Starting a Private School in Arizona

Regulations, Resources, & Support

Our team has curated the best resources and information available about starting a private school in Arizona. Enjoy!

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Arizona State Regulations

General Regulations

Arizona state map

Arizona has no accreditation, licensing, or approval requirements.
The US Office of Innovation & Improvement has assembled summary of regulations for private schools in Arizona.
Arizona defines home schooling as a school conducted primarily by the parent, guardian or other person who has custody of the child or instruction provided in the child’s home, so in most cases, a private school is not able to take advantage of registering as a home school.
Arizona does not have any specific insurance requirements for schools

State Funding Sources & Support

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Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit: This program provides tax credits to individual taxpayers for contributions made to school tuition organizations
Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit: This program provides tax credits to corporations for contributions made to school tuition organizations
Arizona Scholarships for Pupils with Disabilities Program: This program provides special needs children with the option of attending another public school or receiving a scholarship for attendance at a qualified private school. The AAA Scholarship Foundation also has information on this program.
Displaced Pupils Choice Grant Program: A student is eligible to receive this voucher if he or she has been in the foster care system any time before high school graduation. The AAA Scholarship Foundation also has information on this program.
Empowerment Scholarship Account Program: Designated for special needs children, these educational savings account funds provide for qualified students to access an education which must, at minimum, include reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies, and science.

Curriculum Requirements

Arizona requires that all students receive instruction in reading, grammar, mathematics, social studies and science.

Teacher Certification & Hiring

Teacher certification is not required for private schools.

Food Services / Lunch

In Arizona, school lunch requirements, including funding for schools offering the National School Lunch Program, are managed by the Health and Nutrition Services division of the Department of Education.

Length of School Year

In order to meet school attendance requirements, private school students must attend school for the full time school is in session in the local school district.

Recordkeeping & Reports

Private schools must keep records and report on student age, enrollment status, and immunization records. Schools are also responsible for requesting student academic records from their previous schools.

Healthy & Safety Requirements

Students must be vaccinated unless they meet exemption criteria. The fire marshal is responsible for establishing programs for evacuating school buildings and instructing students in private schools on the importance of fire prevention and control. Private schools must also provide safety equipment, such as protective eyewear, for students participating in labs or other hazardous educational activities.

Transportation

There are no state policies regarding private school transportation.

Testing

There are no mandated testing requirements for private school students.

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Arizona State Resources

State & Regional Associations

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Arizona Association of Independent Schools: The Arizona Association of Independent Schools (AAIS) represents 10 member schools state wide unified by a common mission--to promote high standards, educational quality, and ethics as a banner of education in the state of Arizona through professional development, outreach and advocacy.
Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools: The Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools serves 112 Episcopal schools, richly diverse in location, size and scope, throughout the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas.
Independent Schools Association of the Southwest: ISAS promotes, upholds, and advances the highest educational and professional standards for the region’s independent schools.
Arizona School Tuition Organization Association: ASTOA's mission is to promote and advance School Choice by mentoring, unifying, and supporting Arizona School Tuition Organizations (STO’s) in the mission of providing private school scholarships to children attending K – 12 schools.

Government Websites

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Quick Guide Nav

We gathered so much information that we had to break it down into 10 chapters. This free information is well-researched- we even hunted down the rules and regulations for each state! If you're thinking about starting a private school, you will find this guide very handy!

Introduction

School Identity

Legal & Operating Requirements

Business Plan & Budget

Marketing & Online Presence

Policies & Procedures

Associations