2. What is an Empowerment Scholarship?
An account established by the Arizona Department of
Education (ADE) that allows a parent of a qualified student
to withdraw their child from a public district or charter
school and receive a portion of their public funding to
educate their child as the parent seems appropriate
Funds are removed from your school district and allocated
to the parent/ guardian.
It now becomes the parent’s responsibility to educate their
child.
3. Who is eligible?
In order to be deemed a qualified student, the student
must meet the following:
1. Arizona Resident AND
2. Identified as child with special needs or active military
parent or award of the juvenile court and is residing with
a perspective permanent placement foster care or
achieved permanent placement through adoption or
attending a “D & F” school AND
3. Attending public school for the first 100 days prior to
applying or received a qualifying School Tuition
Organization (STO) scholarship the prior year
4. FAQ’s About Eligibility
My child just entered Pre-School in January and could not
accumulate the full 100 days, does he/she qualify?
If the child was not enrolled in a public/ charter school the prior
year; the student does not qualify for an ESA
We changed schools and there was a gap.
As long as the gap was not 10 consecutive days
My child is sick and misses school often
If he does not miss 10 consecutive days the child still qualifies
My child has missed 15 days but not consecutive.
In order to qualify, the child cannot miss more than 10% of
total school days (180).
5. FAQ’s About Eligibility
I just moved to the state.
In order to qualify, the student must have attended
public/ charter school for the 1st 100 days in Arizona.
I enrolled my child late into school.
As a rule, a district will not count you as a “late enrollee”
unless you do not attend the first 10 days of school.
6. School Tuition Organization (STO)
scholarships
Tax credit scholarships for Arizona children
Three types of state tax credit scholarship program
1. Individual Tuition
2. Corporate Tuition
3. Lexie’s Law for Disabled and Displaced students
In order to qualify for an ESA, the student must be on an
STO for Disabled and Displaced.
If unsure if your child received a qualifying STO, please
contact Karen Jacobs at the Department of Revenue at
602-716-6923 or kjacobs@dor.gov
7. How does ESA identify a child with special needs?
1. Individualized Education Program (IEP)
2. Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET)
3. 504 Plan
Your particular school district determines your child’s
eligibility based on their evaluation.
ESA funds on primary eligibility
8. Adoptive or Foster Care Children
A child who is a ward of the juvenile court and who is
residing with a prospective permanent placement and the
case plan is adoption or permanent guardianship.
A child who is a ward of the juvenile court and achieved
permanency through adoption or permanent guardianship
Must have attended public school the first 100 days OR
Received a qualifying STO (Displaced and Disabled
Scholarship)
Must provide court documents. Notice to Providers will
not be accepted.
9. Military Families
A child of a parent who is a member of the armed
forces of the United States and who is active duty.
Must be a resident of Arizona
Child must have been in public school the first 100 days
OR
Received a qualifying STO (Displaced and Disabled
Scholarship)
Must provide a letter from their Commanding Officer
or Military ID (back and front)
10. D and F Schools
Child who is attending a school or school district that
has been assigned a letter grade of D or F.
Not a child who is failing in school.
Must be attending the failing school the first 100 days
OR
Received a qualifying STO (Displaced and Disabled
Scholarship)
ESA Staff verifies schools using our system.
11. If my child qualifies,
how much will he/she receive?
The amount is determined by calculating 90% of each
student’s funding level as generated by the school
finance formula (state portion).
The formula included specific “weights” for different
categories of disabilities, grade levels, school
locations, etc.
K-3 students receive extra funding
English language learners (ELL) receive extra funding
12. Funding
The average base amount is $2,700-$4,000
Following slides, will list some categories not all
Amount shown is for 1st-12th grade (Pre-K and K are funded at half)
Disability Category - Definition Weight Estimated per pupil
amount
6.024 $19,931.00
MD-R, A-R & SMR-R - Students with multiple disabilities, autism and severe mental
retardation placed in resource programs
5.833 $19,299.00
MD-SC, A-SC & SMR-SC - Students with multiple disabilities, autism and severe mental
retardation in a self-contained program.
7.947 $26,293.00
MD-SSI - Students with multiple disabilities and severe sensory impairments.
0.0093 $10.00
DD, ED, MIMR, SLD, SLI & OHI - Students with developmental delays, emotional
disabilities, mild mental retardation, specific learning disability, speech/language
impairment and other health impairment.
13. Funding
4.820 $15,947.00
ED-P - Students with emotional disabilities enrolled in private special ED or intensive district
programs
4.421 $14,627.00
MOMR - Students with moderate mental retardation
VI - Visually impaired 4.806 $15,901.00
3.158 $10,488.00
OI-R - Students with orthopedic impairments in a resource program.
6.773 $22,409.00
OI-SC - Students with orthopedic impairments in a self-contained program.
3.595 $11,894.00
P-SD - Preschool students with hearing impairments, visual impairments, developmental delay,
preschool severe delay or speech/language impairment.
