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Download our ESA & STOs guide and find out if your student qualifies for free tuition!
ESA vs STOs & how to apply
Eligibility requirements
For students with autism & other exceptionalities
Deadlines (5.1.21 to receive Q1 funding, 8.1.21 for Q2 funding)
The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program from the Arizona Department of Education gives eligible parents public funding to pursue flexible options for customizing their children's education. Intended to expand educational opportunity outside of the public school system, it provides public funding for a wide range of personalized education expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring services, textbooks and more.
From The Arizona Department of Education
Certified School Tuition Organizations (STOs) are established to receive income tax credit contributions that fund scholarships for students to attend qualified private schools located in Arizona (A.R.S. Title 43, Chapters 15 and 16). A nonprofit organization in this state that is exempt or has applied for exemption from federal taxation under section 501(c)(3) may apply to ADOR for certification as an STO. Once certified, an STO may receive tax credit donations from individual and/or corporate taxpayers.
Requirements for an STO to be eligible for and retain certification for receiving tax credit donations:
The STO must allocate at least 90% of its annual tax credit contributions to scholarships;
The STO shall not limit the availability of scholarships to students of one school;
The STO must allow ADOR to verify that the scholarships issued are awarded to students attending a qualified school (corporate income tax credit program);
The STO must not knowingly collude