Phoenix Conservatory of Music is an approved ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) vendor in Arizona.
Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account Eligibility Requirements
Every K–12 student in Arizona is eligible to participate in the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, regardless of family income, where the student lives within the state, or the student’s past academic performance. Students are eligible for ESA funding even if they already attend private schools or are homeschooled.
To apply for Arizona’s ESA, you will need to provide the following:
1. Student’s Birth Certificate
The applicant (the person applying) must be listed on the birth certificate (or other legal documentation).
If the applicant’s legal name at the time of application does not match what is on the birth certificate, documentation of legal name change must be included with the birth certificate.
2. Proof of Residency Document in the Applicant’s Name (parent/guardian applying)
You only need to provide ONE of the following documents listing your physical address. PO Boxes are not accepted. This is not an exhaustive list.
Valid Arizona driver’s license or Arizona identification card
Valid Arizona motor vehicle registration
Valid Arizona Address Confidentiality Program authorization card
Property Deed / Warranty Deed
Mortgage documents
HOA documents
Property tax bill
Rental agreement or lease (including Section 8 agreement or off-base military housing)
Utility bill (water, electric, gas, cable, phone)
Bank or credit card statement
W-2 wage statement
Payroll stub
Certificate of tribal enrollment (506 Form) or other identification issued by a recognized Indian tribe located in Arizona
Other documentation from a state, tribal, or federal agency (Social Security Administration, Veterans’ Administration, Arizona Department of Economic Security, etc.)
For Reservation addresses: Physical address verification letter from a fire department, police department, tribal agency, or Chapter House
Temporary on-base billeting facility (for military families)
A notarized Affidavit of Shared Residence if you don’t have proof of residence in your name
How to Apply for Arizona’s ESA Program
Applying for Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) can be done in these simple steps: https://www.azed.gov/esa/esa-forms/
1. Submit Your ESA Application
Provide the required documents with your application, which include proof of residence and your student’s birth certificate.
2. Sign the ESA Contract
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) will send an ESA contract once the application has been processed.
3. Access Your ESA funds via ClassWallet
ClassWallet is a third-party vendor that administers ESA funds in a virtual account. Once you are accepted into the ESA program, your awarded funds will be entered into your ClassWallet account.
4. Pay Vendors/Schools
Use your ClassWallet account to pay approved vendors or schools directly from the virtual platform. You can also receive a prepaid debit card or receive reimbursements for approved expenses made with your own funds.
You will be able to find PCM using the display name, Phoenix Conservatory of Music – Music Lessons and more!:
Please keep in mind that if you are a new family and your account has not been funded yet, you won’t be able to locate any vendors. We encourage our families to wait for the ESA funding to be disbursed if you currently have a zero balance.
Here is the link to the 2025-2026 ESA Parent Handbook to provide our families to refer to as a resource who are currently using or are interested in applying for ESA.
Open the above link and refer to page 47 in Chapter 4 – “Accessing a ClassWallet Account”
Active ADEConnect Account Holders can access their ClassWallet accounts through the ESA Portal. Once logged in to the ESA Portal, Account Holders should click the blue button labeled “Go to ClassWallet Account”. The button will take Account Holders directly to ClassWallet’s platform.
If Account Holders have multiple students in the ESA program and on the ClassWallet platform, they can log in once and toggle between their students’ ClassWallet accounts. using the drop-down menu at the top right of the homepage, where it reads “Welcome”.
Information on navigating the platform and helpful tutorials is available from ClassWallet at https://classwallet.my.site.com/classwallet/s/.
Helpful Resources
https://www.azed.gov/esa/esa-support
https://classwallet.my.site.com/classwallet/s/article/How-to-pay-a-vendo
What is an ESA?
An Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) is an account administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) and funded by state tax dollars to provide education options for qualified Arizona students.
An ESA consists of 90% of the state funding that would have otherwise been allocated to the school district or charter school for the qualified student (does not include federal or local funding). By accepting an ESA, the student’s parent or guardian is signing a contract agreeing to provide an education that includes at least the following subjects: reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science. ESA funding can be used to pay private school tuition, for curriculum, home education, tutoring and more.
Can my student participate in the ESA Program and remain in his/her public or charter school?
In almost all situations, students on ESA cannot be enrolled in a public school (this includes district, charter and public online programs). This is a violation of the ESA contract. Additionally, the student must be withdrawn from the public school at the time that the ESA contract is signed. If the state is paying for an ESA student’s education at the same time as the student is receiving ESA funds, the state is distributing the student’s education funding twice. You may be able to pay for certain public school programs utilizing your student’s ESA funds, please contact us for more details.
How can I contact ESA staff?
Call our ESA Support Line at 602-364-1969 during the following times:
Regular Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Extended Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays, 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
You may also reach us anytime via e-mail through the Help Desk system. HelpDesk tickets are reviewed in the ordered they are received.