Skip to main content
Path
esa
Contact
Contact link
Contact the Department

Empowerment Scholarship Account

Empowerment Scholarship Account

Empowerment Scholarship Account

Apply for an Empowerment Scholarship Account

Apply Now for the 2026-2027 School Year

Students enrolled for the 2026-2027 School Year

 

104,076*

*As a result of beginning a new contract year, the current ESA enrollment figure for the 2026-2027 school year is in flux due to several factors and will not be a stable statistic until September. 7,000 students who were eligible to renew contracts did not submit required information to complete the renewal process. However, the ESA program expects many of these students to return to the program during Quarter 1 of this school year.

(As of 08/24/2026)

Arizona Resident Verification Program Announcement

Parents have the right to choose what’s best for their family and have their education tax dollars pay for the school that meets their child’s needs. Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) make that possible.

 

With the ESA program, the money that would pay for that student’s education in a neighborhood school follows that student to whichever school the parents choose for their child, including education at home.

 

ESA dollars cover multiple education expenses, such as private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies, tutoring, and more.

 

 

The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program
is demonstrating the highest levels of public accountability

 

Critics who claim there is a lack of accountability are absolutely incorrect and are holding the ESA program to a different standard than district or charter schools. Anyone may check the state Auditor General’s website and find millions of dollars’ worth of fraudulent activity in some districts and charters.

 

The ESA program may be the most accountable program in the State. It’s responsible for demonstrating accountability through reporting that is required by statute, rules, and ad hoc requests from these 7 government agencies and bodies:

  • Governor’s Office
  • Legislative Leadership
  • Joint Legislative Budget Committee
  • Attorney General’s Office (multiple units)
  • Auditor General’s Office (multiple divisions)
  • State Board of Education
  • State Ombudsman
     

Additionally, this program is held highly accountable by other important groups:

ESA Stakeholders:

  • Parents of ESA Students
  • Parent Advisory Committee
  • ESA-Related Social Media
     

Public Interest and Media Groups:

  • News Media
  • Anti-school choice advocacy groups
  • Statewide opposition research groups
     

The Department of Education requires all expenditures to be for a valid educational purpose and at a reasonable cost, considering market prices. Supt. Horne has been attacked by those who think that parents should get anything they want, but he insists on full accountability.

A message from Supt Horne about supplemental curriculum
 

 

Apply Now

Eligibility Requirements

Apply for an ESA

ESA Applicant Forms

Learn More

ESA Support

Class Wallet Information

ESA Applicant Portal Access

Resources

ESA Parent Resources and Handbook

ESA Parent Advisory Committee

ESA Law and Administrative Rules

Quarterly Reports

Contact Us

Visit the HelpDesk

[email protected]

(602) 364-1969

Contact Arizona Department of Education

A MESSAGE FROM SUPT. HORNE ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL CURRICULUM

A MESSAGE FROM SUPT. HORNE ABOUT SUPPLEMENTAL CURRICULUM

Thu, Dec 19, 2024
Empowerment Scholarship Account Program

When the governor, the attorney general, Save Our Schools or anyone else attack ESAs, the media come to me for a response and counterattack. I am the only statewide official who actively advocates for the value of ESAs and explains the reasons.

As a policy matter, I do not believe that parents should have to tie supplementary materials to curriculum, and it was my department that drafted the handbook adopted by the state board that did not do so.

In addition, I want to make the point that I do not hesitate to take on the attorney general when I have reasonable assurance of succeeding in the long run. I took her on over such issues as keeping boys out of girls’ sports and making sure that Spanish-speaking students are taught English. I believe I have taken on an attorney general more than any Superintendent in history.

When I received the attorney general’s message, I sent it to the most knowledgeable people in my department. I asked them to look at it, not as an advocate, because we all disagree with the Attorney General, but in a neutral way, as though they were judges to determine if they could give me a reasonable assurance of success. They analyzed the statutes on which the attorney general relied, and indicated to me that as a neutral judge, they would rule against me if I made a fight out of it and refused to comply. Getting into a fight and losing, would be much more damaging.

At the same time, I’ve had conversations with the Goldwater Institute about their suing the attorney general about this. I told him I would support them and be a witness for them if they chose to do that. A court decision, which I am appealing, held that the Department of Education does not have standing to file lawsuits itself.

In addition, I had initially indicated I would ask the state board to revise the handbook in accordance with the attorney general’s interpretation. After talking with the Goldwater Institute, I sent the attorney general an email stating that I was reconsidering, and if the Attorney General wanted a change in the handbook, the Attorney General could ask the state board. I would not do so.

In the meantime, I believe the best way to fight government overreach is to make the task as reasonable as possible. There are curriculum experts, who could make this complicated. I chose not to do so. I have sent out an example which indicates that all that is needed is to identify what part of the curriculum, the supplementary Materials are needed for it. If the curriculum does not have an appropriate spot for that, all that is required is to supplement the curriculum to which to tie the supplementary materials.

