{"id":2413,"date":"2026-07-16T19:24:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-16T19:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/acstostg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=2413"},"modified":"2026-09-25T20:20:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T20:20:26","slug":"esa-faq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/acsto.org\/es\/esa-faq\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Preguntas Frecuentes Sobre ACSTO y ESA"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

10 Common Questions About ACSTO & ESAs<\/h1><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t
<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Arizona families now have two paths to help fund Christian education: tax credit scholarships and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). Both can make tuition more affordable, but they work very differently \u2014 and mixing them up can create real headaches for your family and your school. Below, we answer the ten questions we hear most often from parents weighing their options.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

1. What is the difference between tax credit scholarships and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs)?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Tax credit scholarships and ESAs are two entirely separate tuition funding sources. Tax credit scholarships are funded by private taxpayers and implemented by certified school tuition organizations (STOs). ESAs are funded by state tax dollars and administered through the Arizona Department of Education. Both programs require parents to submit some type of application each academic year.<\/p>\n

ESAs provide a set amount of funding per quarter which may not cover all tuition costs. The quarter that funding begins is determined by when you apply and sign the ESA contract. With tax credit scholarships, there is a potential for scholarships to cover 100% of tuition costs.<\/p>\n

ESAs require parents to submit tuition statements (monthly or quarterly) to receive payment. Parents must also pay a processing fee to ClassWallet, reducing the funds available to pay tuition costs. STOs can provide tuition payments throughout the school year as long as the total scholarships paid do not exceed the student’s annual tuition amount. ACSTO does not charge any fees to parents, schools, or donors.<\/p>\n

STOs are allowed to communicate with schools regarding students who are enrolled and their tuition needs. ESA staff can only communicate with parents and cannot provide schools with any information.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

2. Can parents use both tax credit scholarships and ESA funds at the same time as payment for tuition?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

No. Parents cannot simultaneously use tax credit scholarships and ESA funds to pay tuition for the same student. If a parent accepts ESA funds and chooses to use the funds for other expenses such as tutoring or special services, and not tuition, then they must pay their student’s tuition out of their own pocket. A student cannot receive ESA funds and tax credit scholarships at the same time regardless of how the parent chooses to spend the ESA funds. This would be a clear violation of the ESA contract.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div> \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>\n\t\t

<\/div><\/div><\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

3. Which funding source should I choose \u2014 ESA or tax credit scholarships?<\/h2><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div> \n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div> \n<\/div><\/div>
<\/div> <\/div>
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Each family’s situation is different. Consider the following:<\/p>\n