Overview
Educational Spending Accounts or Microgrants (ESAs) allow eligible families to use state-provided funds for educational opportunities such as educational therapies, tutoring, and more. In select states, including Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, Outschool is an approved vendor for their ESA programs, and you may be able to shop for classes on your state’s ClassWallet marketplace. This article covers FAQs and answers for prospective ESA families.
How does it work?
First, you’ll need to qualify and apply for your state’s ESA program (see approved state programs here) to gain access to state funds. Once you’ve been granted the scholarship from the state, you’ll gain access to an ESA marketplace called ClassWallet. As an approved vendor, you can use your ESA funds to purchase Outschool classes on ClassWallet.
When you click on Outschool from ClassWallet, you’ll be directed to your Outschool account to purchase classes with your ClassWallet funds.
Once you’ve completed your order on ClassWallet, you’ll receive an email from both ClassWallet and Outschool confirming the enrollment. You can then access the class at start time through your Outschool account as normal.
How do I know if I’m eligible?
If you currently qualify for Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, North Carolina’s Education Student Accounts (ESA+) program, Texas’ Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) program, or Virginia’s K-12 Learning Acceleration Grant program, you can access Outschool classes on ClassWallet. Outschool is currently an approved vendor for only Arizona, North Carolina, Texas, Virginia’s programs, but we plan to add more states soon.
How do refunds work when I purchase on ClassWallet?
When you receive a refund from Outschool for a class purchased via ClassWallet, you’ll receive a confirmation email immediately, but these refunds are processed slower than regular Outschool refunds. Note it may take up to 14 business days for refunds to be reflected on your ClassWallet balance. If you haven't seen your refund after 14 business days, please follow up with ClassWallet for more information.
Can I use my Outschool credits when I purchase a class using ClassWallet?
No. At this time Outschool credits and stored balances will not be applied to an order made using the ClassWallet marketplace.
Can I enroll in an ongoing class using the ClassWallet marketplace?
Yes! When you click the subscribe button for an ongoing class, you can enroll in up to 16 weeks of classes (or as many weeks as the educator has scheduled). You will be charged for all weeks up front. The day the subscription ends, you can re-enroll in the class and continue the subscription for up to 16 weeks.
Why is a specific class not available?
Each state program has different rules for the types of classes that can be purchased with program funds. Please contact your state program directly for more information about their specific regulations.
Some states, including North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia, have a minimum 5 day “booking window” which gives the programs time to review and approve individual orders. This means that certain class start dates may not be available for purchase if they start sooner than the minimum booking window. Please contact your state’s program directly for more information about approval timing.
How can I request this offering from my state?
We’re working to expand our partnerships with ESA programs across the U.S. Sign up for our waitlist, and you’ll be notified when this offer becomes available in your state.