{"id":37907,"date":"2022-12-30T14:40:08","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T21:40:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/?p=37907"},"modified":"2023-08-04T10:58:22","modified_gmt":"2023-08-04T17:58:22","slug":"arizona-esa-funds-private-home-school-tutoring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/arizona-esa-funds-private-home-school-tutoring\/","title":{"rendered":"How Arizona ESA Works: Get Funding for Private or Home School"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-26df0509 gb-headline-text\">I know the question burning in your mind. You\u2019re hearing everyone going on and on about the Arizona ESA program and what it means for them. And finally, the collective din has worn you down enough to punch \u201c<strong>What is an ESA Scholarship<\/strong>\u201d into that search bar.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-c6fcfd2a gb-headline-text\">I\u2019ve got you. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-654227fe gb-headline-text\">Let me start by assuring you\u2026I am the perfect person to talk to you about the new Empowerment Scholarship Account in Arizona. Not only am I a homeschool ESA parent, but our business the Dearing Acting Studio is a proud ESA vendor.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5b417249 gb-headline-text\">We\u2019ve seen both sides of this exciting new iteration of the ESA Scholarship. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-c5755d5e gb-headline-text\">Beyond this, I am the same woman who looked up wearily from her laptop 2 months ago and said to my husband \u201cThere is a learning curve here.\u201d <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-a0cc4b04 gb-headline-text\">There IS a learning curve involved to become an ESA family. Hopefully, this article will allow you to draft behind me in this racing circuit and save you some time!<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-0b903c03 gb-headline-text\">The ESA Scholarship has been a wonderful thing for our family, and my hope in writing this information is that it may help you determine if it&#8217;s also right for you!<\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"simpletoc-title\">Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<style>html { scroll-behavior: smooth; }<\/style><ul class=\"simpletoc-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#arizona-esa-what-is-it-and-who-qualifies\">Arizona ESA: What Is It and Who Qualifies?<\/a>\n\n\n<ul><li>\n<a href=\"#butwhat-is-the-arizona-empowerment-scholarship\">But\u2026What IS The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship?<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#who-qualifies-for-the-arizona-esanbspnbsp\">Who Qualifies for the Arizona ESA?&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#arizona-esa-amount-how-much-money-can-students-receive\">Arizona ESA Amount: How Much Money Can Students Receive?<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-if-i-have-more-than-one-esa-student\">What if I have more than one ESA student?<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#how-do-i-access-esa-moniesnbsp\">How Do I Access ESA Monies?&nbsp;<\/a>\n\n\n<ul><li>\n<a href=\"#how-can-the-esa-funds-be-used\">How Can The ESA Funds Be Used?<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#starting-suggestions-for-homeschool-curriculum\">Starting Suggestions for Homeschool Curriculum<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#esa-homeschool-allowable-enrichment-activities\">ESA Homeschool Allowable Enrichment Activities<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#can-esa-monies-pay-for-private-schools\">Can ESA Monies Pay for Private Schools?<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#how-to-set-up-an-arizona-empowerment-scholarship-account\">How to Set Up an Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account<\/a>\n\n\n<ul><li>\n<a href=\"#documentation-youll-neednbsp\">Documentation You\u2019ll Need&nbsp;<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<li><a href=\"#now-youre-an-esa-familynbsp\">Now you\u2019re an ESA family!&nbsp;<\/a>\n\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#kid-classes-at-dearing-acting-studio\">Kid Classes at Dearing Acting Studio<\/a>\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-7b33a243 gb-headline-text\">Back to your question: <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-7f1e5b76 gb-headline-text\" id=\"arizona-esa-what-is-it-and-who-qualifies\">Arizona ESA: What Is It and Who Qualifies?<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-5ab97164\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"223\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-5ab97164\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/arizona-department-of-education.jpg\" alt=\"\" title=\"arizona-department-of-education\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/arizona-department-of-education.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/arizona-department-of-education-300x84.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/arizona-department-of-education-768x214.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/arizona-department-of-education-600x167.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-90032d08 gb-headline-text\">First things first. Arizona\u2019s ESA or Empowerment Scholarship Account is actually not a new program! Originally available to children with special needs or those with unique circumstances, the expansion has made it a resource for thousands of new families. (If you\u2019re reading this, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019re one of them!)<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-9fa8ad72 gb-headline-text\" id=\"butwhat-is-the-arizona-empowerment-scholarship\">But\u2026What IS The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b510a36c gb-headline-text\">Reduced down to its most simple premise, the ESA is an account. The funding comes from state tax dollars that can now \u201cfollow\u201d your student to the best educational setting for them! Eligible students now receive 90% of the State funding that would have gone to the student\u2019s district (or charter school) had they elected to participate in the public school system.