Government Empowerment Scholarship (ESA)

Seton ESA Funding Policy and Procedures for Academic year 25/26:

1. Seton will need a copy of the fully executed 25/26 Empowerment Scholarship contract from the AZ Department of Education for your student - this must have both your signature as well as that of the AZ Department of Education and it must clearly show the date the contract was executed (PDF please, no partial screenshots can be accepted)
2. Seton Must receive this contract within 30 days of execution
3. Please make a statement by email that you have received and understand Principal Serna’s Statement Notice Regarding Tuition Funding Program
4. Please send verification that you have completed the setup of your Class Wallet account and certify that SETON will be named as the vendor for all payments
5. Once these items are received and processed Seton will gladly work with you to make adjustments to your FACTS account to reflect the portion of tuition covered by ESA and the remainder that will be the family’s obligation. There is a sample below
6. Seton will send all 4 quarter invoices to you in July and you will be responsible to collect funding through class wallet and name Seton as the Vendor for payment in a timely manner. Once payment is received by class wallet it will be applied to the ESA portion of tuition (not the family contribution) which will show in May 2026 as one balloon payment on Hold.  Seton will apply the net payment after the Class Wallet fee deduction to your May 2026 balance. Because Class Wallet withholds a processing fee of 2% from your direct pay to Seton, there will be small balance due in May 2026. The ESA program is HIGHLY Regulated and we must work together to meet all the requirements/regulations of the AZ Department of Education. Parents trying in good faith to help the process look to their FACTS account and are submitting unqualified invoices/documentation, Snippets and screenshots and in submitting this you may compromise your contract as well as Seton's vendor status with the AZ Department of Education.
7. Excess ESA: Seton strongly recommends families take direct reimbursement for excess ESA from a prior year contract for any qualified expense as defined by the ADE other than tuition. (Registration fees, Textbook, Uniforms -etc) You will need to follow all compliance with your ESA Contract to take reimbursement for these other expenses for direct reimbursement and we direct you to the ESA Website for any support needed: https://www.azed.gov/esa/classwallet  Please manage this carefully so as not to compromise the funds that are committed to Seton as these obligations will become the responsibility of the family if ESA funds are not properly managed. 
8. Seton reserves the right to remove a family from this process if the family does not (1) submit to the finance department a fully executed ESA Contract in quarter 1; (2) fails to use a qualified invoice with current date, Itemized charge, Seton Catholic Tax payer ID, address and contact information and a signature of a Seton Catholic representative; and (3) lastly is not able/willing to post their invoice(s) in a timely manner in compliance with the Seton ESA Policy to their class wallet account to direct payment to Seton.  Seton will apply a $50 late fee for all Class Wallet payments that are one quarter in arrears.
9. Families with multiple students in private schools must ensure that funds for other students not attending Seton are not directed to Seton in error.  There will be a $50 fee to family FACTS Accounts to return these funds misdirected to Seton.