Eligibility Requirements & Application

Click Here to Apply for an ESA

Applicant = The legal parent or guardian

Student = The student receiving the ESA award

Eligibility Requirements for K-12 Universal Students

1. Student’s Birth Certificate

• The applicant (the person applying) must be listed on the birth certificate (or other legal documentation).
  • If the applicant's legal name at the time of application does not match what is on the birth certificate, documentation of legal name change must be included with the birth certificate. 
• As a reminder, students must be 5 years of age by January 1st of the 2022-2023 school year to be eligible for the program.  However, preschool students with a disability are eligible, see additional information under "Preschool Student with a Disability".

2. Proof of Residency Document in the Applicant’s Name (parent/guardian applying)
You only need to provide ONE of the following documents listing your physical address, we are unable to accept PO Boxes.  This is not an exhaustive list. 

• Valid Arizona driver’s license, Arizona identification card
• Valid Arizona motor vehicle registration
• Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card
• Property Deed / Warranty Deed
• Mortgage documents
• HOA documents
• Property tax bill
• Rental agreement or lease (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)
• Utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, phone)
• Bank or credit card statement
• W-2 wage statement 
• Payroll stub
• Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona
• Other documentation from a state, tribal, or federal agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans’ Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security, etc.)
• For Reservation addresses: Physical address verification letter from a fire department, police department, tribal agency, or Chapter House
• Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)
• A notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence if you don’t have a proof of residence in your name.

 Preschool Student with a Disability 

Applicant = The legal parent or guardian

Student = The student receiving the ESA award

Eligibility Requirements

• The Student has a current MET/Evaluation Report, Individualized Education Program (IEP), or 504 Plan from an Arizona public school.
• The Applicant (the person applying) must be the legal parent or guardian.
• The Student and Applicant must be residents of Arizona.
• This eligibility type does not need to meet the 45-day full-time enrollment requirement.
• The student must be at least three years of age but who has not reached the age required for kindergarten. 
  • Students are also eligible if they are within ninety days of their third birthday, pursuant to A.R.S § 15-771(G).

Document Requirements

1. Student’s Birth Certificate

• The applicant (the person applying) must be listed on the birth certificate (or other legal documentation).
  • If the applicant's legal name at the time of application does not match what is on the birth certificate, documentation of legal name change must be included with the birth certificate.  

2. Proof of Residency Document in the Applicant’s Name (parent/guardian applying)
You only need to provide ONE of the following documents listing your physical address, we are unable to accept PO Boxes.  This is not an exhaustive list. 

• Valid Arizona driver’s license, Arizona identification card
• Valid Arizona motor vehicle registration
• Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card
• Property Deed / Warranty Deed
• Mortgage documents
• HOA documents
• Property tax bill
• Rental agreement or lease (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)
• Utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, phone)
• Bank or credit card statement
• W-2 wage statement 
• Payroll stub
• Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona
• Other documentation from a state, tribal, or federal agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans’ Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security, etc.)
• For Reservation addresses: Physical address verification letter from a fire department, police department, tribal agency, or Chapter House
• Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)
• A notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence if you don’t have a proof of residence in your name.

3. The Student’s MET/Evaluation Report, Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan

• Must be from an Arizona public school.
• The student’s primary category of eligibility must be provided.
• Must be current at the time of the application. This means it cannot have expired before the application date.
  • IEPs must be within the 'anticipated duration dates' as indicated on the documentation. 
  • METs evaluations and 504 Plans must be current as indicated by the reevaluation date on the documentation, if listed. 
• ISPs (individual service plans) from private schools will not be accepted.
• Evaluations from the private school will not be accepted.
• Medical or psychiatric/psychological evaluations cannot be accepted.
• *MET/Evaluation Reports and IEPs are provided by either the district of residence or the district of attendance at the request of the Parent.

 K-12 Student with a Disability 

Applicant = The legal parent or guardian

Student = The student receiving the ESA award

Eligibility Requirements

• The Student must be at least five years of age as of January 1st of the application year to be eligible as an entering Kindergarten student.
• The Student and Applicant must be residents of Arizona.
• If the student is eligible to attend 1-12 grade, the student must meet the 45 day requirement. 
  • This means the student must have been enrolled in an Arizona public school for 45 days of the school year (as a full-time student) prior to the application (for the current or previous school year).
  • This requirement can also be met with online hours.
  • The student may be exempt from this requirement if:
    • the student has not previously attended a governmental primary (K-12) school but is currently eligible to enroll in a kindergarten program (must be five years old on or before January 1st of the application year)
    • the student has not previously attended a governmental primary (K-12) school but is currently eligible to enroll in a 1st grade program (must be six years old on or before September 1st of the application year)
  • Please note:  Pursuant to A.R.S. 15-2401(7)(b)(iii) if a student received a tax credit scholarship from an STO under the Disabled/Displaced tuition tax credit program, the public school attendance requirement is 90 days in the prior fiscal year.
• The Student has a current MET/Evaluation Report or Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan from an Arizona public school.
• The Applicant (the person applying) must be the legal parent or guardian.

Document Requirements

1. Student’s Birth Certificate

• The applicant (the person applying) must be listed on the birth certificate (or other legal documentation).
  • If the applicant's legal name at the time of application does not match what is on the birth certificate, documentation of legal name change must be included with the birth certificate.  

2. Proof of Residency Document in the Applicant’s Name (parent/guardian applying)
You only need to provide ONE of the following documents listing your physical address, we are unable to accept PO Boxes.  This is not an exhaustive list. 

• Valid Arizona driver’s license, Arizona identification card
• Valid Arizona motor vehicle registration
• Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card
• Property Deed / Warranty Deed
• Mortgage documents
• HOA documents
• Property tax bill
• Rental agreement or lease (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)
• Utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, phone)
• Bank or credit card statement
• W-2 wage statement
• Payroll stub
• Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona
• Other documentation from a state, tribal, or federal agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans’ Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security, etc.)
• For Reservation addresses: Physical address verification letter from a fire department, police department, tribal agency, or Chapter House
• Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)
• A notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence if you don’t have a proof of residence in your name.

3. The Student’s MET/Evaluation Report or Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan

• Must be from an Arizona public school.
• The student’s primary category of eligibility must be provided. Must also state the student’s school-age eligibility.
• Must be current at the time of the application. This means it cannot have expired before the application date.
  • IEPs must be within the 'anticipated duration dates' as indicated on the documentation. 
  • METs evaluations and 504 Plans must be current as indicated by the reevaluation date on the documentation, if listed. 
• ISPs (individual service plans) from private schools will not be accepted.
• Evaluations from the private school will not be accepted.
• Medical or psychiatric/psychological evaluations cannot be accepted.