K-12 Dive

Arizona’s ESA program launched in the 2011-12 school year with 144 students, and over the next few years, it served mostly targeted populations such as students with disabilities. In 2022-23, the program opened up to all students. ESAs provide K-12 families with public funds to spend on their child’s private or homeschool education, as well as for other educational expenses. Rand’s analysis found that ESA users in Arizona tend to come from school districts that, on average, have higher achievement levels, serve students from more affluent backgrounds, and have larger White populations. Most of the ESA funding that Arizona families received in fall 2024 — 60%, or about $120 million in 2025 dollars — went toward private school tuition, but Rand found a growing portion being spent on other education services like curriculum materials and tutoring, according to Rand.