ESA SCHOLARSHIPS / TAX CREDITS
ESA Scholarship Opportunities and IBE Tax CreditsMontessori kindergarten in Ahwatukee, with a clear way to pay for it
Ahwatukee Foothills Montessori has offered Montessori education in Ahwatukee since 1995, and that includes a full-day kindergarten. Many families don't realize that Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program and tax-credit scholarships can pay for it. This page explains how both work at AFM and how families combine them over one school year.
Our kindergarten has 1 adult for every 7 children, daily one-on-one reading instruction, and AMS-certified directresses (American Montessori Society). Tuition is a yearly amount split into 10 monthly payments, and it includes everything: snacks, supplies, and enrichment.
Using Arizona ESA at AFM: three steps
AFM is a registered ClassWallet vendor, so ESA pays AFM directly. ESA is open to any Arizona child eligible for public school.
1. Enroll in ESA well ahead of time.
Apply at azed.gov/esa. Enroll well before the school year starts to avoid payment delays; processing can take up to 30 days.
2. Submit AFM's monthly invoice through ClassWallet.
AFM sends you an invoice each month. You submit it for ESA payment through ClassWallet.
3. ESA pays AFM.
ESA pays your full monthly tuition invoice, as long as your ESA account has funds available. ClassWallet charges a processing fee of about 2% per payment, which is the family's responsibility.
Tax-credit scholarships for the spring
ESA and tax-credit scholarships (from IBE or any other STO, a school tuition organization) can be used in the same school year, but not in the same semester. We recommend ESA in the fall and tax credits in the spring.
- Not income based. Any family can use Arizona's private school tax credit program, regardless of income. Many AFM kindergarten families have had the full year's tuition covered by tax credits.
- Family and friends participate. Relatives and friends redirect part of their Arizona taxes to IBE or another STO and recommend AFM and your child. Parents can't do this for their own child. IBE has parent resources to help you ask friends and family to participate.
- It comes back on Arizona taxes. For tax year 2026, a married couple can redirect up to $3,131 ($1,571 single) and get it back dollar for dollar on their Arizona taxes, if they owe that much. Amounts redirected through April 15, 2027 can count for 2026.
- Ask early. Awards arrive irregularly and are applied to your balance as they come in. Most tax-credit funds come in between January 1 and April 15.
- Apply early. Apply at ibescholarships.org before the school year starts. You can apply up to a year before kindergarten, and funds can only build up once you're on IBE's list. Share AFM's giving page with family and friends: ibetaxcredits.org/ahwatukee-foothills-montessori.
Watch IBE's two-minute overview of how tax credits work:
If tax-credit funds don't cover the full spring balance, your family is responsible for any remaining balance at the end of the school year.
A sample year
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Up to a year before kindergarten | Apply to IBE so tax-credit funds can start building up. |
| Spring and summer before kindergarten | Tour AFM, apply, and enroll in ESA well before fall so payments start on time. |
| Fall semester | AFM sends a monthly invoice. You submit it through ClassWallet, and ESA pays AFM. |
| Fall, early | Invite family and friends to participate through AFM's IBE page. |
| Spring semester | Tax-credit awards are applied to your balance as they arrive, mostly between January 1 and April 15. |
| End of the school year | Any remaining balance is due. |
Common questions
Does AFM have kindergarten?
Yes. AFM's kindergarten is a full-day program (half day isn't offered for kindergarten), with a 1:7 adult-to-child ratio and daily one-on-one reading instruction. Snacks, supplies, and enrichment are included in tuition.
Who is eligible for ESA?
Any Arizona child who is eligible for public school. The state sets each award amount, which depends on your school district and other factors. For reference, the Arizona Department of Education's 2025–26 estimate for a typical kindergarten award was $4,718 to $6,205; 2026–27 amounts may differ, and students with a qualifying disability may receive considerably more.
Does ESA pay AFM directly?
Yes. AFM is a registered ClassWallet vendor. Each month you submit AFM's invoice through ClassWallet, and ESA pays AFM as long as funds are available in your account. ClassWallet's fee of about 2% per payment is paid by the family.
Can we use ESA and a tax-credit scholarship in the same year?
Yes, in different semesters. They can't be used in the same semester. Most families use ESA in the fall and tax credits in the spring.
What if the scholarships don't cover everything?
Tax-credit awards vary, and no amount is guaranteed. Any remaining balance is due at the end of the school year. We're glad to walk through your situation with you.
See AFM in person
The best way to know whether AFM is right for your child is to visit a classroom and ask your questions.
Book a tour · Start your application
Questions about ESA or tax credits? Contact Meaghan McClung at 480-759-3810.
ESA amounts are set by the Arizona Department of Education, and tax-credit awards are decided by IBE or the STO. Estimates are approximate and are not a quote or guarantee. Tax-credit information is general, not tax advice.
