ARIZONA ESA • A PARENT’S GUIDE
Arizona ESA Guide:
Understand and use your funds.
What Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account is, who can qualify, and how to use education funds for your child’s learning.
By Growing Brilliant · Updated October 10, 2026
What is Arizona’s ESA?
Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is a state-funded education program administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Eligible families can use an account to pay for approved education expenses outside the traditional public-school enrollment route.
Think of the ESA as a way to fund your education plan. You choose learning options for your child, follow the program’s rules, and manage spending through ClassWallet. ADE runs the scholarship program; ClassWallet handles the account and payment platform.
Your first decision: Are you exploring eligibility, or do you already have an active, funded account? New families can start with the application steps below. Current families can go straight to how to use their funds.
Can my kindergartener qualify?
For the universal kindergarten route, both the child and applying parent or legal guardian must live in Arizona. The child must be at least five by January 1 of the contract year. Check the date against the school year you are applying for.
Preschool is different: younger children may qualify through the preschool-student-with-a-disability category. ESA is not universal preschool funding for every three- or four-year-old.
ADE lists the eligibility routes and required documents on its official application page. ADE makes the eligibility decision.
How much funding will we receive?
There is no single award amount that applies to every child. Funding depends on the student’s circumstances and the applicable funding rules. Use your own award and available ClassWallet balance when planning purchases.
Funding is distributed quarterly. An annual award is not necessarily the amount you can spend today. Before committing to a semester or longer program, compare the invoice with the funds currently available.
For award details and current funding information, use ADE’s ESA support resources and your student’s account.
What can ESA funds pay for?
Approved expense categories include several ways to build a learning plan:
Lessons and instruction
Eligible tutoring or teaching services, qualified private-school tuition, and tuition or fees for nonpublic online learning programs.
Curriculum and learning materials
Curricula and supplementary materials, subject to the program’s purchase and documentation rules.
Other eligible education services
The law also includes specified testing expenses and additional categories. Some services are available only to students who meet disability-related eligibility criteria.
A product being “educational” does not automatically make it eligible. Match the exact purchase to Arizona’s allowed expense categories and ADE’s current guidance before paying.
How to apply: your first five steps
01 · Check your child’s eligibility
Start with ADE’s eligibility and application page. Choose the category that fits your child.
02 · Gather your documents
Have a full-color image of the child’s birth certificate and acceptable proof of Arizona residency ready. Legal guardianship, name changes or certain eligibility categories may require additional documents.
03 · Submit the state application
Apply through ADE’s ESA portal. This application is separate from enrolling with Growing Brilliant or another learning provider.
04 · Review approval and your contract
Follow ADE’s instructions, review the award and obligations, and complete the contract process. Students must withdraw from a public district or charter school before receiving ESA funds; applying and receiving funds are separate stages.
05 · Confirm your account is funded
Follow the account setup instructions and check your child’s ClassWallet balance. Then choose eligible learning options and the payment method available for that provider.
How to use your ESA funds
Start with the learning you want to purchase, then choose the available payment route. Keep each child’s purchases with that child’s account.
Pay a registered provider directly
ClassWallet’s Pay Vendor option lets families submit an invoice for a registered education provider. Select the provider, upload the complete invoice, review the student and amount, and submit the payment request. Payment is released after approval.
Shop through the marketplace
Participating sellers offer purchasing through the ClassWallet marketplace. Follow the checkout instructions and check that the items meet ESA requirements.
Understand other payment options
ADE’s handbook also describes debit-card purchases and reimbursement. Availability, documentation and review requirements differ. Paying personally does not guarantee reimbursement.
Before you confirm a purchase
- Check the correct child’s available balance.
- Confirm the purchase category and required documents.
- Check the provider, service dates and invoice amount.
- Keep the invoice, approval and transaction records.
- Confirm payment and the provider’s start-date arrangements.
See ADE’s ClassWallet and purchase guidance for the official requirements.
A planned kindergarten program, with teachers to lead it.
Once you understand the funding, the next question is what your child will learn—and who will help you bring that plan to life.
Growing Brilliant brings a planned curriculum, expert teachers and hands-on learning together in live, 45-minute kindergarten classes. Families can choose a class schedule and get a supported foundation for their homeschool day, with less lesson planning and coordination.
Explore the curriculum, sample lesson and schedule on our Arizona program page. Parents remain responsible for their child’s overall education and ESA obligations.
ESA enrollment update: Our streamlined direct-pay enrollment process is still being finalized. Confirm the current payment instructions with Growing Brilliant before arranging payment or a class start date.
Common questions from Arizona families
Is ESA the same as traditional homeschooling?
No. Families may learn at home, but ESA participation follows its own contract and legal requirements. ESA students are not required to file a homeschool affidavit under Arizona’s ESA statute.
What subjects must an ESA education include?
Parents agree to provide education in reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science, and to spend a portion of ESA funds for that education. A provider’s class can contribute to the plan; the parent retains responsibility for the full education.
Does Arizona require a set number of ESA class hours?
The ESA parent-agreement statute does not specify a daily number of class hours. That does not mean one 45-minute class automatically fulfills every educational need. Build a plan around your child’s progress and the required subjects.
Does ESA approval automatically enroll my child in classes?
No. The state application, funding, provider enrollment and payment are separate steps. Confirm all four before classes begin.
Can we use funds for more than one learning option?
You can plan across eligible expense categories within your available funds and program rules. Budget for the full learning plan before committing the balance to one purchase.
Official resources, all in one place
This guide is published by Growing Brilliant, an education provider, to help families understand their next steps. ADE determines eligibility and purchase approval. Review current state guidance before applying or spending.