New Private Schools Launched to Help Arizona Families Make Use of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

ESA Funds Cover Full Tuition for Parents Wishing to Enroll Children in Private Schools;

Experts Available to Discuss How Parents Can Access ESA Program

PHOENIX--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Two new private schools are launching in Arizona to provide new options to families who now can access state funds to pay tuition.

Grand Canyon Private Academy (GCPA) is a new online private school serving grades K–10, launched this past fall by Stride K12, one of the nation’s leading online learning providers. And FaithPrep Arizona is providing Arizona families with access to a private online Christian school and homeschool program for students in grades K-12.

They join existing Stride K12 offerings from K12 Private Academy and The Keystone School in providing private, online education options for parents with 100 percent of tuition costs covered through Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts — making a private education more accessible than ever before for families of all income levels.

“We see a tremendous opportunity here in Arizona to bring a high-quality, private online education to families that may not have been able to afford it in the past,” said Janice Gruneberg, Senior Vice President & Superintendent of Schools for Grand Canyon Private Academy, a new online school for Arizona students. “The ESA program is a game-changer for many families, and we wanted to respond to this by providing an educational curriculum that is rigorous and designed to promote future success.”

ESA scholarship dollars can contribute to or even fully cover the cost of tutoring services, learning materials, and private school tuition. The ESA fully covers full-time tuition, including all materials, at Grand Canyon Private Academy and FaithPrep Arizona. This means Arizona students can earn a private school education 100% tuition-free. Arizona's ESA provides approximately $7,000 per student for most families, regardless of household income.

“We’ve found that there is a great deal of interest in Arizona in a private, online, Christian education,” said Chuck Wolfe, Chief Executive Officer of FaithPrep Arizona. “We are pleased to be able to bring the FaithPrep model to Arizona and work with families to have their tuition completely covered through the ESA Program.”

Currently, more than 45,000 Arizona students are now enrolled in private schools through Arizona’s ESA program, which is designed to reduce financial barriers to private-school education — regardless of family income. This number represents only a fraction of the state’s more than 1 million children in kindergarten to 12^th grade, and a minority of students currently enrolled in private schools.

Experts from Grand Canyon Private Academy and FaithPrep Arizona are available to discuss the ESA program’s implementation and how parents can make the most of this resource. To schedule an interview, contact Tom Evans at the information above.

ESA applications are accepted year-round, so parents can start taking advantage of these funds in a timely manner and make changes to their children’s educational environment whenever they see fit. Funds are distributed each quarter, with funding beginning the quarter that the ESA contract is signed by parents.

Families seeking more information on the ESA program can visit AZ Empowerment Scholarship for a full breakdown of how they can take advantage of this opportunity for their children.

About Grand Canyon Private Academy

Grand Canyon Private Academy (GCPA) is an online private school serving grades K–10. The school is dedicated to inspiring and empowering students through an education experience tailored to their needs and focused on their futures. GCPA combines engaging, interactive Stride K12 curriculum with an integrated support team of school leaders, teachers, academic coaches, and counselors. For more information visit gcpa.k12.com.

About FaithPrep Arizona

FaithPrep Arizona provides Arizona families with access to a private online Christian education and homeschool program for students in grades K-12. The school is part of a group of successful faith-based schools across the country that helps students pursue academic excellence, develop Christian character, and discover their gifts, talents, and purpose to follow God's calling in life. For more information visit faithpreparizona.com.