 
 

Recent Articles

ESA Quarterly Reports

ESA Quarterly Reports

*As of 2025, the State Board of Education reports and Executive and Legislative reports contain the same information. Therefore, the State Board of Education reports are no longer separately produced.*

 Executive and Legislative Quarterly Reports

2026

Quarter 3 (2026)

Quarter 2 (2026)

Quarter 1 (2026)

2025

Quarter 4 (2025)

Quarter 3 (2025)

Quarter 2 (2025)

Quarter 1 (2025)

2024

Quarter 4 (2024)

Quarter 3 (2024)

Quarter 2 (2024)

Quarter 1 (2024)

State Board of Education Quarterly Reports

 2024

Quarter 4 (2024)

Quarter 3 (2024)

Quarter 2 (2024)

Quarter 1 (2024)

 2023

Quarter 4 (2023)

Quarter 3 (2023)

Quarter 2 (2023)

Quarter 1 (2023)

 2022

Quarter 4 (2022)

Quarter 3 (2022)

Quarter 2 (2022)

Quarter 1 (2022)

 2021

Quarter 4 (2021)

Quarter 3 (2021)

Quarter 2 (2021)

ESA Request to Speak

ESA Request to Speak

Contact Information

ESA Parent Advisory Committee

ESA Parent Advisory Committee

The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) developed the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) as a means of getting parent feedback on the ESA program.

The PAC is a group of parents who meet with ESA staff a few times a year.

PAC Members

Membership by County

  • Cochise County

    • A.C.
    • K.H.

  • Maricopa County

    • S.B.
    • B.D.
    • E.E.
    • R.F.
    • B.H.
    • D.J.
    • D.K.
    • K.R.

  • Mohave County

    • J.H.
    • J.M.

  • Navajo County

    • L.C.
    • C.L.

  • Pima County

    • M.H.
    • C.S.

  • Pinal County

    • M.A.
    • T.C.

  • Santa Cruz County

    • R.S.

  • Yavapai County

    • L.C.
    • T.K.

  • Yuma County

    • B.I.
    • N.M.
    • B.S.
    • S.T.

Contact ESA

Contact ESA

ESA Support Line

You can reach us Monday - Friday from 8am-8pm and Saturday from 8am - 12pm at 602-364-1969.  We are happy to help!

ESA HelpDesk

The HelpDesk is a way for you to easily communicate with the ESA team.  

- Submit a new special education evaluation

- Ask application and program-related questions

- Request item approval and more!

After a one-time registration, you'll be able to start submitting your requests.  Please note, individuals who are not a current parent or applicant, must first register for ADEConnect to have access to HelpDesk.

ESA: Meet The ESA Team

ESA: Meet The ESA Team

As the ESA Program has grown, so has the ESA Team. Who do you need to contact about a specific topic? We hope this page will help you find the right person to assist you.

You may reach any of these individuals by calling the ESA Support Line: 602-364-1969 available Monday - Friday, 8am - 8pm and Saturdays 8am -12pm

The Service Team

The ESA Service Center is composed of the Call Center Manager, Call Center Lead Specialist, and Call Center Specialists. 

  • The Call Center Manager oversees the Service Team and provides feedback and insight for the Service Team decisions. 
  • The Call Center Lead Specialist supports the Call Center Manager and Call Center Specialists with their various tasks and assists with elevated concerns or questions. 
  • The Call Center Specialists answer all incoming calls from the ESA main line, troubleshoot application and HelpDesk issues.

Together, they answer the ESA Call Center Line, transfer calls to the appropriate teams, troubleshoot accounts and review program concerns.

The Enrollment Team

The ESA Enrollment Team is composed of the Enrollment Manager, Enrollment Lead Specialist, and Enrollment Specialists. 

  • The Enrollment Manager oversees the Enrollment Team and provides feedback and insight for Enrollment Team decisions. 
  • The Enrollment Lead Specialist supports the Enrollment Manager and Enrollment Specialists with their various tasks and assists with elevated concerns or questions. 
  • The Enrollment Specialists process all incoming applications, review eligibility for contracts, and answer incoming tickets for Program eligibility and guidance.

Together, they process applications, issue contracts, and review program concerns.

The Purchase Review Team

The ESA Purchase Review Team is composed of the Purchase Review Manager, Purchase Review Lead Specialist, and Purchase Review Specialists. 

  • The Purchase Review Manager oversees the Purchase Review Team and provides feedback and insight for Purchase Review Team decisions. 
  • The Purchase Review Lead Specialist supports the Purchase Review Manager and Purchase Review Specialists with their various tasks and assists with elevated concerns or questions. 
  • The Purchase Review Specialist reviews ClassWallet orders, Account Closures, Account Spending, and answer incoming tickets for pre-approval purchase requests.

Together, they address Account Holder questions and concerns and evaluate expenses. 

Submitting an ESA Complaint

Submitting an ESA Complaint

Name & Contact
First & Last
Identifying Your Concern
Please Indicate the Team that is best tasked with addressing your concerns:
Use the area below to describe your concerns. Complaints are limited to 1,000 characters.
Subscribe to Empowerment Scholarship Account Program