Using ESA Funds for Neuropsychological Evaluations in Arizona

Using ESA Funds for Neuropsychological Evaluations in Arizona

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program provides families with access to state education funds that may be used for a range of approved educational services. For many families, ESA offers flexibility in obtaining services that directly support their child’s learning and development — including comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations.

The Modern Psychologist is an approved ESA vendor and works with families who choose to use ESA funds for eligible services.

Understanding how ESA works can help you determine whether this funding pathway may be appropriate for your family.

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What Is the ESA Program?

Arizona’s ESA program allows eligible families to receive a portion of state education funding in an individual account. These funds can be used for approved educational expenses outside of the traditional public school system.

Families who participate in ESA may use funds for services that directly support a child’s educational progress. Because neuropsychological evaluations often assess learning differences, attention concerns, executive functioning, autism spectrum traits, and other factors that influence academic performance, these evaluations may qualify as eligible educational services under ESA guidelines.

Eligibility and allowable expenses are determined by the Arizona Department of Education and administered through the ClassWallet platform.

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How ESA Funds Are Used at The Modern Psychologist

As an approved ESA vendor, The Modern Psychologist accepts ESA payments through ClassWallet.

When families elect to use ESA funds, the process is typically structured as follows:

After scheduling an intake appointment, an invoice for services is generated and submitted through the ESA payment platform. Families then authorize payment within ClassWallet. Once payment is approved and processed, services proceed according to the established evaluation timeline.

Neuropsychological evaluations generally include an intake appointment, testing sessions, scoring and interpretation, a comprehensive written report, and a feedback appointment. ESA funds may be applied toward these services when they meet ESA eligibility criteria.

Because ESA guidelines can evolve, families are encouraged to ensure that services qualify under current program rules. While The Modern Psychologist is an approved vendor, final determination of fund eligibility rests with the ESA program.

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Why Families Choose to Use ESA for Evaluations

A comprehensive neuropsychological evaluation often provides critical information for educational planning. The results may inform:

Academic accommodations
Instructional strategies
Curriculum decisions
Specialized educational supports
Therapy recommendations

For families participating in ESA, using program funds can make it more feasible to obtain a thorough and data-driven evaluation without relying solely on out-of-pocket payment.

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Private Pay and ESA

The Modern Psychologist is a private pay practice. ESA participation simply provides an alternative payment pathway for eligible families. Services, evaluation procedures, and clinical standards remain consistent regardless of payment method.

For families not using ESA, monthly superbills are available for potential out-of-network insurance reimbursement.

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Considering an Evaluation?

If you are participating in Arizona’s ESA program and are exploring whether a neuropsychological evaluation would be appropriate for your child, the first step is a consultation. During this conversation, we can discuss your concerns, review the evaluation process, and determine whether ESA funding may be applicable to your situation.

Clarity in understanding your child’s cognitive, academic, and emotional profile can provide a meaningful roadmap for educational planning.

Schedule a consultation to learn more about using ESA funds for neuropsychological evaluation services.