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Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Program

Education Student Accounts (ESA+) Program

Overview

North Carolina’s Education Student Accounts (ESA+) program is available to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Funds may be used to pay tuition and fees for eligible private schools, and for expenses such as speech therapy, tutoring services, and educational technology.

  • $9,000 annual award; students with certain designated disabilities may be eligible to receive $17,000 a year
  • Families may choose from a variety of learning environments, including private schools, home schools, or co-enrollment
  • Eligibility based on documentation of a disability and other program requirements

Important Dates

Application opens February 1, 2023. The priority deadline is March 1. The application may remain open after March 1, subject to the availability of funds.

How to apply

 

Need More Information?

Resources

Program Eligibility Requirements

List of ESA+ Reimbursement Schools

Choosing a School

Documentation of a Disability

Co-Enrollment

Allowable Expenses

ESA+ Invoice Documentation

Tax Implications

Continuing Eligibility Form

Educational Technology Guidelines

K12 Program Comparison

Webinars

ESA+ Overview: An Introduction to the Program and the Parent Agreement

ESA+ and Opportunity Scholarship: How do Schools get Paid? (and when are ESA+ funds sent to ClassWallet?)

ESA+ Students at Schools Not Paid Directly by SEAA

ESA+ and Opportunity Scholarship: Choosing or Changing Your School

ESA+ Continuing Eligibility

ESA+ and Home Schools: Qualified Expenses and Shopping on ClassWallet

ESA+ and Opportunity Scholarship: Dual Enrolled Students

ESA+ for Summer 2023 Expenses: How to Plan Ahead

Login

MyPortal

Login

ClassWallet

Additional Questions?

ESA@ncseaa.edu

loginhelp@ncseaa.edu

1-855-330-3955 (K12 Program staff toll-free)

1-855-763-5333 (Login Help toll-free)


Nonpublic Schools and Special Education

Children who are placed in a nonpublic school by their parents do not have a right to receive all of the special education and related services that they would receive if enrolled in the public schools. Likewise, a private school does not have a legal obligation to provide special education and related services to students with disabilities. Parents are encouraged to select a nonpublic school carefully and to establish a plan prior to enrollment which meets their child’s educational needs.


Did you Know?

Parents of children with disabilities may have another option to help save and pay for education expenses at K12 schools through the use of an NC ABLE Account. The NC ABLE Program allows eligible individuals the opportunity to save and fund a variety of qualified disability expenses, including certain education expenses.  The NC ABLE Program is overseen by the Department of the State Treasurer and additional information can be found here.