A State-by-State Guide to Special Education Scholarships and ESA Funding

For Parents · Funding & Logistics

There may be more money available for your child's education than you think. Here's how to find out what your state offers.

If you’ve ever paid for a tutor, a therapist, or private school tuition out of pocket, this next part matters: over 30 states now offer some kind of Education Savings Account (ESA) or scholarship program that can help cover those costs — and many offer extra funding specifically for students with disabilities. Most families simply don’t know these programs exist, or assume they won’t qualify.

This guide won’t replace your own state’s official program page — those details change every year — but it will help you understand what to look for and how to start.

What is an ESA, in plain terms?

An Education Savings Account redirects a portion of the public funding set aside for your child’s education into an account your family controls. Instead of that money automatically going to your assigned public school, you can use it to pay for approved expenses like private school tuition, tutoring, therapies, curriculum, or educational technology.

Some states use a different name for a similar idea — “scholarship,” “opportunity” or “choice” program, or “tuition assistance” — but the core concept is usually the same: state dollars, family-directed spending, on an approved list of educational expenses.

Two general types of programs

• Universal eligibility programs are open to most or all K–12 families in that state, regardless of income or diagnosis.
• Targeted programs are limited to specific groups — often lower-income families, students previously in underperforming public schools, or students with an identified disability.

Here’s the detail that matters most for our families: in many states, students with a documented disability qualify for a larger award than the standard amount, because the program accounts for the added cost of therapies, specialists, or smaller class sizes. Some states also run a separate, disability-specific track altogether.

What ESA funds can typically cover

• Private school or micro-school tuition
• Homeschool curriculum and materials
• Tutoring and academic support services
• Speech, occupational, or behavioral therapy
• Assistive technology and educational software
• Testing fees and educational evaluations, in many states

The families who benefit most from ESA funding are usually the ones who found out it existed.

Examples of what states are offering this year

To make this concrete, here’s a snapshot of a few state programs and their published 2026–27 award amounts. Programs and dollar figures change every year, so treat this as a starting point, not a final number:

Figures reflect publicly posted 2026–27 amounts at the time of writing and can change with each legislative session or program update. Always confirm the current award on your state's official program page before budgeting around it.

How to find out what your state offers

• Search "[your state] Education Savings Account" or "[your state] special education scholarship" to find the official state program page.
• Check the eligibility rules carefully. Some programs require your child to have an official disability determination from a public school, not just a private diagnosis.
• Note the application windows. Many states only accept applications during specific months each year, and awards can run out.
• Ask what happens if you're already enrolled in public school. In most states, ESA funds cannot be combined with full-time public school enrollment.

How VillageED can help