Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is a universal education savings account providing approximately $7,000-8,000 annually for K-12 students to use on private education expenses including curriculum, tutoring, and educational therapy services.
What is Arizona Empowerment Scholarship?
The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program deposits state education funds directly into a family's digital spending account through ClassWallet. Parents use these funds for approved educational expenses instead of enrolling their child in public school. Arizona pioneered the ESA model in 2011, and in 2022 expanded to universal eligibility—making it the nation's first fully universal education savings account program. As of late 2025, nearly 99,000 Arizona students benefit from ESAs, receiving quarterly deposits they can spend on everything from curriculum packages to specialized therapies.
Key Takeaways
- Universal eligibility: all Arizona K-12 students qualify regardless of income or prior school enrollment
- Standard funding is approximately $7,000-8,000 per student annually; students with disabilities may receive $25,000-43,000
- Funds cover curriculum, tutoring, therapy, technology, private school tuition, and many other educational expenses
- Quarterly deposits managed through ClassWallet require expense reporting before next quarter funds release
Eligibility Requirements
Since the 2022 universal expansion, all Arizona K-12 students are eligible regardless of family income, zip code, or academic performance. The only core requirements: the student must be Arizona resident, at least 5 years old by January 1st of the contract year for kindergarten, and cannot be simultaneously enrolled in public school. Students who have never attended public school (lifelong homeschoolers or private school students) are fully eligible. Special categories—including preschoolers with disabilities, children of military members killed in duty, and foster children—have additional pathways to eligibility.
What ESA Funds Cover
ESA-eligible expenses are notably broad. Core uses include private school tuition and fees, homeschool curriculum and supplementary materials, tutoring and teaching services, online learning programs, textbooks, and educational technology. Testing fees (standardized tests, AP exams, SAT/ACT prep), college dual enrollment tuition, and educational therapies for eligible students are covered. The program even allows school uniforms, transportation costs, and fees for services provided by public schools. About 63% of state funds go toward tuition and textbooks, with curriculum and supplementary materials representing the next largest category.
Expenses Not Covered
Application and Funding Timeline
Applications are processed within 30-45 days. Once approved, families receive an acceptance letter with their ESA amount, contract, and parent handbook. After signing the contract, a ClassWallet account is created within approximately three weeks. Funds are deposited quarterly based on when you signed your contract: Quarter 1 deposits occur July 15-30, Quarter 2 in late October, Quarter 3 in early February, and Quarter 4 in mid-April. Submit expense reports quarterly through ClassWallet—the next quarter's funds won't release until your current report is submitted.
The Bottom Line
Arizona's ESA program represents the most expansive school choice option in the country. The combination of universal eligibility, generous funding, and broad spending flexibility makes it viable for families across the educational spectrum—from those purchasing curriculum for traditional homeschooling to those funding specialized therapies for children with disabilities. The quarterly reporting requirement adds administrative responsibility, but the financial benefit substantially offsets the paperwork. For Arizona families exploring alternatives to public school, the ESA program deserves serious evaluation during educational planning.
