represents the idea of helping families find their own educational path, Kate Baker Demers, the executive director of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, said.

“ScholaVia represents an important step forward for the families we serve,” she said. “As the program continues to grow, investing in modern technology allows us to make the application process easier for families while continuing to administer the program responsibly and efficiently.”

The organization administers the program on behalf of participating families and ensures state funds are managed in accordance with requirements. Through operational improvements, the fund currently maintains administrative costs of less than 8 percent, below the 10 percent limit established by state law.

Families can access the new application portal at the official website of the Children’s Scholarship Fund. The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that also administers Education Tax Credit scholarships in the state.