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-533b9115 gb-headline-text\">This provides options for qualified students to use these public monies in whatever way serves your student best. ESA funds do not count as taxable income and can be used in a myriad of helpful and enriching ways! If your family wishes to utilize a private school or homeschool, the Arizona ESA expansion is a wonderful resource. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-0fe4725b gb-headline-text\">So let\u2019s talk through a few of the most common questions regarding the Empowerment Scholarship.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-739dccee gb-headline-text\" id=\"who-qualifies-for-the-arizona-esanbspnbsp\">Who Qualifies for the Arizona ESA?  <\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-81d59ae7\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-81d59ae7\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" title=\"group-of-kids\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/group-of-kids-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-96c7113d gb-headline-text\">Well\u2026Everyone! Under the Empowerment Scholarship revisions, all Arizona students in grades K-12 are eligible. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-c70f6975 gb-headline-text\">There is no income limit or prior-year school requirement. There are no geographic limits! (I\u2019m looking at you, Wickenburg.)<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-64037e32 gb-headline-text\">Just as long as it\u2019s in the state of Arizona, you qualify. The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship is offered to all K-12 students, plus pre-K with disabilities. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-463f19c6 gb-headline-text\">One other important caveat is that no \u201cdouble dipping\u201d is allowed. In other words, you should not accept an ESA scholarship if you\u2019re the recipient of any other state tuition tax credits. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d684f357 gb-headline-text\">So now you know which students qualify. What about the parents? <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-ab3811d4 gb-headline-text\">Parents will sign an agreement to do the following things:<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Educate their ESA students in the subjects of reading and grammar, math, science and social studies. (Although you won\u2019t want to stop there with so many amazing curriculum choices!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Release the school district from its obligation to educate your ESA student.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Not take any other scholarships<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use the money in your student&#8217;s ESA ClassWallet account for the approved educational materials and supplements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-10491bb5 gb-headline-text\" id=\"arizona-esa-amount-how-much-money-can-students-receive\">Arizona ESA Amount: How Much Money Can Students Receive?<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-00d2fe1c\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-00d2fe1c\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"Bag of money and mortar board.\" title=\"money-and-mortar-board\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/money-and-mortar-board-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-629a05dc gb-headline-text\">There is a slight variance in the amount ESA Scholarship money your family will receive based on age and other factors. However, the average amount is $6,500 &#8211; $7,000 per student per year. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-84a7a1bf gb-headline-text\">Parents and students can access the funds in their account (called their \u201cClassWallet\u201d) for qualifying educational purchases such as private school tuition, homeschool curriculum, educational vendors, tutors, and more! <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-fe5de7a7 gb-headline-text\" id=\"what-if-i-have-more-than-one-esa-student\">What if I have more than one ESA student?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-4f644cd6 gb-headline-text\">Welcome to the club! Once you log in to your ESA account, you can easily toggle back and forth between your student\u2019s accounts on the ClassWallet website. Look for the \u201cwelcome\u201d menu and click \u201cswitch to user.\u201d<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-fbfd4ef8 gb-headline-text\">The only other thing you need is a little more organization in your life! You\u2019ll need to make sure you keep track of the purchases made for each individual student.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-cf6cc2b7 gb-headline-text\">The reason for tracking is that you\u2019re required to upload receipts for every purchase made!<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-8b6bef2e gb-headline-text\">Things like educational games, teaching tools, texts, literature\u2026there\u2019s so much wonderful material available for your students. Just make sure you devise an effective way to file your paper receipts (or digital receipts) for your own records. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-0365a621 gb-headline-text\" id=\"how-do-i-access-esa-moniesnbsp\">How Do I Access ESA Monies? <\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-e74eca02\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"838\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-e74eca02\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet.png\" alt=\"Classwallet logo.\" title=\"class-wallet\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet.png 1600w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet-300x157.png 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet-1024x536.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet-768x402.png 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet-1536x804.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/class-wallet-600x314.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-422e6ded gb-headline-text\">You will be able to access your Empowerment Scholarship Account student\u2019s funds through a third-party vendor, ClassWallet. You can log in through<a href=\"http:\/\/esa.azed.