Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program

Please note: This program is new for the 2022-2023 school year and continues to evolve. As we receive new information, we will frequently update this page. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate the first year of this program. 

We have created our own list of FAQs in an effort to help our SFX families understand the program offerings and considerations. 

How long will it take to receive funds?
  • Currently it takes 45+ days for SFX to receive funds from ESA/ClassWallet.
  • Please be aware that we can not place a hold on your account.
  • We can change your due date to the last day of the month but this needs to be requested 4 business days prior to the due date.
  • ALL families are responsible to cover Tuition and incidental fees.

Can a child receive ESA funding and STO funding during the same quarter?
  • No
  • You can only receive funds in quarters.
  • ​Students in the same household can utilize different funding options at the same time (i.e. high school student may use STO where elementary may use ESA or elementary 1st grader on ESA and 5th grader on STO).

When my ClassWallet account is funded what do I do?
  • Your wallet will be funded on a quarterly basis ( July / Oct / Jan / Apr).
  • SFX prefers families to select the self reimbursement through ClassWallet. This process eliminates the fee and your FACTs account continues to be on schedule.
  • When you’re new to ESA it can take up to 45 days to set up and fund accounts. Parents can be reimbursed for tuition they have to pay out of pocket (amount determined at the end of the year).

Can my FACTs account be on “Hold” status until the ESA Funds are received?
  • No
  • ​​SFX ask that all ClassWallet invoices are submitted 10-15 days before the scheduled due date.
  • All ESA account holders “due dates” will change to the 20th of the month in order to allow sufficient processing time (ONLY if school has been notified).

What if FACTs withdraws the tuition funds from my account after I already submitted for ESA funds?
  • All families are responsible for their own FACTs account and should treat it as if it's a bank account.
  • If funds are pulled, SFX can refund the tuition once the ESA funds have been received at the end of the school year.

ESA vs STO
  • If you are fully funded with STOs, you might want to stick with STOs versus ESA. Please know that ESA will not cover your full tuition. You will be required to pay the difference by the end of the school year.
  • ​​If you are partially funded through STOs, you may want to consider switching to ESA. BUT please note that you CANNOT receive ESA and STO funds within the same quarter.

What do I need to do if I want to switch from STOs to ESA?
  • Let Aundrea Yabo-Ramirez know.
  • We will determine how much STO money has been allocated already and will work with STOs on refunds/reallocations. 

Can you accept ESA Funds and pay tuition out of pocket?
  • YES
  • You can also use your funds towards anything on the “ APPROVED ESA LIST” after tuition is paid. 

Who can receive ESA funding? 
  • Any student in AZ grades Pre K( age 5yrs) K - 12
  • Preschool 3-4yr olds are not eligible 
  • Not all funding is equal

How do I apply?
  • Online
  • You need a birth certificate and proof of residence in Arizona.

How long does it take to process the application?
  • Up to 30 days 

When should I sign my contract? 
  • Hold on to it until you’re ready to receive funds (if applicable: we have to make sure all STO funds are removed from your account)
  • As soon as you sign it, it becomes active until it expires.
  • You don’t need to reapply each quarter. 

What if I already signed my ESA Contract?
Can I change my tuition payment date/ schedule?
  • Yes, we are willing to be flexible with all families.

What if I miss my due date and FACTs withdraws the tuition funds from my account?
  • All families are responsible for their own FACTs account and should treat it as if it's a bank account.
  • If funds are pulled, SFX can refund the tuition once the ESA funds have been received at the end of the school year.

Is there a ClassWallet fee?
  • Yes, 2.5% that is paid by the family.

Can I switch between payment options in ClassWallet ( i.e paying through CW or reimbursement )?
  • Yes, families have an option to pay out of pocket and get reimbursed through ClassWallet direct deposit or they can pay through ClassWallet which in turn pays the school as a vendor ( this option has as fee).
  • SFX prefers families to select the self reimbursement through ClassWallet. This process eliminates the fee and your FACTs account continues to be on schedule.

What are the required documents for all expenses in ClassWallet?
Pursuant to A.C.C. R7-2-1508(C-D), private school invoices MUST have the following:
  1. Student’s name
  2. Name of the private school
  3. Transaction Date
  4. What ESA funds are paying for (tuition or fees)
  5. Total amount charged to debit card must be reflected on the invoice
  6. For reimbursements, proof of method of payment is required (e.g., an invoice showing
  7. “Paid”, a confirmation email showing payment was made/received, PayPal confirmation, etc. 

Where do I find the invoice to submit to ClassWallet? 
Log in to your FACTs account and follow these steps:
  1. Click View Details (next to Payment Plan & Billing)
  2. Select the Schedule tab and then expand the months in which you are trying pay (i.e Q1 Jul to Sept / Q2 Oct to Dec / Q3 Jan to Mar / Q4 Apr to May)
  3. Print or Save as a PDF  
  4. Upload this PDF to the ClassWallet account

What do I do after my ClassWallet account has been funded?
What option do I select to make sure my funds are sent to the school for tuition?
  • Please make sure you select the “ Private School -Related Expenses”

Can we still accumulate/solicit recommended STO funds for future use? 
  • YES, we highly recommend that you continue to accumulate your STO funds for future use.
  • Even though  your child is on ESA, you can still make tax credit donations.

Can we cancel our ESA contract?
  • Yes, you can close your account any time
  • You can reapply but, it’s not recommended to switch quarter by quarter.​
​​NOTICE REGARDING TUITION FUNDING PROGRAMS

The State of Arizona provides several options to assist families in paying for your child’s Catholic education, including the Empower Scholarship Account (ESA) Program and through State Tuition Organization (STO) tax credit funds. These programs are offered through the State and/or through the individual STO, and are not managed by the School.

​Therefore, you are responsible for compliance with all terms, conditions to eligibility, and legal requirements related to any programs in which you participate. Please note in particular that pursuant to state law, if you choose to utilize an Empower Scholarship Account, you may not utilize STO funds (or vice versa). The School is not responsible for ensuring your compliance with this or any other term, condition, law or requirement relating to tuition assistance programs.

Furthermore, please be aware that payment of your child’s tuition is your responsibility, whether or not you choose to participate in ESA, STO, or any other programs or options to assist your family. These programs may not cover 100% of the cost of tuition and fees, and therefore any outstanding portion will remain your responsibility.

Contact

For questions, please contact our Tuition & Scholarship Manager, Aundrea Yabo-Ramirez.

Resources
Phone: (602) 266-5364
Fax: (602) 279-0423
St. Francis Xavier Jesuit Catholic Elementary School
4715 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85012

St. Francis Xavier School, a faith community grounded on Jesuit principles of superior education, cultivates excellence in mind, body, and spirit sending forth Kids for Others.