Check out our all-in-one Parent Resource! It’s for parents who are new to ACSTO as well as those who have been part of our family for a while.
Parent Resources
How to Write an ACSTO Narrative
Trying to decide what to write in the Narrative section of your child’s ACSTO Scholarship Application? Don’t stress — this short guide will get you started.
Parent Workshops
Learn how to make Christian Education affordable for your family by participating in a one-hour ACSTO Parent Workshop via Zoom or on your school campus.
What Scholarships Does My Child Qualify For?
The state of Arizona offers four tax credit scholarships for private school students. To see which Private School Tax Credit Scholarships your student qualifies for, complete our Scholarships Questionnaire below.
Choosing a Funding Source — Tax Credit Scholarships or ESA?
Arizona families are blessed to have options to afford the educational setting that best meets their student’s individual needs, but how do you choose the best funding source for your student’s tuition? Below are two helpful resources to help you decide between using tax credit scholarships or an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA).
Create an ACSTO Family Page
The ACSTO Family Page is a custom page link you can easily share with family and friends to let them know how they can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit while helping make Christian Education affordable for your family.
To set up your Family Page, log in to your Parent Portal, choose “Create/Manage ACSTO Family Page” in the left column, and follow the prompts. Your custom page link will be emailed to you within one to two business days for you to send to whomever you wish via social media, text, and email.
What is a Tax Credit?
Have you ever had a hard time explaining what a tax credit is to potential donors? Here is a great two-minute video you can share via email or social media that explains it simply.
Sample Letters
Need some tips on how to ask your family and friends to donate to ACSTO and recommend your student for a scholarship? Here are some sample letters to get you started. We encourage you to personalize your letters to draw the reader in and provide them with an emotional or financial benefit appeal.
Brochures
Looking for a copy of one of our brochures? Pick some up at your school office, download them below, or if you prefer physical copies, contact our office and we’ll gladly mail them to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to submit an application to ACSTO for my student to be awarded a scholarship?
Yes, your student must have a complete application on file to be awarded scholarships.
Does my student have to be enrolled to be awarded a scholarship?
Yes, a child must be enrolled at an ACSTO Partner School to be awarded a scholarship.
How soon can I begin talking to friends and family about donation to ACSTO and recommending a student who is starting at a Partner School next school year?
Families with incoming students may begin seeking tax credit donations recommending their student 12 months before the student starts attending a Partner School.
New students can first be considered for scholarship awards during the Spring Award Cycle before they start schools as long as an application is received between February 3 and March 31, and the student is enrolled for the upcoming school year.
May a student receive funds from more than one school tuition organization (STO)?
Yes, we encourage you to apply for any opportunities available. Our number one goal is for you to afford a Christian Education for your child.
If my student receives funds from an Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), can they also receive a scholarship from an STO?
Tax credit scholarships and ESA funds cannot be used at the same time to pay a student’s tuition. Students receiving ESA funds may still be considered for and awarded tax credit scholarships, but awards will be held in the student’s name as Multi-Year Scholarships to be used in a future school year after the ESA is terminated.
ACSTO can continue to hold Multi-Year Scholarships as long as a Scholarship Application is submitted for the student each school year and the student remains enrolled in a Partner School. Read our ESA Guide for an overview of the ESA Program and information on choosing which funding source (tax credit scholarships or ESA) is the best option for your student.
Can tax credit scholarships be used for preschool?
Tax credit scholarships are designed for K–12 students, so they are unavailable for preschool (such as Pre-K, K1-K4, kinder-bridge, kinder-care, begin-dergarten, or playgroups). However, the tax credit law does make exceptions for preschool students with disabilities who attend private schools that provide services to accommodate them (A.R.S. 43-1601). For more information, please contact our office.
What if my student receives an award but transfers to another school?
As long as the new school is a private Christian School in Arizona that partners with ACSTO, the unused portion will follow the student. Otherwise, any remaining scholarship amount would be awarded among other students at that school. See below for a list of our Partner Schools.
