Your Questions, Answered

We have answered your questions to the best of our ability. We will regularly update our website as we get more information or make changes. For more information on Arizona ESA specific questions, please refer to the ESA parent handbook.

  • It’s not too late! We encouraged the June 15 date to allow ample time for students to apply for/receive their ESA funding, withdraw from their previous schools, enroll with us, etc. If you haven’t applied yet, there is still time. It does take 3-4 weeks for your ESA account to be set up and funded, so if you want to enroll your student for the beginning of this school year, it’s important to complete your ESA application as soon as possible. You may fill out our registration form now.

  • In accordance with Arizona law, as a private school, ALA is authorized to utilize whatever means deemed necessary to provide our students with an education that fulfills our mission, vision, and values. ALA contracts with other education providers to increase flexibility and opportunity for our students.

  • No, we are a private school. We do contract with public schools to help provide our students with solutions for their unique educational needs, but we are still registered as a private school. For this reason, we are eligible to accept Arizona ESA funding.

  • Tuition is due quarterly as follows:

    Quarter 1: August 1st

    Quarter 2: November 1st

    Quarter 3: February 1st

    Quarter 4: May 1st. 

  • We provide opportunities for enrollment with our education partners for grades K-12.

  • When you receive your student’s ESA funds, after ALA enrollment, you will pay their ALA tuition and ALA will pay our partner providers. Here is a step-by step guide:

    • Step 1: Apply for ESA for each child at https://www.azed.gov/esa

      • There is a processing window of approximately 30 days and set disbursement dates. Be mindful of these deadlines.  

    • Step 2: When you receive your approval email from ADE notifications, set up your ESA parent portal and sign/submit your contract.

    • Step 3: Set up your ClassWallet with your ESA parent portal.

    • Step 4: Enroll with our in-person education partner near you and inform the registrar that your student will be attending through ALA.

    • Step 5: Upon receipt of your quarterly disbursements through ClassWallet, pay your ALA tuition invoice. 

      • We are working to be set up on ClassWallet before the school year starts to enable parents to pay tuition directly through their ClassWallet account. Please check back for updates.

    • Step 6: ALA will pay your selected education partner for your child’s attendance.

  • Our in-person education partners have set tuition rates which ALA will pay.

    Tuition paid will be used to fund your students enrollment with our education partners as well as maintain our ability to provide this service and expand opportunities for the students in our community.

  • Yes. Unlike for grades 1-12, there will be an out-of-pocket cost for parents/guardians of kindergarten students. The difference in cost for grade K is due to ESA funds being generated based on a half-day kindergarten model and our in-person partners only offer full-day kindergarten. This creates a discrepancy between our education partner’s tuition and the disbursement you would receive from ESA for your kindergarten student. Our education partners have set tuition rates for all students. Our tuition at ALA is set to cover this cost and the cost of our services. You, the parent or guardian, will be responsible for the full ALA tuition rate, despite the difference between your ESA funding and our tuition. We understand the difficulty that this may pose for some families and we are actively working with our education partners to create an agreement to balance the shortfall between ESA funding and our partner’s tuition rates. In the meantime, we are waiving all administrative fees for Kindergarten. Additionally, because of the lower ESA disbursement for kindergarteners, ALA is taking on grade K students at a loss and is unable to absorb the cost for the payment processing fee imposed by ClassWallet like we will be doing for grades 1-12. Parents/guardians of kindergarten students will be responsible for this cost which is already reflected in our tuition rates.

  • ALA’s tuition covers enrolled students’ fees for attendance at our education partners’ site. Special ed services and therapies require extra funding, which can be paid for using the additional ESA monies awarded by ESA for children with special needs. Parents will need to coordinate with our education partners directly to address their Special Ed student’s specific needs. Parents can find more information on Arizona ESA as it pertains to Special Education funding via the Arizona Department of Education’s website.

  • No. Transportation to and from our education partner’s sites will be the parent/guardian’s responsibility.

  • You may choose to withdraw your child from ALA and/or our education partners at any time. However, once your quarterly tuition has been paid, it cannot be refunded. This may create difficulty for you as the parent/guardian if you attempt to enroll your student in another school. Because of this, we recommend parents make transfers for their students between quarters.
    To continue to use your ESA funds for your student for the remainder of the school year, you will need to formally withdraw your student from our education partner’s school.

  • No, utilized Arizona ESA funding acts as a Affidavit of Intent. You do not need to file a separate document. However, do ensure you formally withdraw your student from your public school before enrolling with ALA or utilizing ESA funding.