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> esa.azed.gov<\/a> and access your student\u2019s ClassWallet account, or through the Class Wallet page directly. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3cf8eb99 gb-headline-text\">There are three ways to make purchases through the ESA. <\/p>\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>You can purchase the items you need directly and submit for reimbursement.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Families can shop directly through ClassWallet Marketplace. Lots of vendors are available directly through the website. Simply click \u201cStart shopping\u201d!<br><br>(For a more detailed article about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.azed.gov\/esa\/classwallet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Arizona ESA ClassWallet<\/strong><\/a>, click here. For a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fYr6kyaQ5V8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>ClassWallet video tutorial<\/strong><\/a> click here.) You can also pay a private school or service through ClassWallet, if that vendor is registered.<br><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Empowerment Scholarship families can also request a debit card for each student\u2019s account to make purchases simple! This is my personal favorite. It ensures that your child\u2019s approved vendors get paid quickly and easily.<br><br>You will simply upload a receipt into the ClassWallet account for each debited transaction. There is a $10 one-time fee for the debit card. (One note: While you can use the debit card for most purchases, you cannot use it directly to pay private school tuition fees.<br><br>That would be done inside the ClassWallet portal!) Just make sure to stay on top of those receipt uploads! After 20 transactions if you have failed to submit your receipts, the card will be deactivated. It really only takes a minute once you get the hang of it, I promise.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d9f33318 gb-headline-text\">At the time I\u2019m writing this article, the department is still adapting to the expansion so I will say from personal experience that the easiest ways to pay are the ESA Debit Card and reimbursements.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-24654768 gb-headline-text\">This may change in the coming months as systems continue to be refined.  Currently, ClassWallet is moving a little bit slow on vendor payments (30+ days), so using the debit card has been the smoothest way to pay vendors at this time. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3f325951 gb-headline-text\" id=\"how-can-the-esa-funds-be-used\">How Can The ESA Funds Be Used?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-fc7a781e gb-headline-text\">Now, on to the fun part. There is so much flexibility built into the ESA Scholarship! <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-12f7ac28 gb-headline-text\">Once you apply and are accepted, there is a short waiting period for your ClassWallet to be funded. This process happened very quickly for our family. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-bd743e3d gb-headline-text\">ESA Scholarship families are required to provide instruction in the following subjects: Reading, Grammar, Social Studies, Math and Science. The curriculum you use is entirely up to you! <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d063a3e0 gb-headline-text\" id=\"starting-suggestions-for-homeschool-curriculum\">Starting Suggestions for Homeschool Curriculum<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-4fb7ef91\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"344\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-4fb7ef91\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/students-holding-books.jpeg\" alt=\"\" title=\"students-holding-books\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/students-holding-books.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/students-holding-books-300x129.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/students-holding-books-768x330.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/students-holding-books-600x258.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-1fb7d438 gb-headline-text\">I\u2019ve been homeschooling since my eldest (now 10) was in kindergarten. Since then I\u2019ve come across a number of terrific curriculum choices that could fill an entire blog!<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-8252d98e gb-headline-text\">That said if you\u2019re looking for a place to start I can confidently recommend any of the following as a start to your search. This list is by no means exhaustive! A simple internet search will provide countless others. <\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>All-In-One-Boxed Curriculum:<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Memoria Press, My Father\u2019s World, Sonlight, Simply Charlotte Mason, A Gentle Feast, Teaching Textbooks, Ambleside Online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Math: Beast Academy (math), Math-U-See, Horizons Math, Saxon<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>History: Story of the World<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reading: All About Reading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Language Arts: Brave Writer, Logic of English<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spelling: Traditional Spelling, Spelling Workout<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Science: Science In The Ancient World, Apologia<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-a5173ba8 gb-headline-text\">Again, this is just a jumping-off point! I can (and just might) do a whole blog post just devoted to this topic.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-f46f37df gb-headline-text\">There are marvelous curriculum choices for poetry, Shakespeare, Spanish, Logic, Literature, Christian Studies, and more that have become central to our personal homeschool.