Frequently Asked Questions

How many private schools participate in the ASCT scholarship program?

Families have selected more than 115 private schools throughout Arizona in which to place their children.

What is the difference between the ASCT and other school tuition organizations?

The ASCT specifically targets low-income families who otherwise cannot afford to send their children to private schools. In addition, ASCT serves disabled and displaced students through Lexie's Law.

Will the Department of Revenue certify school tuition organizations?*

No. There is no requirement that the department certify a school tuition organization. However, the taxpayer should ask questions of the organization to determine if the organization (1) is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; (2) allocates 90 percent of its annual revenues to scholarships; and (3) makes scholarships available to students of more than one school.

What is a qualified school?*

A qualified school is a non-governmental preschool for handicapped students, or a non-governmental primary or secondary school located in Arizona. The school cannot discriminate on the basis of race, color, handicap, familial status, or national origin. The primary school begins with kindergarten, and the secondary school ends with grade 12.

A school tuition organization cannot limit availability to only students of one school. Does that mean that the organization must actually fund scholarships at more than one school?

No. A school tuition organization should have a list of qualifying schools for which they would grant scholarships. They do not have to actually allocate funds to more than one school in any given year, but they must be willing to fund scholarships at more than one school.