ESA+ Scholarship
Education Student Accounts (ESA+) scholarship funds help North Carolina families pay for education and services for children with disabilities.
ESA+ Scholarship
Education Student Accounts (ESA+) scholarship funds help North Carolina families pay for education and services for children with disabilities.
About the Program
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Two Levels of Funding
The base level of funding is a $9,000 annual award; students with certain designated disabilities may be eligible to receive a $17,000 annual award.
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Enrollment Options
The ESA+ includes a variety of enrollment options, including private schools, home schools, and co-enrollment.
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Flexible Spending
Funds can be used for K12 school tuition as well as certain allowable expenses such as speech therapy, tutoring, and educational technology.
How to Apply
The ESA+ scholarship is for students with disabilities who require special education services. When you apply, we will ask you to submit your student’s Eligibility Determination. This is a legal document issued by a public school that determines whether a student has a disability and is eligible for special education or related services. Visit How to Apply for more information on the process.
1. Create a MyPortal Account
Starting in December, you can create your MyPortal account.
2. Apply for the ESA+ Program
You can apply for the ESA+ from February 6 - March 6
3. Check MyPortal
Award notifications are sent in April, so be sure to check for updates.
4. Complete Required Tasks
Check MyPortal for any required tasks you may need to complete and their due dates.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Already awarded?
If you’ve already received your award and want to learn more about the next steps, visit the Families of Awarded Students section.
Families of Awarded Students
Resources and Support
Webinars
2025-2026 ESA+ Scholarship: New Student Application
Purchasing curriculum and technology or paying your providers with ESA+ funding doesn’t have to be confusing. In this session, we will explain ESA+ Allowable Expenses and how to spend your ESA+ funds via ClassWallet.
Requirements and Documentation Information
Sample ESA+ Parent Agreement
After a student receives a scholarship award, parents must sign the ESA+ Parent Agreement and W9 form to use funds.
Download Resource
Sample ESA+ Parent Agreement
After a student receives a scholarship award, parents must sign the ESA+ Parent Agreement and W9 form to use funds.
Additional Resources
Find further resources and information about the ESA+ how it works, how to apply and what the requirements are.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The ESA+ may only be used for students entering Kindergarten through 12th grade. Students must be at least 5 years old by August 31 or at least 4 years old by April 16 and approved for Kindergarten according to State guidelines.
No. An eligibility determination issued in the last three years by a North Carolina public school is the only document accepted by the ESA+ program to verify a student’s disability.
You must submit an eligibility determination, which is what public schools use to determine whether a student with a disability requires special education services. An IEP is not required to apply for the ESA+, only the eligibility determination document.
You should not apply for ESA+ unless your child has an eligibility determination. For more information about initiating the special education process, please contact the Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) a free service for North Carolina families: 800-962-6817 or [email protected].
Yes. There are a variety of co-enrollment options, depending on the policies of your local public school district.
Yes, if your student lives in North Carolina on the day your school begins for the 2025-26 school year. Learn more about the documentation you will be asked to provide.
It depends on the cost of the school. Families are responsible for the difference if their tuition is higher than the award amount. If tuition is lower than the award amount, families may use the remaining funds for allowable expenses. For home school families, the entire scholarship amount is used for allowable expenses.
Did You Know?
Children who are placed in a private school by their parents waive their right to the special education services they would receive in the public schools. A private school does not have a legal obligation to provide special education services to students with disabilities. Select a private school carefully and establish a plan prior to enrollment that meets your child’s needs. For more information visit Choosing a School.