ESA (Education Savings Account) is a state program that helps families pay for private education expenses, such as tuition fees. As of right now, it’s available across 18 states nationwide.
Since ESA is relatively new in some states, iit can be confusing to know which schools in each state qualify for ESA funds, as well as knowing exactly how to use the money available.
To make it easier, we put together this post with the most recent information we could find on ESA availability, approved expenses, and schools (broken down by state).
In this post, we cover:
What is ESA?
ESA stands for Education Savings Account. An ESA is a state program that parents can use to access up to 90% of the state tax dollars allocated for the education of their child, and then spend those funds on approved private education expenses. ESA is available in 18 states nationwide, sometimes under slightly different names, and is especially popular in Arizona and Florida.
The average family can receive between $6k–$9k per year from an ESA for a child in elementary school or older, or $4k–$5k if the child is in kindergarten. Students with disabilities are eligible to receive additional funding, with the scholarship value rising up to $43k in cases of multiple disabilities.
What Can ESA Funds Be Used For?
While there is no ESA-approved list indicating what you can spend the money on, most states have strict rules governing how ESA funds can be spent. To prevent misuse of public money, families typically can’t access ESA funds directly through their own bank account, but rather purchase products and services through a third-party service provider. Services like ClassWallet store public funds and issue reimbursements for approved payments made by users.
The most important rule is that ESA funds cannot be used to pay for the education of a child who is enrolled at public school. This makes sense, as otherwise the state-allocated funds would be used twice: once in the public education system and once by you as the child’s parent. In rare cases, ESA funds can be used to pay for specific public school programs.
More commonly, ESA funds are used to pay for private school tuition, homeschooling, or tutoring costs. Allowable expenses also include:
- Educational therapy
- Educational technology
- Standardized tests
- Textbooks, especially in subjects like English, Math, Science and Social Studies
- Transportation to and from school
That being said, funds cannot be used to pay for expenses like:
- Field trips
- Out-of-state activities
- Sports equipment and musical instruments
- Supplies, such as paper or ink
Note that this is only a general guideline as to what constitutes allowable expenses in most states. For the exact policy in your state, it’s best to speak with local state authorities.
The most common use of ESA funds is to pay tuition costs at private schools. In the rest of this article, we’ll list schools that you are allowed to pay for using ESA money, state by state.
Fusion Academy: An ESA Approved School in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee & More
As of this writing, Fusion Academy is an ESA approved school with a campus presence in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, and Tennessee. We’re also approved as a remote learning option for students in Arkansas, New Hampshire, Utah, and West Virginia.
If you’re in one of these states, or if you’re looking to use remote learning, you can use your ESA funds on one of the programs at Fusion Academy.
Fusion Academy is a private school dedicated to providing a fully personalized education tailored to each student’s unique needs and strengths. Our classes are 1-to-1, meaning one teacher and one student in every class. This way, the teacher can focus on each of their students more fully, creating customized lessons to the student’s exact knowledge level and learning style.
This type of learning environment can benefit all students, but is especially helpful for:
- Students struggling in school: This could be a student facing academic or social challenges, often accompanied by struggles with anxiety or depression. These are the students who feel disconnected from school and approach each day with a sense of dread rather than excitement.
- Gifted students: Gifted students excel academically when they are both challenged and genuinely interested in the subject matter. A personalized learning experience empowers teachers to keep these students motivated and engaged.
- Students with learning differences: The 1-to-1 learning environment benefits students with a variety of learning differences, such as ADHD, sensory processing disorder, dyslexia and dyscalculia.
- Twice-exceptional students: Students who excel in one area while facing challenges in another are known as twice-exceptional or 2e. A 1-to-1 school setting is ideal for 2e students because it supports their strengths while addressing areas where they may need additional help.
Let’s take a look at some of Fusion’s academic programs that could be a good fit for ESA funds, depending on your state and the most immediate needs of your child.
Full-Time or Part-Time Classes
At Fusion, students can enroll either full-time or part-time (taking individual classes for credit). We offer open enrollment, allowing your family to choose a start date that works best for your needs.
