Homeschooling in Arizona is supported by the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). This program provides $7,000 to $10,000 annually for families to spend on educational needs, regardless of income. It's a great opportunity for K-12 students.
With approximately 60,000 homeschooled students, Arizona has a significant homeschool community that benefits from understanding available funding options (NCES estimates, 2023). As of 2024, 12 states have enacted universal or near-universal Education Savings Account (ESA) programs, with Arizona's program alone serving over 75,000 students — making state-funded homeschooling more accessible than ever (EdChoice, 2024).
Can I get paid to homeschool in Arizona?
Yes! Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) offers between $7,000 and $10,000 each year for homeschool families. All K-12 students qualify, no matter their income. You can use the funds for curriculum, tutoring, therapy, and educational tech.
What funding is available for Arizona homeschoolers?
Arizona has the ESA program, the first universal education savings account in the U.S. Since 2022, every K-12 student can access it. The funds go directly into an account you control, and you can spend them on approved educational expenses via ClassWallet. It’s like having a flexible budget for education.
As of the 2025-26 school year, nearly 100,000 students are using the ESA, with spending expected to top $1 billion each year.
How much funding can you receive?
The average ESA scholarship is around $7,000 to $10,000 per student each year, with a statewide average of $9,572 for 2024-25. Here are the details:
- Kindergarteners get about $4,000 to $5,000.
- Students with IEPs or 504 plans get more funding.
- Kids with autism can receive up to $28,000 a year, while those with severe disabilities may get as much as $43,000.
Funds are added to your ClassWallet account every quarter. If you don’t use all your funds, they roll over to the next quarter and can even be saved for college expenses in Arizona.
What can you spend ESA funds on?
You can spend ESA funds on:
- Curriculum & textbooks: print, digital, or online courses.
- Tutoring services: from approved providers.
- Educational therapy: like speech or occupational therapy.
- Testing fees: for standardized tests and prep courses.
- Educational tech: tablets, computers, and software.
- Musical instruments for music programs.
- Microschool tuition and private school fees.
- College savings: contributions to education accounts.
But some things can’t be bought with ESA funds:
- Sports fees and athletic gear.
- Entertainment devices like TVs or gaming consoles.
- Family trips, even educational ones.
- General-purpose computers unless part of a curriculum.
- Costs for siblings or transportation/meals.
- Paying yourself to teach.
- Mobile phones and gift cards.
How to apply for the Arizona ESA
To apply for the ESA, you’ll need to follow some key steps. First, gather necessary documents like your child's IEP if applicable, then visit the ESA portal. After you apply, you’ll get instructions on setting up your ClassWallet account, which makes it easy to manage your funds.
Navigating classwallet
ClassWallet is where you’ll manage your ESA funds. Here’s how to get started:
- After your contract is approved, you’ll get login info.
- Link a backup payment method for larger purchases.
- Look through the approved vendor marketplace before shopping.
When making purchases:
- Search by vendor or product category.
- Some vendors ship directly; others provide digital codes.
- Always keep your receipts.
If you run into issues:
- If a vendor isn’t listed, submit a request to add them.
- Check your balance if a purchase is declined.
- For help, call ClassWallet support at 1-877-969-5536.
From 2025-26 onward, all purchases will need approval through ADE, so keep documentation ready.
Quarterly reporting: What to expect
If you’re in the ESA program, you must submit quarterly reports on how you spent your funds. This is important—missing or late reports can freeze your account.
You’ll need to provide:
- A summary of purchases by category.
- Receipts for all transactions.
- A brief description of the educational purpose for some items.
Reports are due 45 days after each quarter ends. Late submissions might mean losing funds, and you need to report even if you didn’t spend anything.
Pro tips:
- Organize receipts each month.
- Take photos of physical receipts right away.
- Keep a simple spreadsheet to track purchases.
- Store records for five years.
Special needs funding
Students with disabilities can get more funding through the ESA. If your child has an IEP or a 504 plan, here’s what you can expect:
- Standard funding: about $10,000 to $12,000 each year.
- Autism-specific funding: up to $28,000 annually.
- Severe disability funding: up to $43,000 until age 22.
- Preschool special needs: $3,200 to $9,000 for ages 3-5.
This funding helps cover therapies and services that can be expensive. To qualify, submit your child’s documentation with your application.
Managing ESA for multiple children
If you have more than one child in the ESA program, keep things organized:
- Each child has their own ESA with individual funding.
- Purchases must be made for the specific child.
- You can’t combine funds between siblings.
When buying shared resources:
- Purchase separately for each child, or alternate year-to-year.
- Keep track of educational use for each child if audited.
For record keeping:
- Use different colors for receipts by child.
- Keep separate folders for each student.
- Track which purchases came from which account.
Important considerations before accepting ESA funds
The ESA is a great opportunity, but there are trade-offs:
- You’ll be classified as a scholarship student, not a homeschooler. That means no homeschool affidavit.
- The state will track your spending and may audit you.
- Program rules can change, including reporting and documentation requirements.
- You can’t combine ESA funds with Arizona Tax Credit Scholarship funds.
For many families, the benefits outweigh these considerations, but it’s good to know what you’re getting into.
The bottom line
Arizona’s ESA program gives homeschool families a fantastic chance to get funding—up to $10,000 a year for curriculum, tutoring, and more. There are no income limits or caps on enrollment.
If you’re homeschooling in Arizona, it’s worth applying. The application process is easy, the funds are substantial, and the flexibility is impressive.
Start by creating your ADEConnect account at esaportal.azed.gov/account. You could have funds ready within 30 days.