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-72c6f2a8 gb-headline-text\">My oldest two homeschool students are currently in their second and fourth years of Latin (for my 3rd and 5th graders respectively). The breadth of their learning extends way beyond the required categories. Yours will too, trust me. It\u2019s so wonderful to see where a student&#8217;s natural curiosity blossoms! <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-60b64155 gb-headline-text\">Also, remember that the Arizona Department of Education ESA funds can be used for <strong>enrichment activities<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5ecf20db gb-headline-text\">What things matter most to your children? My oldest son, for example, is currently receiving instruction in the form of swim lessons, private drum lessons and twice-weekly <a href=\"\/acting-classes\/\"><strong>acting classes<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-c2aa013d gb-headline-text\">My daughter is currently taking piano lessons, ballet lessons and acting classes.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-2245a214 gb-headline-text\">What will this look like in your house?<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5f38e29c gb-headline-text\">Part of what makes homeschooling such a wonderful option for so many is that your students will have more time to spend in the areas that they care about the most! <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-53581182 gb-headline-text\" id=\"esa-homeschool-allowable-enrichment-activities\">ESA Homeschool Allowable Enrichment Activities<\/h3>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-891fe6bd\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-891fe6bd\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/happy-kids.png\" alt=\"\" title=\"happy-kids\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/happy-kids.png 1280w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/happy-kids-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/happy-kids-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/happy-kids-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/happy-kids-600x338.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-6fb767f1 gb-headline-text\">If you\u2019re wondering what other categories of spending are allowed, here\u2019s a helpful list from<a href=\"https:\/\/www.azed.gov\/esa\/esa-allowable-items\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> azed.gov<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Assistive Technology Rentals (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assistive Technology Purchases (special education students only)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Associated Good (special education students only)\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Braille Translations (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Curricula<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational Materials\/Items&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational Psychological Evaluations (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational Therapies and Services (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Educational\/Psychological Evaluation (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Instrument Rental&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>National standardized testing&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Online Learning Program&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paraprofessional (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Post-Secondary (college\/university)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Post-Secondary Expenses&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reading Books<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Services by a Public School&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subscription Annual&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subscription Monthly&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subscription Quarterly&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Supplemental Material (required or recommended by the curriculum)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tuition for Life Skills\/Vocational (special education students only)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tuition for Private Schools&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tutoring (core subjects: grammar, math, science, social studies, reading)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tutoring (specific subjects: PE, music, art, karate, gymnastics, etc.)&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tutoring (non-academic)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Uniforms (must be purchased from or through a school or a vendor that the school recommends or requires)&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-503e31ce gb-headline-text\">There you have it! Right down to the uniforms! And even if you are a homeschool family like us, you may find yourself using this category! We are a part of two wonderful homeschool co-ops in the Paradise Valley \/ North Phoenix area, and one of the two requires a uniform for students ages 4 and up. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-00b0d3af gb-headline-text\" id=\"can-esa-monies-pay-for-private-schools\">Can ESA Monies Pay for Private Schools?<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-da218e57 gb-headline-text\">If you\u2019re specifically wondering about applying ESA funds toward private education the answer is YES you can! <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3bf4c1e0 gb-headline-text\" id=\"how-to-set-up-an-arizona-empowerment-scholarship-account\">How to Set Up an Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account<\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"gb-block-image gb-block-image-7702da89\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" class=\"gb-image gb-image-7702da89\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-scaled.jpeg\" alt=\"\" title=\"checklist\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-scaled.jpeg 2560w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/checklist-600x400.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-11fb0450 gb-headline-text\">If you didn\u2019t apply this fall, that\u2019s just fine. Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) applications can be submitted any time during the year! Applications are usually processed within 30 days. I believe my application took just over two weeks, and they are continuing to refine the process all the time. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-94b66f98 gb-headline-text\">If any part of the following process gets confusing, just remember this: You can always submit a HelpDesk ticket at any time, or contact the ESA Support Line at (602) 364-1969.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-d1329b93 gb-headline-text\">I\u2019ve called the helpline for the ESA and ClassWallet, and it\u2019s basically a \u201cCheers\u201d situation now. Everybody knows my name. (I\u2019m kidding. But I am very glad they\u2019re so available to help with questions as they arise.)<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-3b4a8a45 gb-headline-text\">Most students are going to apply under the heading \u201cUniversal\u201d. Stay with me now. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-89b77f9d gb-headline-text\">This is the category for all students from kindergarten through 12th grade with or without a disability. In order to complete your application, you\u2019ll need a few things on hand. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-f1c14cc3 gb-headline-text\" id=\"documentation-youll-neednbsp\">Documentation You\u2019ll Need <\/h3>\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Student\u2019s Birth Certificate &#8211; The Arizona ESA applicant must have their name on the birth certificate (or other documentation). If a name change has taken place, documentation of the legal name change should be included!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Proof of Residency Document &#8211; You\u2019ve got lots of options here, friends. Here\u2019s a completely NOT exhaustive list of your choices:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Your valid AZ driver\u2019s license or Arizona ID card<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valid Arizona motor vehicle registration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Property Deed \/ Warranty Deed<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mortgage documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>HOA documents<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Property tax bill<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rental agreement or lease (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, phone)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bank or credit card statement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>W-2 wage statement&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Payroll stub<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other documentation from a state, tribal, or federal agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans\u2019 Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For Reservation addresses: Physical address verification letter from a fire department, police department, tribal agency, or Chapter House<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5849c0aa gb-headline-text\">We submitted a water bill along with our ESA application and it was very easy to do! Once your application is processed, you will receive an email with a contract for you to sign.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-7b1b59d4 gb-headline-text\">Before you give your signature, remember a few things.<\/p>\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Homeschool Affidavits A.R.S.\u00a715-2402(B)(5) states that parents of an ESA student <em>not<\/em> file an affidavit of intent to homeschool. Depending on your county, you may need to revoke your existing affidavit if you have one. Reach out to your county superintendent\u2019s office to see if this applies to your student.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once you sign your Arizona ESA contract, that is your official agreement that you will fulfill the educational requirements stipulated by law.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-5887f0b0 gb-headline-text\" id=\"now-youre-an-esa-familynbsp\">Now you\u2019re an ESA family! <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-53d5a705 gb-headline-text\">If you decide to become an ESA Scholarship family, you have a lot of (fun!) decision-making ahead of you as you consider what school setting, curriculum and services will be of the most benefit to your children! Some of the most exciting decisions we\u2019ve gotten to make as a family are in the enrichment and tutoring categories.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-b38744fa gb-headline-text\"><a href=\"\/acting-classes\/\"><strong>Acting Classes, like the kids and teens<\/strong><\/a> program at the Dearing Acting Studio, are an approved use of Empowerment Scholarship Account funds.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-69d3a965 gb-headline-text\">The acting programs we offer are considered tutoring in the arts! This is great news if you have a student who has ever thought about acting on stage or on camera.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-2ef28204 gb-headline-text\">It\u2019s also great news if you have a child who is struggling with feeling shy. Improvisation is a fantastic way to help build confidence in public speaking, performance, and overall communication! <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"gb-headline gb-headline-90602057 gb-headline-text\" id=\"kid-classes-at-dearing-acting-studio\">Kid Classes at Dearing Acting Studio<\/h2>\n\n<div data-block-name=\"woocommerce\/handpicked-products\" data-columns=\"4\" data-products=\"[899,901,893,896]\" class=\"wc-block-grid wp-block-handpicked-products wc-block-handpicked-products has-4-columns has-multiple-rows\"><ul class=\"wc-block-grid__products\"><li class=\"wc-block-grid__product\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/kid-acting-class-script\/\" class=\"wc-block-grid__product-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-3-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-woocommerce_thumbnail size-woocommerce_thumbnail\" alt=\"Kid Acting Class (Script)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-3-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-3-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-3-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-3-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-3.