Tuition Resources and everything you need to know
Free Tuition?
Tuition at PS Academy
We aim to provide the best environment and education for all students.
parents have several options available to pay for tuition, including Free Tuition. Keep reading to learn more.
Navigate Tuition with Ease
Everything you need to know about securing free tuition with the ESA or STOs.
Lisa Phillips, Funding Specialist at PS Academy
“I am passionate about assisting families in securing a brighter future for their students by helping them obtain the necessary funding. I am here to answer any questions and guide families through the entire application process, from start to finish!”
Free Tuition with the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
Over 97% of our students utilize the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) to fund their tuition.
The scholarship helps parents who want to take their children out of the public school system and explore alternative educational placements, including PS Academy Arizona. This gives families the ability to choose an option that is best for their child, opening many new doors to that student's future.
ESA application - visit the ESA Department of Education website to review eligibility requirements and complete your application.
Free or partially covered Tuition with Student Tuition Organizations
(STOs)
The 3% of students who are not covered by the ESA can qualify for STOs.
Arizona has great laws allowing taxpayers to control how their state taxes are spent by utilizing state tax credits. We've partnered with several STOs in Arizona to provide this tuition funding option to parents. Our funding specialist will work with you and your family to help you apply for these scholarships and guide you through the process.
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Taxpayers can redirect up to $2,509 for married filers or, for single filers, $1,307 of what they owe in Arizona state taxes.
The STO will then award tuition scholarships to PS Academy students with the redirected funds.
These redirected funds are taken as a dollar-for-dollar credit/reduction off of their state tax liability. (Net cost is zero.)
Taxpayers benefit because they can control how their taxes are used and feel good about helping PS Academy Arizona families. Families benefit because they receive scholarship awards to help lower or cover all tuition costs.
Learn more about STO and how you can encourage people to help fund your student's tuition at absolutely no cost to them by redirecting their taxes by participating in the Arizona Private School Tax Credit Program.
Private Pay
To those who do not qualify for ESA or need to pay partially for tuition, payment plans are available.
Individual families can pay the tuition, and a payment plan can be tailored to meet your needs. Payment schedules are flexible and can be paid monthly or quarterly.
FAQs
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The ESA targets parents who want to take their child out of the public school system and explore alternative education paths. This helps parents find the best education for their children. Students are eligible for the ESA from the age of 4 until they are 22 years old. The program is very popular and over 60,000 students receive ESA scholarships.
You must submit a current copy of your student's MET or IEP from an Arizona public or charter school.
You must present your student's birth certificate and proof of Arizona residency.
You and the student must reside in Arizona.
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The amount received could be up to 100% of the education costs. It all depends on the primary educational eligibility determination. What does that mean?
Students with the eligibility of autism are generally entitled to more significant amounts than students with other eligibilities such as Learning Disabled or Other Health Impaired (i.e., ADHD).
To receive these highest levels of funding, you need to have a MET or IEP stating the category of eligibility. If your student has ever qualified for Special Education services in a public or charter school, they probably already have one. If you're unsure, we recommend you check out our comprehensive guide to ESA and STOs on this page.
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So, how do you apply for ESA? The good news is, it's pretty straightforward and after applying takes around three weeks to receive funding with an account with the ESA. You can fill out the form here on the Arizona Department of Education Website. One thing to watch out for is that funds are distributed quarterly, so try to apply as early as possible to avoid missing out on funding for one quarter.
If your student isn't eligible for ESA, don't worry! That's where STOs come in. Read that section to find out what to do next.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. School Tuition Organizations offer a special program where taxpayers can choose how their taxes are spent by utilizing state tax credits. These state tax credits fund scholarships for students to attend qualified private schools in Arizona, like PS Academy.
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If your student doesn't qualify for ESA and resides in Arizona, STOs are the way to go. The School Tuition Organizations will decide whether you are eligible for funding depending on your student's circumstances.
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There is no universal application form for School Tuition Organizations, so you must apply to the different STOs individually. Because of this, we usually recommend you get in touch with our Funding Specialist. They can meet with you to go over all the different deadlines and answer any questions you've got about the process.
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Often STOs build relationships with just a handful of schools and vice versa. For instance, here at PS Academy, we have relationships with nine different STOs, so we can make requests or recommendations to them to secure funding for students.
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The amount you receive varies depending on which STOs you apply to and your student's individual circumstances. The STO will decide how much funds to assign to your student based on their assessment of you and your student's needs.
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You redirect your taxes to STOs, which fund scholarships for students. Simple. You don't pay anything out of your pocket but benefit from knowing your taxes are going to a worthy cause. We've got more information about STOs in our Parents Guide to ESA and STOs. You can find a list of School Tuition Organizations and more details on how to assign your tax credits here.
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Try our Parents Guide to ESA and STOs, or get in touch. We have years of experience securing student funding and have helped hundreds of students access ESA and STOs funding.
In fact, 95% of students at our school have 100% of their tuition covered.
We know funding can be daunting and stressful, and that’s why we are here to help. Get in touch with an enrollment specialist to learn more about our programs and have your questions about tuition answered.