Arizona School Choice Options
Arizona has a universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Every Arizona student in kindergarten through 12th grade can apply. The state puts 90% of the state funding a charter school would get for your child into an account. You can use it for private school tuition, curriculum, tutoring, therapies, and other approved costs. Applications are open year-round, and funds arrive in four quarterly deposits. In exchange, you sign a contract and teach at least reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science.
Day to day, ESA families must not enroll their child in a public district or charter school. They also may not file a homeschool affidavit. So ESA students are not legally homeschoolers, even when they learn at home. Families who stay under the homeschool law get no state funding. Arizona also has School Tuition Organization (STO) scholarships, which help with private school tuition. However, a child cannot use an ESA and an STO scholarship for the same time period. As of October 26, 2026, over 109,000 students were enrolled in the ESA program. For full details on each topic, open the sections below.
An ESA is an account run by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and funded with state tax dollars. It holds 90% of the state funding that would have gone to a school district or charter school for the student. It does not include federal or local funding (ADE: ESA Support; A.R.S. 15-2402(C)).
The amount depends on grade level and other factors. Students with a current IEP, MET evaluation, or 504 plan can receive more, based on their category (ADE ESA FAQ). Ask ADE for your child’s estimate.
All Arizona resident students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Entering kindergarten students must be at least 5 by January 1 of the contract year. Preschool students with a disability may also qualify (ADE: Eligibility Requirements). Public school attendance is not required under the universal category (ADE ESA FAQ).
ADE accepts applications online year-round and processes them within 30 days. You need the student’s birth certificate (full-color image) and proof of Arizona residency (ADE: Eligibility Requirements).
Funds come in four quarterly deposits: Q1 July 1-September 30, Q2 October 1-December 31, Q3 January 1-March 31, and Q4 April 1-June 30 (ADE: ESA Support).
Allowed uses include (A.R.S. 15-2402(B)(4)):
- Tuition or fees at a qualified private school, and required textbooks.
- Curricula and supplementary materials.
- Tutoring or teaching services.
- Nonpublic online learning programs.
- Standardized test, AP, and college admission exam fees.
- College tuition, fees, and textbooks at an eligible institution.
- Public school services, including individual classes and extracurricular programs.
- Computer hardware and devices mainly used for education, such as computers, tablets, calculators, microscopes, and printers.
- Educational therapies and related services for qualifying students with disabilities.
Not allowed: entertainment devices like TVs, phones, and game consoles, and most transportation (A.R.S. 15-2402(B)(6)).
When you sign the ESA contract, you agree to (A.R.S. 15-2402(B)):
- Teach at least reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science.
- Not enroll your child in a school district or charter school.
- Not accept an STO scholarship for the same time period.
- Use the funds only for allowed expenses.
- Not file a homeschool affidavit.
If you filed a homeschool affidavit before joining the ESA, notify your county school superintendent within 30 days that your child is no longer homeschooled (ADE ESA FAQ).
Arizona Department of Education, Empowerment Scholarship Account program: azed.gov/esa. ESA service center: 602-364-1969 (ADE).
Arizona taxpayers can get state tax credits for giving to School Tuition Organizations, which give scholarships for private school tuition. These scholarships are for private school students, not homeschoolers. A student cannot receive an ESA and STO funds for the same period (ADE ESA FAQ).
As of October 26, 2026, ADE reported 109,230 students enrolled in the ESA program for 2026-27 (ADE).
- A.R.S. 15-2401 and A.R.S. 15-2402 (Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts)
- Arizona Department of Education: Empowerment Scholarship Account, Eligibility Requirements & Application, and ESA Support
- ADE: H.B. 2853 Frequently Asked Questions
Last reviewed: October 31, 2026
*The information on this page is for general use only. It should not be taken as legal advice. It is believed to be accurate however state and federal laws change every year. Homeschool.net recommends joining an organization such as the Home School Legal Defense Association before your homeschooling adventure begins. HSLDA can provide complete, accurate, legal advice and services for homeschooling families.
Update History
- October 31, 2026
- Editorial/clarification: Replaced the coming-soon placeholder with a full guide to Arizona’s ESA and STO scholarships, sources, and a last-reviewed date.