Arizona ESA Program
Your ESA Funding,
Working for Your Family
Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account gives your family public education dollars to spend the way that works best for your child. Here's everything you need to know — and how Honeycomb fits in.
Arizona ESA — 2025–2026
Every K–12 student in Arizona is eligible
Regardless of income, location, or prior school enrollment
$7k+
Average annual funding per student
4×
Quarterly deposits into your ClassWallet
100k+
Arizona students currently using ESA
2011
Arizona launched the nation's first ESA
The Basics
What Is an ESA?
An Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is a state-funded education savings account. Instead of your child's education dollars going to a local public school, the state deposits them directly into an account your family controls.
You decide how to spend those funds on approved educational expenses — giving you the freedom to build a learning path that truly fits your child.
Arizona was the first state in the country to launch an ESA program back in 2011, and expanded it in 2022 to include every K–12 student regardless of income or zip code.
How the money moves
The state deposits funds quarterly into your ClassWallet account — a secure platform managed by the Arizona Department of Education. From there you request reimbursements or pay approved vendors directly.
Who Is Eligible?
All Arizona K–12 students — regardless of income, location, or academic history
Pre-K students with disabilities who have an IEP, 504 plan, or MET report
Students already homeschooling or attending private school
No income limit, no waitlist — Arizona accepts applications year-round
What You Agree To
Withdraw from your public or charter school
Provide instruction in reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science
Keep receipts and records of all ESA purchases
🌱 Good news: Honeycomb covers all five required subject areas — so enrolling with us satisfies this requirement.
Getting Started
How to Apply for Arizona ESA
The application process is simpler than most families expect. Arizona accepts applications year-round with no deadline to worry about.
1
Create an ADE Account
Go to azed.gov/esa and create an ADEConnect account if you don't already have one.
2
Submit Your Application
Apply online. You'll need your child's birth certificate and one proof of Arizona residency in your name.
3
Get Approved
ADE reviews your application. Once approved, you'll sign a contract and your ClassWallet account is activated.
4
Receive Quarterly Funds
Funds are deposited four times per year. Log into ClassWallet to pay vendors or request reimbursements.
Ready to apply?
Applications are open year-round at the Arizona Department of Education website.
Approved Expenses
What Can ESA Funds Be Used For?
ESA funds are flexible — families can mix and match approved categories to build the learning experience that works best for their child.
Core Instruction & Curriculum
- Tuition for qualified programs like Honeycomb
- Textbooks and curricula
- Supplementary materials
- Online learning programs
Tutoring & Support
- One-on-one tutoring services
- Teaching services
- Educational therapies (licensed providers)
- Special education support
Enrichment Activities
- Music and art lessons
- Sports programs and activities
- Language classes
- Extracurricular instruction
Testing & Assessment
- Nationally norm-referenced testing
- Grade-level assessments
- MAP Growth testing (included at Honeycomb)
Technology & Supplies
- Computer hardware and devices
- Educational software
- Educational supplies
- School uniforms (at qualified schools)
Other Approved Uses
- Transportation to qualified schools
- Postsecondary tuition and fees
- Services provided by a public school
⚠️
Always verify with ClassWallet: All purchases must be approved through the ClassWallet platform. When in doubt, submit a pre-approval request before spending. The Arizona Department of Education requires all expenses to be for a valid educational purpose at a reasonable market cost.
Why Honeycomb
Why Honeycomb Is a Perfect Fit for ESA Families
We built Honeycomb specifically with ESA families in mind — from the tuition structure to the schedule to the parent support.
ESA-Approved Vendor
Honeycomb is a qualified educational program. Tuition can be paid directly through ClassWallet — no reimbursement hassle.
Covers All 5 Required Subjects
Reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science — all covered in our daily instruction. Your ESA obligation is met.
Testing Included
MAP Growth testing three times per year is included in your tuition. That's one less ESA expense to manage.
Leaves Room for Enrichment
Our tuition is structured so most families have $3,000+ in ESA funds remaining for sports, music, art, and more.
Quarterly Tuition Matches ESA Deposits
Our payment schedule aligns with Arizona's quarterly ESA disbursements — so cash flow is never a stress.
ESA Guidance from Our Team
New to ESA? Our info sessions cover exactly how to set up ClassWallet, what to submit, and how to get the most from your funds.
$7,000
Average annual ESA funding per student
$4,000
Full year at Honeycomb incl. registration
$3,000+
Remaining for enrichment your family chooses
Common Questions
ESA Questions Families Ask Us
These are the questions we hear most often at our info sessions. If yours isn't here, bring it — we love a good Q&A.
QDo I have to leave public school to use ESA?
Yes — when you sign the ESA contract with the Arizona Department of Education, your child withdraws from their public or charter school. ESA funds and public school enrollment cannot run at the same time.
QIs there a deadline to apply for ESA?
No — Arizona accepts ESA applications year-round with no waitlist. That said, if you want funding in place before the August 3rd start date, we recommend applying as early as possible so your ClassWallet account is active in time.
QHow does Honeycomb get paid through ClassWallet?
Once enrolled, we'll provide you with our vendor information to add to your ClassWallet account. From there you can pay tuition directly each quarter — no out-of-pocket cost, no reimbursement required. We walk you through this step at our info session.
QWhat if my ESA application is still pending when school starts?
This is common, especially for families applying in summer. We can discuss your situation during the info session — we understand the ESA timeline and will work with your family to find the best path forward.
QCan I use remaining ESA funds for sports and activities?
Yes — sports programs, music lessons, art classes, and other enrichment activities are approved ESA expenses as long as they have an educational purpose. Most Honeycomb families have $3,000+ remaining each year to spend on exactly these things.
QI'm brand new to ESA. Is it complicated?
It can feel overwhelming at first, but most families get the hang of ClassWallet quickly. And you won't be figuring it out alone — our parent community group chat is a great place to ask questions and get tips from families who've been through it.
Have More ESA Questions?
We cover everything — ClassWallet setup, tuition, the schedule, and more — at our free Google Meet info session. No commitment required.
Join the Interest List for an Info Session Invite →