When talking to a new family about enrollment, we work together to figure out the best possible approach (with the student’s insight and involvement into what they themselves need and want out of their education).
For example:
- Some families withdraw their child from regular school part-way through the school year, or part-way through a semester. Because Fusion’s classes are 1-to-1, we can easily set up a new class for your child that starts whenever you need it to, without having to worry about disrupting the rest of the group.
- Sometimes a student will come to us overwhelmed. In these cases, we may advise that they start part-time with subjects they’re interested in. Then, as their comfort level and confidence grows, we can move them to full-time classes.
- Some students have a busy schedule outside of school, like student athletes, students who are part of artistic programs (dance, film, writing), or who are also attending behavioral/therapy sessions. When we create a program for a student, we will factor these in and find times that work for their schedule.
Remedial Classes
If a student is behind their grade level with either math or literacy, it might be worth allocating ESA funds toward helping them catch up with their peers. We offer both math and literacy remediation, as follows:
- Our reading intervention program is broken up into two parts.
- First, there’s Reading Skills and Strategies. The majority of our reading remediation students will fall into this category. This program focuses on self-study through a specialized online platform, combined with direction instruction with our 1-to-1 teaching model. The focus here is word study, comprehension, and grammar.
- The second option is our Structured Literacy program. This is a pilot program (not yet available across all campuses) and is focused on students in the 15th percentile or lower. The program is based on the Orton-Gillingham methodology, and uses a multi-sensory approach to teach students how to recognize letters and words.
- Our remedial math program combines live instruction from a teacher with self-paced study on a learning platform called ALEKS. The software creates a unique learning path tailored to each student’s ability, and teachers are there to provide accountability, support, and practice problems.
Students can enroll in either a full-time or a part-time program, with the option to include remedial courses as needed. This allows students to remain on-track in areas where they’re not as far behind, while catching up in math or reading skills. Of course, being behind in reading skills can impact other classes. Here, teachers collaborate to ensure that any challenges a student faces are addressed across all their classes.
You can read more about different remediation programs here:
Summer School and Programs
Fusion Academy’s summer programs provide opportunities for students to catch up, get ahead, or spend their summer meaningfully while building character and forming friendships between the spring and fall semesters.
We have several summer programs, including:
- Over 300 accredited core and elective classes, which can be completed in as little as 4 weeks.
- Summer tutoring in subjects like history, biology, and study skills to fill learning gaps from the previous academic year.
- A week-long summer camp for middle schoolers, where students engage in activities designed to enhance their creativity, learning, and social skills.
Post-Secondary Counseling
Does your child need guidance in planning for their future? If so, Fusion’s post-secondary counseling can provide valuable support.
We provide access to dedicated counselors who are passionate about helping students figure out the right path for them after high school. Whether your child wants to explore college, trade school, a gap year, or employment, we provide 1-to-1 support tailored to their goals.
This option is particularly popular with high schoolers preparing for college, but it can also be valuable for younger students who are beginning to explore post-secondary options.
ESA-Approved List in Other States
In this section we look at 13 other states that have an ESA program:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Iowa
- Indiana
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- South Carolina
- Utah
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
If you’re not located in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina or Tennessee, here’s a list of ESA-approved expenses and schools in other states that either already have ESA programs, or are launching them soon.
Alabama
In 2025, Alabama is launching an ESA program called the Choose Act. With this program, participating families can receive up to $7,000 per year and use that money to pay for private school tuition, charter school expenses, and other learning costs such as tutoring fees, college placement exams, and after-school programs.
Since this program has not officially launched yet, there is no list of ESA-approved schools.
You can find out more information and monitor updates about the Choose Act here.
Arkansas
Arkansas offers the Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program. It’s an ESA account that’s available to all K-12 students in Arkansas.
In this state, parents must first use available funds toward tuition at a private school. Then they can use leftover funds for other allowed expenses associated with their school of choice, such as fees, educational supplies, tests, uniforms, college admission exams, and more.