14. Funding
Additional weight
K3 – Students in Kindergarten through third grade
0.100 $199.00
ELL – English Language learners
0.115 $380.00
Estimated Base Amount
+ Estimated Per Pupil Amount
+ Estimated Additional Weights
Estimated ESA Award Amount / 4= Quarterly amount
15. Funding
Funding for Adoptive/ Foster Care children, Military
Families, and students in D or F Schools:
Base Amount of $2,700-$4,000 (Pre K-K are funded at
half)
Plus added weights of K-3 and ELL
Funding is based on school districts and grade level.
16. Example
Scottsdale Unified District
Pre K-K student will receive $2,487.08 yearly
($621.77 quarterly)
1st-3rd student will receive $4,037.09 yearly
($1,009.27 quarterly)
4th-12th grade student will receive $3,716.18 yearly
($929.04 quarterly)
17. Application Process
January 1, 2013- May 1, 2013 (3pm deadline)
Must submit
1. Application
2. IEP, MET or 504 Plan (children with special needs)
3. Court Documents (Adoptive/ Foster Care)
4. Letter from Commanding Officer or Military ID (Military): Must
show active duty
The IEP, MET or 504 Plan MUST be current
IEP (valid for 1 year) If either is expiring on or
MET (valid for 3 years) before July 15, 2013 must be
re-evaluated
18. Application Process
Award Letter (mailed) 2nd Page must be returned to
the Department
Total amount for the year Either Accepting or Declining
Quarterly disbursements ESA scholarship
MUST be in by MAY 15, 2013
This can be:
1. Emailed (confirmation will be provided)
2. Faxed (Parent must call or email
3. Mailed to check if it was received)
4. Hand-delivered
19. Application Process
Once ESA staff has received your Acceptance Letter
A CONTRACT PACKET will be mailed to you no later than
MAY 30, 2013 by 3pm
1. Checklist
2. Agreement Contract (4 pages)
3. Bank Consent Form
4. Expense Report Instructions
Please make sure that if you move during the process or
wish for your contract to sent elsewhere you notify ESA
staff immediately!
20. Agreement Contract
All 4 pages MUST be returned to the Department of
Education by June 30, 2013 at 3pm
Must be MAILED or HAND DELIVERED! ESA will NOT
accept any contracts that are emailed or faxed.
Don’t forget to sign your contract (page 4)
Please make a copy for your records
21. Contract Packet
Expense Report Submission Schedule
DUE DATE NEXT DISBURSEMENT
1st quarter’s expenditures September 30 October 15-October 30
2nd quarter’s expenditures December 31 January 15-January 30
3rd quarter’s expenditures March 31 April 15-April 30
4th quarter’s expenditures June 30 *August 15-August 30
If due date falls on a weekend or holiday the reports
MUST still be in that day!
22. Upon receipt of Agreement Contract
Contracts are due by JUNE 30, 2013 3pm
Process at Arizona Department of Education:
1. ESA generates an approved list of parents
2. Auditing checks our “math” sends to Accounting
3. Accounting approves Auditing sends to State
Treasurer’s Office
4. Treasury releases finalized list to Bank of America
5. Bank of America prepares for their process and mails
out the debit cards.
23. 1st Disbursement
Bank of America will mail out ESA pre-paid debit cards
Should receive your card between July 15-July 30, 2013
If you have not received your card by July 30, 2013,
please contact me
If you moved and did not notify B of A you will need
to contact them directly—ESA staff cannot call on
your behalf
24. You now have an ESA debit card
What can ESA funds be spent on??
Funds must be used to provide an education which includes, at
a minimum, reading; math; grammar; social studies; and
science.
Eligible expenses are:
1. Tuition & fees at a Private School for Pre-K-12th grade
2. Textbooks required by private school
3. Educational therapies from a licensed or accredited provider
4. Tutoring services from a nationally, regionally, or state accredited provider
5. Paraprofessional (aide) must have Associate degree OR 60+ college credit
hours OR pass 1 of 3 paraprofessional exams offered by the state.
6. Curriculum (home-schooling or supplemental instruction)
25. Receiving Next Disbursements
In order to receive the next funding; quarterly reports
must be submitted
The reports must include:
1. Expense Report Cover Sheet
2. Receipt(s)
3. Bank statements that shows debits
26. Timeline for ESA application/process
Important Dates
January 1-May 1, 2013 (3pm): Applications are available
(may began submitting to the Department)
May 15th: should have received an Award Letter
May 30th (3pm): last day to submit Letter of Acceptance
or Declining of Award
June 15th: should have received your Contract Packet
June 30th (3pm): Last day to submit your Agreement
Contract & Consent Form
July 15th- July 30th: ESA debit cards should be arriving
July 30th: No debit card has arrived please contact Karla
27. Resources
ESA Advisory Board (if interested please email Karla)
ESA Website www.azed.gov/esa
ESA phone number 602-364-1969
Karla Wescott 602-364-0331 or karla.wescott@azed.gov
ESA email esa@azed.gov
We only evaluate an IEP/MET/504 for funding purposes for the scholarship. We do not review IEPs for content or determination, this is done at the district level.
