About a fifth of all ESA students statewide qualify through a disability, according to ADE's report for April through June 2026: 20,997 students, of whom 11,435 have autism. For many of these families the disability ESA is worth far more than the universal amount, because the funding chart follows the special-education weights in state law.
The ranges on ADE's 2025-26 chart run from $7,105–$10,540 at the low end for a 504 plan, up through $8,423-$12,001 for categories such as specific learning disability, speech-language impairment and other health impairment, to $34,121-$47,725 for autism, multiple disabilities and severe intellectual disability. A kindergartner with any category other than preschool severe delay receives half the listed amount.
The category comes from paperwork, so the document matters. In Pima County that usually means an evaluation or IEP from Tucson Unified, Amphitheater, Marana, Vail, Sahuarita or Catalina Foothills, whichever district the child attended or was evaluated by. An independent educational evaluation also counts at the time of application. ADE re-verifies eligibility at renewal but doesn't re-test the disability every year.
To use the account for therapy, the student needs that MET report, IEP or 504 plan, or an independent evaluation, on file, and ADE uses an outside reviewer to check eligibility for therapies and services. Therapy providers must be licensed or accredited and must bill with a detailed invoice. Students with disabilities can also use the ClassWallet debit card, but the card shuts off after 20 transactions without uploaded receipts.
Special-needs schools and funding
Combining it with other sources
In Tucson the main decision is ESA or STO for each child each year; the two can't be combined for the same student. A school's own discounts, such as parish, member or sibling rates, lower the bill and can usually sit alongside either path.