The program offers students up to 80% of the previous year’s average educational spend per student. For example, in 2022-2023, ESA funds of up to $7,349 per student were available.
You can find out more information about Arkansas’s ESA program here.
Iowa
Iowa introduced its ESA program in January 2023. ESAs in this state are known as “Students First Education Savings Accounts,” after the act that created them.
Parents who enroll their children into an accredited private school in Iowa receive an amount equal to the per-student funding provided to public school districts for the same school year. For the 2024–2025 school year, this amount is $7,826. Funds are deposited into an ESA, administered by third-party provider, Odyssey, and can be used for tuition, fees, and other qualified expenses.
Here are a handful of ESA-approved schools in Iowa. You can also use this resource to find a school in your zip code.
Des Moines
- Christ the King Catholic School
- Grand View Christian School
- St. Anthony Catholic School
- Bergman Academy
- Mt. Olive Lutheran School
Cedar Rapids
Waterloo
Indiana
The Indiana Education Scholarship Account (INESA) is designed to provide students with disabilities and their siblings in Indiana access to an educational environment that best meets their learning needs.
Students with disabilities, or their siblings, who are at least 5 years old but under 22 years of age are eligible. The program allows parents or emancipated students to use dedicated scholarship funds for approved educational programs, therapies, services, tuition, fees, and other education-related expenses.
Participating schools include:
Indianapolis
Bloomington
These are just some of the available schools in Indiana. You can also use this resource to find a school in your zip code.
Louisiana
Louisiana now has an ESA program as part of its larger LA GATOR Program, which stands for “Giving All True Opportunity To Rise.”
As with other states, the ESA program in Louisiana provides funding for a student’s K–12 education. These include covering educational costs such as:
- Tuition or fees (from a private or technical school)
- Textbooks and instructional materials
- College admission tests and AP exams
- Education services for students with disabilities (as long as the services are provided by a licensed or accredited practitioner)
- Transportation
Louisiana’s LA GATOR program is replacing the existing school voucher program, Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence.
Because this is a new program for Louisiana, it’s still in the process of being rolled out. Over the next three years, eligibility will expand, as follows:
- Phase 1: The program is first available to school students who are currently in the existing school voucher program, incoming kindergartens, students switching from public schools to private schools, and students from families who are earning up to 250% of the federal poverty line (roughly $78,000 for a family of four).
- Phase 2: The program expands to include families who are earning up to 400% of the federal poverty line (or roughly $124,800 for a family of four).
- Phase 3: The program is open to all K–12 students across Louisiana.
The program will launch in August 2025. As it gets closer to that date, you can apply through the Louisiana State Board of Education website.
Mississippi
Mississippi is another state that only provides ESA funds for children with special needs. Funding is disbursed quarterly to eligible families. Allowable expenses include:
- Tuition
- Textbooks
- Tutoring
- Tests
- Educational therapy
- $50 of school supplies
- Technology that is essential for learning
Here are some schools in Mississippi where ESA funds can be spent:
Memphis
- Bowie Learning Center
- Briarcrest Christian School
- Evangelical Christian School
- Madonna Learning Center
Natchez
Cleveland
Missouri
The Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program is a tax-credit initiative that provides eligible parents with funding for private school tuition and a range of other educational expenses. These expenses can include tutoring, educational therapies, individual classes, extracurricular activities, and more.
The program is supported by donations from individuals and businesses, who receive tax credits for contributions to educational assistance organizations (EAOs) that manage the ESAs. For the 2024–2025 school year, 82% of families in qualifying Missouri cities and counties are eligible, and the maximum ESA value is set at 50% of the per-student funding for public schools.
ESA funds in Missouri can be used for home education purposes, or for any private school that has been officially accredited by one of these accreditation bodies.
Montana
Montana’s ESA is only for families with children who have special needs. The program is called the Special Needs Equal Opportunity Education Savings Account, and it provides up to $8,000 annually for flexible educational and therapeutic expenses, including private school tuition.
