You might be hearing a lot about the Arizona ESA Program these days. To begin with—the Arizona ESA, or Empowerment Scholarship Account Program, has existed since 2011 and covers private school tuition, educational expenses, and even tutoring. It initially began for students with disabilities and has since expanded to include all K-12 students in the state. The program allows you to use some public funding for educational services outside of traditional public schools. In this blog, we’ll discuss ESA-approved swimming lessons.

The Arizona ESA Program is administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE). Its funds come from a portion of state funding that otherwise would go to the district or charter school for qualified students. You can also use these funds to pay for swimming classes or therapy programs.

How do you access ESA Funds for Swimming Lessons?

First, you need to apply through the Arizona Department of Education. Once you complete the ESA application by providing documents like your student’s birth certificate and proof of residency, you can proceed to sign the ESA contract. After approval, the funds become accessible through a third-party vendor named ClassWallet.

The funds are now ready to cover the costs of ESA-approved swimming lessons, registration fees, gear, equipment, and other expenses. You can use your own credit/debit card and submit slips for reimbursement or the ESA debit card directly.

But what’s the need for swimming lessons for children with disabilities?

Swim lessons are essential for any child’s water safety and life skills, especially those with disabilities. Read here to learn more about how ESA Swimming supports children with disabilities.

How do Arizona ESA-approved Swimming Lessons Benefit Children?

Learning how to swim can change a child’s life in many ways. It can not only help to prevent them from drowning but also help them in various aspects of life. Here, let’s see what your child could benefit from with the swim lessons:

Water safety: Your child can gain knowledge of how to be safe in the water through daily practice and supervision in swim lessons. They also learn survival skills like floating on their backs and treading water to help them in emergencies.

Coordination and Balance: Since swimming engages the whole body, it teaches the children to move multiple parts of their bodies in various ways simultaneously. As they progress with lessons, your child also develops awareness of their body, which helps improve their coordination and balance.

Mental Well-Being: We all know swimming is a low-impact physical exercise perfect for all children. But did you know swimming is also one of the activities that releases endorphins in the human body? It elevates mood and promotes a sense of well-being.

Build Confidence: Learning a skill is never easy. Your child will face many challenges from the time they start floating to the time they master their strokes. Overcoming these will not only help them build confidence but also a sense of self.

Therapeutic Values: Aside from being a life skill, swimming can actually be therapeutic for your child. It keeps the heart rate up and improves both muscular endurance and strength. Finally, it can also provide peace with each stroke.

Where can you find the Arizona ESA Swimming Program?

Parents can find ESA-approved swim lessons at Saguaro Aquatics for special needs children and homeschoolers. As it is an empowerment scholarship designed for all children, you can directly pay for registration, lessons, and equipment via an ESA account. The entire process is made seamless by providing necessary documents and support from our team throughout the journey.