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-title\">Kid Acting Class (Script)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-price price\"><span class=\"from\">From: <\/span><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\">&#036;<\/span>145.00<\/span> <span class=\"subscription-details\"> \/ month<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button wc-block-grid__product-add-to-cart\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/kid-acting-class-script\/\" aria-label=\"Select options for &ldquo;Kid Acting Class (Script)&rdquo;\" data-quantity=\"1\" data-product_id=\"901\" data-product_sku=\"\" data-price=\"145\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"wp-block-button__link  add_to_cart_button\">Select options<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"wc-block-grid__product\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/kid-acting-class-improv\/\" class=\"wc-block-grid__product-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-4-300x169.jpg\" class=\"attachment-woocommerce_thumbnail size-woocommerce_thumbnail\" alt=\"Kid Acting Class (Improv)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-4-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-4-600x338.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-4-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-4-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/maxresdefault-4.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-title\">Kid Acting Class (Improv)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-price price\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\">&#036;<\/span>145.00<\/span> <span class=\"subscription-details\"> \/ month<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button wc-block-grid__product-add-to-cart\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/kid-acting-class-improv\/\" aria-label=\"Select options for &ldquo;Kid Acting Class (Improv)&rdquo;\" data-quantity=\"1\" data-product_id=\"899\" data-product_sku=\"\" data-price=\"145\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"wp-block-button__link  add_to_cart_button\">Select options<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"wc-block-grid__product\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/teen-acting-class-improv\/\" class=\"wc-block-grid__product-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dearing-home-acting-class-section-300x281.jpg\" class=\"attachment-woocommerce_thumbnail size-woocommerce_thumbnail\" alt=\"Teen Acting Class (Improv)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dearing-home-acting-class-section-300x281.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/dearing-home-acting-class-section.jpg 516w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-title\">Teen Acting Class (Improv)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-price price\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\">&#036;<\/span>225.00<\/span> <span class=\"subscription-details\"> \/ month<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button wc-block-grid__product-add-to-cart\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/teen-acting-class-improv\/\" aria-label=\"Select options for &ldquo;Teen Acting Class (Improv)&rdquo;\" data-quantity=\"1\" data-product_id=\"896\" data-product_sku=\"\" data-price=\"225\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"wp-block-button__link  add_to_cart_button\">Select options<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li><li class=\"wc-block-grid__product\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/teen-acting-class-script\/\" class=\"wc-block-grid__product-link\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Teen-Script-300x250.jpg\" class=\"attachment-woocommerce_thumbnail size-woocommerce_thumbnail\" alt=\"Teen Acting Class (Script)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Teen-Script-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Teen-Script.jpg 584w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-title\">Teen Acting Class (Script)<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wc-block-grid__product-price price\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-amount amount\"><span class=\"woocommerce-Price-currencySymbol\">&#036;<\/span>225.00<\/span> <span class=\"subscription-details\"> \/ month<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-button wc-block-grid__product-add-to-cart\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/product\/teen-acting-class-script\/\" aria-label=\"Select options for &ldquo;Teen Acting Class (Script)&rdquo;\" data-quantity=\"1\" data-product_id=\"893\" data-product_sku=\"\" data-price=\"225\" rel=\"nofollow\" class=\"wp-block-button__link  add_to_cart_button\">Select options<\/a><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/li><\/ul><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I know the question burning in your mind. You\u2019re hearing everyone going on and on about the Arizona ESA program and what it means for them. And finally, the collective din has worn you down enough to punch \u201cWhat is an ESA Scholarship\u201d into that search bar. I\u2019ve got you.&nbsp; Let me start by assuring &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"How Arizona ESA Works: Get Funding for Private or Home School\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/arizona-esa-funds-private-home-school-tutoring\/#more-37907\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Arizona ESA Works: Get Funding for Private or Home School\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":37913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[184],"tags":[189],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37907"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37907"}],"version-history":[{"count":44,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40587,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37907\/revisions\/40587"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37913"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dearingstudio.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}