Empowerment Scholarship Account Informational Session

1. Empowerment Scholarship Account Informational Session Arizona Department of Education November 2012

2. What is an Empowerment Scholarship? An account established by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) that allows a parent of a qualified student to withdraw their child form a public district or charter school and receive a portion of their public funding to educate their child as the parent seems appropriate Funds are removed from your school district and allocated to the parent/ guardian. It now becomes the parent’s responsibility to educate their child.

3. Who is eligible? In order to be deemed a qualified student, the student must meet the following: Arizona Resident AND Identified as child with special needs or active military parent or award of the juvenile court and is residing with a perspective permanent placement foster care or achieved permanent placement through adoption or attending a “D & F” school AND Attending public school for the first 100 days prior to applying or received a qualifying School Tuition Organization (STO) scholarship the prior year

4. FAQ’s About Eligibility • My child just entered Pre-School in January and could not accumulate the full 100 days, does he/she qualify? • If the child was not enrolled in a public/ charter school the prior year; the student does not qualify for an ESA • We changed schools and there was a gap. • As long as the gap was not 10 consecutive days • My child is sick and misses school often • If he does not miss 10 consecutive days the child still qualifies • My child has missed 15 days but not consecutive. • In order to qualify, the child cannot miss more than 10% of total school days (180).

5. FAQ’s About Eligibility • I just moved to the state. • In order to qualify, the student must have attended public/ charter school for the 1st 100 days in Arizona. • I enrolled my child late into school. • As a rule, a district will not count you as a “late enrollee” unless you do not attend the first 10 days of school.

6. School Tuition Organization (STO) scholarships • Tax credit scholarships for Arizona children • Three types of state tax credit scholarship program • Individual Tuition • Corporate Tuition • Lexie’s Law for Disabled and Displaced students • In order to qualify for an ESA, the student must be on an STO for Disabled and Displaced. • If unsure if your child received a qualifying STO, please contact Karen Jacobs at the Department of Revenue at 602-716-6923 or kjacobs@dor.gov

7. How does ESA identify a child with special needs? Individualized Education Program (IEP) Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (MET) 504 Plan Your particular school district determines your child’s eligibility based on their evaluation. ESA funds on primary eligibility

8. If my child qualifies, how much will he/she receive? The amount is determined by calculating 90% of each student’s funding level as generated by the school finance formula (state portion). The formula included specific “weights” for different categories of disabilities, grade levels, school locations, etc. K-3 students receive extra funding English language learners (ELL) receive extra funding

9. Funding The average base amount is $1,500-$3,700 Following slides, will list some categories not all Amount shown is for 1st-12th grade (Pre-K and K are funded at half)

10. Funding

11. Funding Estimated Base Amount + Estimated Per Pupil Amount + Estimated Additional Weights Estimated ESA Award Amount / 4= Quarterly amount

12. Application Process If either is expiring on or beforeJuly 15, 2013 must be re-evaluated January 1, 2013- May 1, 2013 (3pm deadline) Must submit Application IEP, MET or 504 Plan (children with special needs) The IEP, MET or 504 Plan MUST be current IEP (valid for 1 year) MET (valid for 3 years)

13. Application Process • Award Letter (mailed) • Total amount for the year • Quarterly disbursements • 2nd Page must be returned to the Department • Either Accepting or Declining ESA scholarship • MUST be in by MAY 15, 2013 • This can be: • Emailed (confirmation will be provided) • Faxed • Mailed • Hand-delivered (Parent must call or email to check if it was received)

14. Application Process Once ESA staff has received your Acceptance Letter A CONTRACT PACKET will be mailed to you no later than MAY 30, 2013 by 3pm Checklist Agreement Contract (4 pages) Bank Consent Form Expense Report Instructions Please make sure that if you move during the process or wish for your contract to sent elsewhere you notify ESA staff immediately!

15. Contract Packet Checklist: list of items/documents that are included and must be done prior to receiving ESA funds (please retain for your records) Agreement Contract: 4 page contract (these are just some of the conditions listed on the contract) Awarded amount & Quarterly disbursement Terms and Termination Holder Obligation Fraudulent Activity Conflict of Interest

16. Agreement Contract All 4 pages MUST be returned to the Department of Education by June 30, 2013 at3pm Must be MAILED or HAND DELIVERED! ESA will NOT accept any contracts that are emailed or faxed. Don’t forget to sign your contract (page 4) Please make a copy for your records 

17. Contract Packet Expense Report Submission Schedule If due date falls on a weekend or holiday the reports MUST still be in that day!

18. Contract Packet Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch Consent Form MUST be returned with Agreement Contract Without this form, funds CANNOT be released This form is basically giving Bank of America/ Merrill Lynch to share transactional information with the State of Arizona & permission to release a pre-paid debit card in your name for ESA usage

19. Upon receipt of Agreement Contract Contracts are due by JUNE 30, 2012 3pm Process at Arizona Department of Education: ESA generates an approved list of parents Auditing checks our “math” sends to Accounting Accounting approves Auditing sends to State Treasurer’s Office Treasury releases finalized list to Bank of America Bank of America prepares for their process and mails out the debit cards.

20. Debit Card Bank of America mails debit cards to all awarded ESA parents Unless you contact the bank, they will NOT deliver to P.O. Boxes or forward to an address ESA debit cards look exactly like B of A red debit cards Cards arrive in a plain white envelop; nothing that will displays they are from B of A or ADE DO NOTdiscard!!

21. 1st Disbursement Bank of America will mail out ESA pre-paid debit cards Should receive your card between July 15-July 30, 2013 If you have not received your card by July 30, 2013, please contact me  If you moved and did not notify B of A you will need to contact them directly—ESA staff cannot call on your behalf

22. You now have an ESA debit cardWhat can ESA funds be spent on?? Funds must be used to provide an education which includes, at a minimum, reading; math; grammar; social studies; and science. Eligible expenses are: Tuition & fees at a Private School for Pre-K-12th grade Textbooks required by private school Educational therapies from a licensed or accredited provider Tutoring services from a nationally, regionally, or state accredited provider Paraprofessional (aide) must have Associate degree OR 60+ college credit hours OR pass 1 of 3 paraprofessional exams offered by the state. Curriculum (home-schooling or supplemental instruction)

23. Receiving Next Disbursements In order to receive the next funding; quarterly reports must be submitted The reports must include: Expense Report Cover Sheet Receipt(s) Bank statements that shows debits

24. Timeline for ESA application/process Important Dates January 1-May 1, 2013 (3pm): Applications are available (may began submitting to the Department) May 15th: should have received an Award Letter May 30th (3pm):last day to submit Letter of Acceptance or Declining of Award June 15th: should have received your Contract Packet June 30th (3pm): Last day to submit your Agreement Contract &Consent Form July 15th- July 30th: ESA debit cards should be arriving July 30th: No debit card has arrived please contact Karla

25. Resources Yahoo Parent Group (ESA Website under Hot Topics) ESA Advisory Board ESA Website www.azed.gov/esa Karla Wescott 602-364-1969 or karla.wescott@azed.gov ESA email esa@azed.gov

26. Questions? Thank you ALL for your time & patience during this presentation Thank you, Michele Fiorenza for inviting us!