Arizona's Complete Guide to ESA Funds

The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is Arizona's state-funded program that lets parents put public education dollars toward private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum, and other approved learning expenses outside the public school system.

We're proud to be an ESA-funds approved education provider in Arizona.

Eligibility

Eligibility requirements for the ESA in Arizona

Every K–12 student in Arizona is eligible to participate in the state's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, regardless of family income, where the student lives within the state, or the student's past academic performance, and even if they already attend private schools or are homeschooled.

Students must meet three requirements:

Reside in Arizona
At least 5 years old by September 1st of the applicable school year
Students enrolled in public or charter schools must withdraw upon signing their ESA contract

Note — students cannot simultaneously accept ESA funds and a scholarship from Arizona's Student Tuition Organizations (STOs).

Application

The ESA application process in Arizona

Applications for ESA funds are submitted through the Arizona Department of Education's online portal.

To apply, applicants must submit:

The ESA application form, which includes student and family information
The student's birth certificate
A proof of residency document in the applicant's name (for example, utility bills, lease agreements, mortgage statements, bank statements, or insurance policies)

Applications are usually reviewed and rejected or approved within 30 days by the Arizona Department of Education.

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If approved, parents are then required to sign an ESA contract. Once an ESA contract is signed, if the student is enrolled in a public school they are automatically withdrawn.

Note — ESA funds are awarded per student and cannot be shared. Every child — including siblings — must apply for and receive their own scholarship.

To apply for Arizona ESA, applicants must submit the ESA application form, a proof of residency document, and the student's birth certificate

Using Your Funds

How to spend ESA funds and what they can be spent on

Once approved, ESA funds are deposited quarterly in the student's ClassWallet account. Neither students nor their parents receive the funds directly. While a portion of funding must be spent each year, any remaining funds remain in the account and roll over to the next year.

The purchasing of services using ESA funds happens through ClassWallet, in one of three ways depending on the expense:

1.Direct payment Parents submit a payment request through the ESA portal. The Arizona Department of Education then pays the school or provider directly.
2.Marketplace purchases Parents purchase approved items directly from vendors listed in the ClassWallet marketplace.
3.Reimbursement (rare) Parents pay out of pocket first and then upload receipts and documentation for reimbursement.

ESA funds can be spent on:

MyEdSpace (see more information below)
Private school tuition
Homeschool curricula
Classroom and school supplies
Testing fees for assessments such as SATs and ACTs
Laptops, textbooks, and arts, music, or STEM-related classes
The handbook states that "a portion of funds must be used for subjects including reading and grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science."

Some ESA funds must be allocated to subjects including reading and grammar, math, social studies, and science.

For students with documented disabilities, funding can also be used for educational therapies, evaluations, paraprofessionals, and other accommodations.

Note — ESA funds cannot be spent on public school tuition or unauthorized expenses.

All documentation related to purchases must be retained as they may be audited. Misuse of ESA funds can result in removal from the program and repayment.

MyEdSpace

How to use your ESA funds with MyEdSpace

Thanks to our expert teachers, world-class resources and proven record of success, MyEdSpace is approved by the Arizona Department of Education as a suitable option for spending ESA funds.

Families can use their ESA funds with MyEdSpace, to give their children access to the USA's top teachers, via live, online lessons. Plus all this:

Every live lesson is recorded and available to re-watch whenever and wherever, 24/7
Bespoke workbooks for every lesson
Targeted practice questions to reinforce knowledge
Step-by-step video explanations for every topic

How can you use your ESA funds with MyEdSpace — live online math classes with expert teachers

To use your funds with MyEdSpace, follow these simple steps:

1.Log in to your ClassWallet account
2.Search "MyEdSpace" in the Directory or on MyScholarShop
3.Select MyEdSpace and authorize the payment

At that point ClassWallet will work with us directly to process the transaction. Once processed, we'll email you your MyEdSpace login details. And, that's it.

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