Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program lets families direct state education funds toward approved expenses, and many parents ask whether those funds can be used for speech therapy. The short answer is that it depends on how your child qualified for the ESA program. This guide walks through what the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and state law say, where the rules come from, and what to confirm before you book.
This article is general information, not legal advice. ESA rules can change, so always confirm the details for your student with the current ESA Parent Handbook and ADE.
What is an Arizona ESA?
ADE describes the ESA program as a way for the money that would pay for a student's education in a neighborhood school to follow that student to the education their parents choose, "including education at home."[1] ADE's eligibility page lists "universal" eligibility for students in kindergarten through twelfth grade who are Arizona residents, and a separate path for preschool students with a disability who have a current evaluation report, individualized education program (IEP), or 504 plan from an Arizona public school.[2]
When parents sign up, they agree to a few conditions set by state law, including using a portion of the funds for education in at least reading, grammar, math, social studies, and science, and not enrolling the student in a school district or charter school.[3]
Can ESA funds pay for speech therapy?
Yes, for some students. Arizona law allows ESA funds to be used for "educational therapies from a licensed or accredited practitioner or provider," but it lists this among additional services available only when the student meets certain disability criteria.[3] Those criteria, defined in A.R.S. 15-2401, include a student who is:[4]
- Identified as having a disability under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
- Identified by a school district, or by an independent third party under the ESA law, as a child with a disability as defined in Arizona's special education statutes
- A child with a disability who is eligible to receive services from a school district under A.R.S. 15-763
The 2025–2026 ESA Parent Handbook states this plainly: "a student who is not identified as a student with a disability is not authorized to use his or her Empowerment Scholarship for therapies."[5] The handbook says a MET report, IEP, or 504 plan from an Arizona public school, or an independent educational evaluation obtained for ESA purposes from a qualified examiner, must be on file with the ESA program before therapy is paid with ESA funds.[5]
In practice: If your child's ESA is a universal (non-disability) account, the handbook indicates therapy isn't an allowed expense for that account. If your child has a documented disability on file with the ESA program, speech therapy from a licensed provider is listed as an approved therapy.[5]
What does the handbook require for speech therapy?
For students with a disability on file, the 2025–2026 handbook includes these points about educational therapies:[5]
- Credentials: Speech therapy is listed with the credential "Speech Language Pathologist Therapy (SLP) license," and SLP assistants are approved. Account holders must provide a copy of the provider's valid license or accreditation to get purchase approval.
- In-person and virtual: Both in-person and virtual educational therapies from a licensed or accredited provider are approved expenses. (If virtual sessions interest you, see our telehealth page.)
- Missed appointments: Fees for late, cancelled, or missed appointments are not an allowable ESA expense.
- Insurance: ESA funds can be used along with private medical insurance for educational therapies, with documentation showing the amount insurance didn't cover.
- Invoices: Invoices should include items such as the student's name, an itemized description of services with dates, total charges, and the therapist's license number.
How do ESA payments work?
ADE describes ClassWallet as "the financial management platform for the ESA program." Through ClassWallet, parents can pay vendors directly or request reimbursement for approved expenses they've already paid.[7] For reimbursement, ADE asks families to provide a detailed invoice, proof of payment, and a valid credential for each request.[7] The handbook likewise says an invoice alone isn't enough for a reimbursement request; proof of payment is required.[5]
Speech Me Therapy accepts ESA funds and handles ESA billing through its practice management system, SimplePractice. Families should still confirm their own student's eligibility for therapy with the ESA program. You can read more on our ESA and speech therapy page.
What if my child doesn't have a disability on file yet?
The handbook explains that families whose student qualified under a category other than disability, but who believe the student may have a disability, can seek a special education evaluation from their local school district or an independent educational evaluation obtained for ESA purposes.[5] A few details from the handbook are worth knowing:[5]
- Under federal special education law, a public school district keeps the responsibility to either evaluate an ESA student or give parents written notice that it refuses the requested evaluation. For homeschooled students, the handbook lists the district where the parent lives as responsible.
- Qualified examiners for an independent evaluation for ESA purposes are listed as licensed physicians, licensed psychiatrists, and licensed psychologists.
- Universal ESA students can't use ESA funds to pay for an independent educational evaluation to determine whether they qualify as a child with a disability.
- An updated evaluation doesn't always increase a student's award; in some cases, the amount may be reduced based on the new eligibility category.
If a school evaluation found your child ineligible for special education, our article on why some kids don't qualify for school speech services explains how that decision is made.
Do ESA rules change from year to year?
They can. The handbook explains that ADE provides the State Board of Education with a handbook each year and the Board adopts it on or before May 1, and that policies can be added or removed more often in response to new legislation, court decisions, or rule changes.[5] At the time of writing, the handbook ADE links as its "Current ESA Parent Handbook" is the 2025–2026 edition.[6] Because award amounts and specific policies can change, this guide doesn't list dollar figures. ADE's ESA page and handbook are the places to check before you rely on any rule.[1, 6]
The bottom line
Arizona ESA funds can pay for speech therapy, but under current law and the current handbook, only for students identified as having a disability, and only from a licensed or accredited provider.[3, 5] Before starting, check which eligibility category your child's account is under, make sure the needed documentation is on file with the ESA program, and ask your provider how they bill. When in doubt, contact the ESA program directly; ADE's website lists its help desk and phone line.[1]
Sources
- Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). Empowerment Scholarship Account.
- Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). Eligibility Requirements & Application.
- Arizona State Legislature (n.d.). 15-2402 - Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts; funds. Arizona Revised Statutes.
- Arizona State Legislature (n.d.). 15-2401 - Definitions. Arizona Revised Statutes.
- Arizona Department of Education (2025). Parent Handbook: Empowerment Scholarship Account Program, School Year 2025-2026.
- Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). ESA Parent Handbook and Resources.
- Arizona Department of Education (n.d.). ClassWallet Information.
Articles from Speech Me Therapy, a pediatric speech-language therapy practice in North Phoenix serving Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and families across Arizona by telehealth. Our posts summarize published guidance from professional and public health organizations; sources are listed at the end of every article.