ESA
Statement Notice Regarding Tuition Funding Programs
Principal Victor Serna (Created 12/05/2022)
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.
2023/2024 SETON ESA Policies & Procedures
We look forward to assisting you with your 23/24 ESA Contract. We ask that you please use the dedicated email box for ESA Families for all communications: [email protected]
Parents taking ESA Funding for the 23/24 Academic Year will need to notify the Finance Department by July 15, 2023 – this year there is a CHANGE made by the AZ Department of Education and Parents/Guardians will need to make the decision to use either ESA or STO Funding for their student for the entire academic year. There will no longer be the option to use both in the same academic year. Seton will apply ESA Funding to annual tuition first until the balance is paid in full, before allocating these funds to activity fees, summer school, etc. Families on the ESA Contract program may not pause the family payments. We stand ready to help each family in the Seton Community make a Catholic Education affordable but need to ensure there are no large unexpected balances due in May 2024. As a responsible Catholic School, we are obligated to collect all fees owed to us in a timely manner to continue providing quality education.
Seton will offer TWO OPTIONS to families using ESA Funding for Academic year 23/24:
If the ESA Contract Holder names SETON as the Vendor for direct payments:
- We will need a copy of the fully executed 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)
- Seton Must receive this contract within 30 days of execution
- Please make a statement by email that you have received and understand Principal Serna’s Statement Notice Regarding Tuition Funding Program
- 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
- 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.
- Seton will send all 4 quarter invoices to you and you will be responsible to collect your 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 2024. Seton will apply the net payment after the Class Wallet fee deduction to your May 2024 balance. Because Class Wallet withholds a processing fee from your direct pay to Seton, there will be small balance due in May 2024
If the ESA Contract Holder chooses to take direct reimbursement of the quarterly funding:
- We will need a copy of the fully executed 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)
- Seton Must receive this contract within 30 days of execution
- Your FACTS account will be set up on a ten pay from August 2023 to May 2024 in the amount of $1,410 for students with the Catholic Tuition rate or $1,877.50 for students at the non-Catholic tuition rate. There will be no pause/holds on these payments.
- The ESA Contract holder will need to log into their FACTS account and download receipts of payments made toward tuition each quarter. The ESA Contract holder will need to upload these receipts along with a copy of your checking account or credit card statement to verify these payments for direct reimbursement. Seton Finance Department will not issue receipts to parents; receipts must be obtained through your FACTS account each quarter. Please see below for instructions to retrieve your Receipt of payment
- ESA Contract holders taking direct reimbursement will avoid the class wallet service fee.
NOTE: Inaccuracies will change the amount due and the payment amount. If the information you have provided is incorrect, you will be responsible for the unpaid tuition balance if an adjustment is needed.
Option 2 - Self Serve instructions to retrieve your paid receipt:
Here are the instructions to retrieving your quarterly receipt from the parent login to your FACTS account:
- Log in to Your FACTS account at the end of each quarter (September, December, March, May)
- From the parent Home Page please click VIEW DETAILS (next to Payment Plan & Billing)
- Click on VIEW PAYMENT SUMMARY in the blue box
- Under your student’s name there will be a drop down box - please click here and choose DATE RANGE
- Place the date range for the quarter you are seeking reimbursement. Example: 7/1/2023 to 9/30/2023
- Click VIEW in the green box
- This is your receipt to upload to your class wallet.
- In the upper right hand corner, you will see PRINT
- Click and print this as a PDF for your records - this is what you'll upload to your class wallet for direct reimbursement
Helpline for your FACTS account questions: 866.441.4637
Finance Office
Linda Surovick
Finance Director
480.963.1900, Ext. 2072
[email protected]
Cindy Ostrowski
Accounts Receivable and Financial Aid Specialist
480.963.1900, Ext. 2010