By Eliana Mazel, Financial Aid Specialist
New Way strives to help families understand their best options and to bridge the gap between the cost of tuition and what a family can afford to pay. Our finance team is here to help navigate the process of applying for scholarships (available to families of all income levels), as well as answer questions as family needs evolve.
Here are the various funding pathways:
Arizona Scholarship Opportunities
Arizona offers multiple scholarship opportunities for families looking to transition to private education.
Students with an IEP, 504 Plan, and MET through an Arizona Public School are eligible to apply for the Empowerment Scholarship, and all students can apply to the Universal ESA Program.
Additionally, families can also access scholarships through Student Tuition Organizations (STO). New Way is lucky enough to partner with multiple STOs, such as APESF, Arizona Leadership Foundation, Institute for Better Education, Arizona Tax Credit, Arizona Tuition Connection, Academic Opportunity of Arizona, and School Choice Arizona. New Way’s STO, Financial Assistance for Independent Schools, is another scholarship opportunity for students.
Student Tuition Organizations
Tax credit scholarships have four different scholarship types:
1. Individual (or Original) that do not have eligibility requirements.
2. Switcher (or Overflow) requires a student to have attended an Arizona public school the year prior or have received a Disabled/Displaced Award the year prior.
Corporate Scholarships are based on different criteria.
3. Disabled/Displaced Awards require a student to have an MET, IEP, or 504 Plan from an AZ public school. Diagnosis and grade determine the maximum scholarship award a student can receive.
4. Low-Income Scholarships are dependent on a family’s household income and household size.
Financial Assistance for Independent Schools (FAIS)
We are committed to financially assisting families who otherwise could not afford to send their children to New Way. FAIS is an STO managed exclusively by New Way. FAIS actively solicits tax credit donations from individual and corporate taxpayers and typically funds around 40% of all tax credit scholarships awarded to New Way students each year. FAIS does not accept donor recommendations for a specific student; instead, all dollars are pooled within the four scholarship categories and awarded based on the highest need. In recent years, approximately 25% of New Way students have received need-based assistance through FAIS. Families who receive FAIS funds may also apply to other STOs for additional scholarships, including recruiting tax credit donations from their contacts on behalf of their child.
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts
State tax dollars fund Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to provide education options for Arizona students. Families may use the ESA program to pay for private school tuition. A child receiving ESA funds may not also receive tax credit scholarships from Student Tuition Organizations. Families apply for either the ESA with a Disability or the Universal Student ESA. Financial status and income are not criteria for ESA eligibility.
For complete information about the ESA program and to apply, please reference the Arizona Department of Education’s guidelines.
One-on-One Support with Financial Aid Specialist
As New Way’s Financial Aid Specialist, I work directly with families to determine what pathway is best for their unique needs and circumstances. My role allows me to work side by side with each family and assist them with the application process. I am available to support families in applying to each organization, answer questions, and provide educational resources to help this process feel as seamless as possible.
