Financial Aid
There are two funding options available to assist families with covering their child’s tuition expenses.
- Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
- Scholarship Tuition Organization (STO)
You may choose to use either ESA or STO funding for the school year; however, they cannot be used together.
Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
Did you know you can use state funds to help pay for your child’s education?
All K-12 students in Arizona are eligible to receive a Universal ESA, giving parents more educational options for their students. It consists of 90% of the state funding that would have otherwise been allocated to the school district the student is assigned to attend based on their address.
These funds can be used to pay private school tuition, home education and curriculum, tutoring, and more.
Note: Students cannot receive tax credits and ESA funds at the same time.
Questions? Contact ESA directly at esacallcenter@azed.gov or call (602) 364-1969 ESA Call Center open Monday-Friday 8:00am – 8:00pm; Saturday 8:00am – 12:00pm
Who qualifies?
- All K–12 students in Arizona are eligible (Arizona now has “universal ESA” access).
- This includes:
- Students currently in public, private, or homeschool settings
- Kindergarten students entering school
- Students transferring from public school (must withdraw before using ESA)
Basic requirements
- Must be an Arizona resident
- Student must be eligible to enroll in a public school in the state
- Parents/guardians must agree to:
- Not enroll the student in a public or charter school while using ESA funds
- Use funds only for approved educational expenses
More info here.
Arizona ESA funding typically gives families around $7,000–$8,000 per year per student, with kindergarten receiving slightly less around $4,000. The exact amount depends on the child’s grade and needs, and funds are distributed in payments throughout the year.
To Apply for ESA click here.
ESA Parent Handbook.
School Tuition Organizations (STO)
The Arizona School Tuition
A Student Tuition Organization (STO) is a nonprofit organization that accepts tax-credit donations and distributes those funds as tuition scholarships to eligible students. The state of Arizona is a national leader in school choice, and the scholarship tax credit program is one of the ways our state helps make private education accessible to thousands of students. This program allows families to choose the school that best meets their child’s individual needs. Through this program, Arizona taxpayers-including individuals and corporations—can contribute a portion of their state tax liability to an STO and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their Arizonastate income tax return. Donors may also recommend that their contribution support a specific student or school.
There are 4 different types of tax credits you could receive towards your child’s tuition cost if you meet the requirements.
Any student attending Dream City Christian School may be eligible to receive an Original Tax Credit Scholarship through a qualified Student Tuition Organization (STO). To be considered, families must complete and submit an application directly with the Student Tuition Organization.
Overflow (Plus or Switcher) – Students who are awarded an individual original scholarship may also be eligible for an overflow scholarship if they meet the specific requirements listed here.
Students who have received an IEP or 504 plan issued by an Arizona public school. Students who were placed at one time in the Arizona foster care system. For more information, please click here.
