Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs)

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) are state-funded education savings accounts. On June 24, 2022, legislation was passed in Arizona expanding the ESA program. As of September 30, 2022, ESAs are available to all Arizona students. Applications are accepted year-round and funds are pro-rated based on application date. Check for program updates and review more detailed information about ESAs at www.azed.gov/esa.

Families who use ESA funding opt out of the public school system. Instead, they receive state funding to use as they see fit for their child’s education. Many use the funds to send their child to private school, educate their child at home, or pay for extracurricular therapies or educational services. 

Criteria for application

The program is administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Families apply through https://www.azed.gov/esa. See details on the ESA program and find the application on the ADE website.

This program is separate from Prenda, so Prenda has no control over the ESA application process or access to a student’s ESA account. However, Prenda is an authorized vendor for the ESA program. Families can use ESA funding to pay to attend a Prenda-affiliated microschool or to use Prenda materials for a familyschool.

Support services

A student applying under the special needs category must have a current, unexpired IEP, 504, or MET. Once a student is in the ESA program, no reevaluation or updated IEP is required.

Unlike students enrolled through one of Prenda’s partner charter schools, ESA-funded students are not eligible for free special education therapies or services (such as speech, physical, or occupational therapies). Parents can, however, use ESA funds to pay for outside tutoring or educational therapies. If your child requires therapies to assist them while attending their microschool, please tell your child’s guide so they are aware of and comfortable with accommodating these needs while guiding their school.

Using ESA funds through Prenda

ESA-funded students can register with Prenda and attend an ESA microschool or familyschool powered by Prenda. They are not enrolled with a charter partner. Instead, they participate in an in-person/online hybrid learning program. Microschools are independent businesses run by the guide and powered by Prenda’s learning model and materials.

Families pay a quarterly Student Bundle fee from their ESA funds that covers Prenda curriculum, learning tools, support, and other resources for students and guides. Guides set their own fees for their services. Students will not participate in state testing and will not receive report cards or official school records.

Switching to ESA funding from partner funding

If your child is enrolled with one of our Arizona partner charter schools but you would like to switch them to ESA funding, they will need to withdraw from the partner school. Take the following steps:

  1. Complete this withdrawal form, indicating that you are switching to ESA funding. 
  2. If your child is enrolled with a partner, they need to withdraw from the charter school. They should not be withdrawn from Prenda.
  3. While switching to ESA funding, your child may continue to attend their Prenda-associated familyschool or microschool.
  4. Once the partner has processed your child’s withdrawal, they will send you an official withdrawal notice. Send the notice to the state to prove that your child is no longer enrolled in public school.
  5. This withdrawal notice will show up in the state database as soon as it is finalized.
  6. Sign your ESA contract once the student is fully withdrawn from the partner.

Register an ESA-funded student with Prenda

  1. Please note that if a parent completes a form for ESA registration and their child is also enrolled with one of Prenda’s charter partners, the student's ESA funding will be stopped immediately. Make sure the student is disenrolled from the partner before proceeding (see guidance above).
  2. To register with Prenda using ESA funds, parents must complete an ESA registration form, available through Prenda’s enrollment portal, so their child can go through the correct process. On this registration form, parents must upload a copy of their signed ESA contract. Prenda cannot allow a student to attend a microschool without this document. The amount of funding a student receives will not change the Prenda fee or guide fee for ESA-funded microschools. However, parents may black-out the exact amount of funding they received from the state, if they prefer. 

Prenda fee and invoicing for ESA-funded students 

  • ESA applications are accepted year-round and funds are pro-rated based on application date. 
  • ESA funds are deposited quarterly into a special account through ClassWallet, the ESA online payment platform. 
  • Prenda sends invoices quarterly to match when funding is deposited to ESA families. You can find Prenda as an approved vendor on ClassWallet. 
  • Since Prenda serves as the pay agent for microschools that accept ESA funding, Prenda invoices for both the Prenda fee to use their Student Bundle of product and services as well as the guide’s self-determined guide fee for running the microschool your child attends.
  • For current Prenda fees for ESA-exclusive microschools and Prenda costs for partner-funded microschools that allow ESA-funded students, or for more information on how to use ESA with Prenda, text Prenda at (520) 341-8996 or send your questions via email to hello@prenda.co.

Helpful resources for families with or interested in ESA funding

Tens of thousands of families participate in the ESA program across Arizona. Several private Facebook groups are geared toward helping families navigate the ESA program. These groups are great places to ask questions, to find educational resources, and to locate therapists and tutors in your area.

Arizona ESA Families (for current ESA families with an active ESA contract)

Arizona ESA Networking (for interested families and ESA vendors)