To qualify, students must meet the federal definition of a “child with disabilities” and have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Eligible disabilities include autism, intellectual disabilities, hearing or visual impairments, speech or language disorders, emotional disturbances, and more. Students must be Montana residents aged 5 to 19, have attended public school in the previous year or be newly eligible to attend public school, or have been enrolled in a school for juvenile corrections or the deaf and blind.
You can find out more information about Montana’s ESA program, including which counties it’s available in, here.
New Hampshire
New Hampshire’s EFAs allow eligible students to use state-funded grants for a variety of educational programs and learning experiences of their choice. On average, families receive about $5,204 in funding to pay for each student’s education.
To qualify, families must be New Hampshire residents, with children aged between 5 and 20. Additionally, the family’s income must be at or below 350% of the federal poverty level.
Participating institutions include:
Concord
Manchester
South Carolina
The South Carolina Education Scholarship Trust Fund Program is an ESA initiative for K–12 students who meet income and prior public school attendance requirements. Each ESA provides $6,000.
Eligible expenses include tuition, textbooks, curriculum, tutoring services, technology devices, online education fees, college admission exams, industry certifications, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. Funds can also be used for extracurricular activities, with up to $750 available for transportation related to eligible services.
South Carolina’s ESA is in the process of expanding, as follows:
- 5,000 scholarships for the 2024–2025 school year
- 10,000 scholarships for the 2025–2026 school year
- 15,000 scholarships thereafter
Approved providers include:
Charleston
Columbia
A full list of approved providers is downloadable here.
Utah
Starting in the 2024–2025 school year, the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program provides up to $8,000 for students in Utah. These funds can be used for various educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, testing fees, curriculum materials, and contracted services.
Eligibility requirements include:
- Utah residents in grades K–12
- Not enrolled in or attending a public school for the 2024–2025 school year
- Not receiving the Carson Smith Opportunity Scholarship
Scholarships will be awarded based on family income:
- First, students from families with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level
- Next, students with family income between 200% and 555% of the federal poverty level
- Finally, the program is open to all K–12 students, regardless of family income
Eligible students will receive up to $8,000 in scholarship funds.
You can find out more information about Utah’s ESA program here.
West Virginia
The Hope Scholarship Program is West Virginia’s ESA initiative, allowing K–12 students to access state education funding. The scholarship can be used for tuition, homeschool curriculum, and other qualifying educational expenses.
To qualify for the 2024–2025 academic year, students must be West Virginia residents and meet one of the following criteria:
- Eligible for kindergarten in the 2024–2025 school year.
- Enrolled full-time in a West Virginia public elementary or secondary school for the entire previous academic year.
- Enrolled full-time in a public school for at least 45 consecutive days during the current school year, with continued enrollment until a decision is made on the application.
The application period opens in March each year. The earlier you apply, the more funding you may receive.
A full list of eligible ESA schools in West Virginia can be viewed here.
Wyoming
The Wyoming Education Savings Act recently established an ESA program for Wyoming residents. Applications for the 2025–2026 school year will open on January 1, 2025. Eligible students, including those in pre-K through 12th grade, can receive up to $6,000 annually, which will be deposited into an ESA account to cover various educational expenses.
To qualify, families must have a household income below 150% of the federal poverty level (about $46,800 for a family of four), and students cannot be enrolled in a public school for the 2025–2026 school year.
ESA funds can be used for expenses like tuition at participating schools, tutoring, textbooks, educational technology, and school uniforms, as well as summer education programs, college admission tests, and transportation to approved schools.
You can find more information about Wyoming’s ESA program here.
Start Benefiting from ESA Funds Today
We hope you’ve found helpful information about the ESA list in your state.
If you’re in Arizona, Florida, North Carolina or Tennessee, remember that you can use ESA funds at your local Fusion Academy campus, where personalized education is tailored to meet your child’s unique needs. Remote learners can use ESA funds if they’re from Arkansas, New Hampshire, Utah, and West Virginia.
To discover how Fusion Academy can support your child’s educational journey, find your nearest campus and schedule a visit today.
