Education in Arizona
In Arizona, we are fortunate to have multiple school choices. A student can attend a public school, a private school, and there is also the option to homeschool! There is no perfect choice for everyone, which is why we don’t make specific recommendations. Your student’s needs are unique. Whatever school path you determine is the best fit for your family, just know, that you can change schools if things don’t work out or if the school can no longer support your student’s needs. You are not “stuck” in public school, private school or homeschool. You can make changes as needed. No two educational paths are the same!
Before You Begin:
Arizona Department of Education
About the department: We are a service organization committed to raising academic outcomes and empowering parents.
Contact Information
Address: 1535 West Jefferson Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: (602) 542-5393
Website: https://www.azed.gov
According to the Arizona Department of Education:
Early Childhood Special Education is a state and federally mandated program for children aged 3–5 who meet eligibility requirements because they are experiencing developmental delays.
School districts and other public agencies are responsible for locating, identifying, and evaluating eligible children and for offering a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Eligible children are entitled to a FAPE at no cost to the family with programming designed to help children meet challenging objectives alongside their typically developing peers.
When a delay is suspected or children are not meeting milestones, local school districts offer Child Find services, providing screening, and if needed, evaluation services to determine eligibility.
Contact your local school district to see if your child qualifies for this program! Many schools offer a developmental preschool program that consists of students with disabilities and neurotypical peers.
Early Childhood Special Education
According to the Maricopa County School Superintendent:
Maricopa County is home to 58 school districts that serve over 750,000 students (67% of all students in Arizona).
School districts are classified as elementary districts (kindergarten- 8th grade), union high school districts (9-12th grades), and unified school districts (kindergarten through 12th grade). “Union” is a high school district that contains a union of several separate elementary school districts which have separate governing boards. A “unified” school district means a single district with one governing board that contains both elementary and high schools.
Contact information
Maricopa County School Superintendent
Address: 4041 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1100, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (602) 506-3866
Website: https://schoolsup.org/schooldistricts
Public School
Tips for Public Schools
Due to your child’s diagnosis, your family’s “home” school may not be their designated school placement. If your child has needs that their home school cannot meet, they may be reassigned to a different school within the district.
There are many diagnoses within an educational setting. It is possible to have a medical diagnosis of autism and not an educational diagnosis and vice versa (educational but not medical).
Remember that everyone’s educational experience and needs are different. It important that you do not decide where to move or live based just on someone else’s school experience. Make sure to talk to the schools about your child’s needs and do research.
Encircle Families: Uplifting and supporting families and caregivers of people with disabilities so that their whole family can thrive. Offers many educational resources, support and classes! They are the state’s Parent Training Information Center!
Dysart Special Education PTSA: The first public school district-wide PTA focused on Special Education. Our mission is to work with students, families, school staff and the community to create a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Serving families in the Dysart School District.
Mesa Special Education Alliance: A grassroots group of Mesa Public Schools stakeholders working collaboratively for positive change.
Wrightslaw: For more than 25 years, parents, educators, advocates, and attorneys have relied on Wrightslaw for accurate, practical information about special education law and advocacy.
Resources
Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA)
According to the Arizona Department of Education:
Parents have the right to choose what’s best for their family and have their education tax dollars pay for the school that meets their child’s needs. Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) make that possible.
With the ESA program, the money that would pay for that student’s education in a neighborhood school follows that student to whichever school the parents choose for their child, including education at home.
ESA dollars cover multiple education expenses, such as private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies, tutoring, and more.
You must be an Arizona resident to qualify for this program. ESA uses a program called ClassWallet to help families manage their funding. The ESA website contains a wealth of information about the program including eligibility requirements, how to apply, parent handbooks, program support and so much more! The rules within ESA change frequently and can vary by age/grade so please review their website for the most current details.
Contact information
Phone: (602) 364-1969
Website: https://www.azed.gov/esa
Tips Regarding ESA:
If you’re unsure about your child’s educational path, you can apply for the ESA program and you can decline to use it if you ultimately decide it isn’t the right choice.
By accepting ESA funding, you are waiving your rights to public education. Schools accepting ESA funding do NOT have to follow an IEP.
There are many ESA related groups on Facebook. Because ESA is a hot topic in Arizona, I highly encourage you to be careful with the information you share in any of these groups. It is widely known that anti-ESA groups often sneak into these groups.
ESA Connection: A free resource guide for parents to find educational services.
Click the button below to view our list of specialized schools in the Valley that are for students with autism and other disabilities.
ESA Resources
If you elect to homeschool your child, you MUST register with the County School Superintendent.
According to the Maricopa County School Superintendent:
If a child will attend a homeschool, the parent or person with custody of the child must submit a notarized affidavit and proof of the child’s identity with the Office of County School Superintendent. This affidavit must be filed within 30 days of withdrawing from a public, charter or private school or, upon beginning the homeschooling experience.
The most common proof of identity is a certified copy of a birth certificate, which is a photocopy that has been signed and attested to by a public official as a reproduction of the original document. We also accept the child's baptismal certificate, an application for a social security number or original school registration records when accompanied by an affidavit explaining the inability to provide a certified copy of the birth certificate.
Please do not file a homeschool affidavit if your child is enrolled in a traditional public school, including a virtual charter school (public-school-at-home program) or has received an ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) through the Arizona Department of Education.
You can register online, by mail or in-person.
If at any time you wish to withdraw from homeschooling, you must submit a withdrawal form to the County School Superintendent within 30 days of ending homeschooling.
Contact information
Maricopa County School Superintendent
Address: 4041 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1100, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: (602) 506-3144
Website: https://schoolsup.org/homeschool
Homeschool
Arizona Families for Home Education: Exists to inspire parents to homeschool their children; promote parent-directed, privately funded, home-based education; preserve the freedom to homeschool; and support parents who choose a home-based education option for their children.
Covenant Home School Resource Center: Our mission is to equip and encourage parents to embrace their God-given authority as educators, guiding their children to grow into their unique design.
Home School Legal Defense Association: We advocate for homeschooling on many levels: for individual families, in the state legislatures, in the media—so that you can homeschool with peace of mind, knowing that HSLDA is advocating with and for you.
Homeschool Resources
Educational Resources
Click here to view our list of non-attorney advocates.
Click here to view our list of attorneys, including educational attorneys.
Arizona Department of Education: Defining autism and eligibility for special education
IDEA: Learn about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Southwest Human Development: Creating a positive future for young children. Includes a Birth to 5 Helpline, Raising a Reader, Head Start and more!
University HQ: View a list of scholarships for students with disabilities.
Autism Classroom Resources: The place for evidence-based practices, tips, and tools designed just for your special education classroom and caseload.
The Autism Helper: Built for special education. Support every learner with confidence.
National Education Association: Teaching students with autism: A guide for educators.
Organization for Autism Research: Teacher’s Corner - Learn about autism and how you can better support autistic students in the classroom.
Organization for Autism Research: Educator Resources & Guides