Arizona ESA Parent Choice Gives Families Options

What Arizona ESA Parent Choice Means for Families

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program puts educational choice directly in the hands of parents. For families of children with special needs such as autism, the scholarship opens doors to learning environments tailored to meet their child’s needs. For years, people have argued for and against the ESA scholarship. Personally, I used to worry that expanding parent choice could divert resources from public schools and create inequities.

Why Arizona ESA Parent Choice Matters After Years in Education

But after two decades working both in private and public schools, my view has changed. I’ve come to see how, when implemented effectively, ESA can open doors for students and families in need of options. The program offers parents meaningful control over their child’s educational pathway, helping them find the right support for both academic and personal development.

How Arizona ESA Parent Choice Supports Specialized Schools

At Sierra Schools of Arizona, where I serve as the regional director, access matters. Every day, we work with students who require individualized instruction and therapeutic support. For many of our families across Arizona, the ESA program is what makes enrollment possible – allowing access to services, specialists, and classrooms designed specifically for their children.  

Real Families Impacted by Arizona ESA Parent Choice

One family’s story that deeply shaped my perspective is that of Charles. His mother, Boyd, shared that for her family, the ESA program was “life-changing”. Without it, she didn’t know how she would have gotten her son the help he needed. Since enrolling at the Sierra School of South Mountain, Charles has made remarkable progress, gaining life skills that will serve him well into adulthood.

Helping Families Navigate ESA Access

Another family faced a different kind of challenge, transferring ESA funds into their son’s name. Navigating the application and fund transfer process can feel overwhelming for parents, even when the program itself has enormous potential. Recognizing this challenge, Sierra School of Gateway’s team stepped in to guide the family through each step. At all Sierra Schools of Arizona, team members are available to help families overcome administrative hurdles, ensuring that students can access the scholarship program and receive the support they need to succeed.

Passion, a single mother, also found assistance through the ESA program. When she learned about the scholarship, she was so happy, as it was the only solution making private education possible for her family. Her advice to other parents of children with autism is to take it one day at a time and remember you’re not alone.

Stories like these illustrate why parent choice matters. All children deserve to be placed in a learning environment best suited for their needs and where they can thrive.  

Let’s continue working together to support policies and programs that put students first. When we empower parents with choices and provide schools with flexibility to adapt, every child in Arizona can achieve their full potential.

Clark Crace is the regional director of Sierra Schools of Arizona