Parents can learn more about Arizona’s education savings account program this week during a meeting at the state Department of Education.
The program was crafted by lawmakers last year as a way to give special-needs students funds to leave public schools and enter private school, pay for homeschool curriculum or fund special services. It provides special-needs children with 90 percent of the funds that would have otherwise gone to a public school to educate them.
The children must now be enrolled in a public school and must agree to leave a public school in order to participate.
So far, more than 140 children have active accounts from the state. The average award is about $13,000, with the lowest awards near $2,000 and the highest awards at more than $26,000.
Arizona lawmakers have been working on a bill (HB 2626) to expand the program to students in failing schools, children of military families and children classified as gifted.
Wednesday’s informational session will be held noon to 2 p.m. in Phoenix at 1535 W. Jefferson in room 409. It will cover the details of how the scholarships work, how children qualify and what funding can be expected. The state will start accepting applications on Monday, with a deadline of May 4 to be considered for a fall award.
For information or application, see azed.gov/esa/.
Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or mreese@evtrib.com
