Financial Aid

Financial Aid Information

Arizona State Tax Credit Scholarships

The State of Arizona offers taxpayers a State Tax Credit for contributions made to qualifying School Tuition Organizations (STO’s). This unique program may provide families several opportunities for financial assistance through Individual Tax Credit Scholarships, Plus Tax Credit Scholarships, Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships and Disabled Displaced Scholarships.

Applying for financial assistance from a School Tuition Organization (STO):

A new application for financial assistance from a STO must be made each school year.
FILE YOUR TAXES EARLY!! (JANUARY OR FEBRUARY)
Most of the scholarship applications require a copy of the family federal tax return.
If you anticipate filing an extension or filing your tax returns late, submit your prior year tax return and your current year W-2’s.
DO NOT DELAY FILING FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. MOST SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS.
Each STO has their own application requirements and deadlines.

Individual Tax Credit Scholarships

Sources can include both student recommended funds and general funds.
General Fund eligibility is usually based on need. These funds become available when an individual redirects their taxes to an STO, not recommended to a particular student.
Recommended Funds become available when an individual redirects their taxes to an STO, recommended to your student. There are no income limitations on recommended funds and a student may receive up to 100% of tuition amount.

Plus Tax Credit Scholarships

Sources can include both student recommended funds and general funds.
Eligibility is based on income, previous corporate award receipt, transferring from public school to private or active military status.
Both General and recommended funds become available through Arizona individual tax redirection.

Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships

Sources include General funds only.
Eligibility is based on income, previous corporate award receipt, transferring from public school to private school or active military status.
These funds become available through Arizona corporation tax redirection.

Student is eligible for a corporate tax credit scholarship if they meet the following income requirement (see below) and one of the following:

Student attended an Arizona public school as a full-time student for at least 90 days of the prior fiscal year or one full semester and then transferred from the public school to a private school; or
Is enrolling in a private school kindergarten; or
Is enrolling in a private preschool program for students with disabilities; or
Is a dependent of a member of the armed forces of the United States who is stationed in Arizona pursuant to military orders; or
Received a low-income corporate scholarship (under above criteria) or an original individual scholarship or a switcher individual scholarship in a prior year and the child continued to attend a private school in subsequent years.

Household Size

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

Annual Family Gross Income Allowable

$41,275
$55,581
$69,887
$84,195
$98,500
$112,806
$127,112
$139,947

Disabled/Displaced Tax Credit Scholarships

Sources include General funds only.
Eligibility is based on meeting ONE of the following prerequisites:

Student has a current or expired MET or IEP from an Arizona public school (for preschool and grades K-12); or
Student has a current or expired 504 plan from an Arizona public school (for grades K-12 only); or
Student was placed at one time in the Arizona foster care system (for grades K-12 only and will be verified with the Arizona Department of Economic Security)

These funds become available through Arizona corporation tax redirection.

Contact the Bourgade Catholic Finance Office or the School Tuition Organization for help determining eligibility for the Plus Tax Credit and Corporate Tax Credit Scholarships.

How to obtain recommended funds:

The State of Arizona offers taxpayers a State Tax Credit for contributions made to qualifying STO’s.

Donors to these funds can recommend that their Arizona State Tax credit dollars be applied toward your student.
A parent cannot contribute for the benefit of their own child. Many Bourgade Catholic families find donors through family members, business associates and friends.
Married taxpayers can recommend up to $2,177 of their Arizona State Tax dollars and single taxpayers can redirect up to $1,089 by utilizing the Individual Tax Credit and Plus Tax Credit programs!
100% of the tuition cost is eligible for this scholarship.

Some STO’s may accept 2017 or 2018 tax credit dollars recommended for 2018 or 2019 freshman students. These funds will be held for them and can be applied to tuition in August. Each student must be registered with the STO through an application process.

Please see the STO resource list for specific details of School Tuition Organizations (STO’s).

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE THIS PROGRAM WORK FOR YOU, ATTEND ONE OF THE BOURGADE CATHOLIC TAX CREDIT 101 CLASSES OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

Arizona Empowerment Scholarship

ESA is an account administered by ADE that is funded by state tax dollars to provide educational options for qualified Arizona students. Qualifications are based on State Legislature with the intentions to provide a world-class education to all Arizona students through innovative education reform. By opting out of the public school system, parents can seek a range of alternative educational services, such as private school or home-based education, to tailor an individualized educational plan that is best for their child.

Students can qualify for the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program under the following categories. These qualifications are based on the most recent legislature and subject to change annually. Click on a category for specific eligibility requirements. Please note that all eligibility requirements must be met to qualify within a category.

K-12 Student with Disability
Active Military
Legal Guardian is Legally Blind, Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Resides within Boundaries, and Attends, D or F Rated School
Resides within Indian Reservation
Sibling of Qualifying Applicant
Ward of Court

Funding is based on District of Residence and determined by variety of factors that are subject to change, depending on School Finance funding calculations. The estimates below provide basic guidelines for determining annual funding amounts. Please keep in mind that amounts vary between districts and fiscal years.

Base Funding: This amount is 90% of what is given to the District. 10% of the funds are used to paid administrative costs.
1st – 12th grade students: $4,600-$5,500
Student with 504 Plan: Base Funding
Student with MET evaluation report/IEP: Base Funding + varied amount depending on diagnosis (shown below)
Developmental Delay, Emotional Disability, Learning Disability, Speech/Language Impairment: $10
Orthopedic Impairments: $10,488 – $22,500
Moderate Intellectual Disability: $14,620
Hearing or Visually Impaired: $15,700 – $15,900
Autism, Severe Intellectual Disability, Severe Sensory Impairments: $19,000 – $26,300

To participate in the program, applicants abide by an annually signed contract that includes the following:

Student cannot be enrolled in a public school (including charters and public online schools)
Student cannot be enrolled in a summer public school program (including charters and public online schools)
Student cannot receive any School Tuition Organization (STO) scholarship or any tax credit scholarship
Applicant submits quarterly expense reports, with uploaded receipts, by a given deadline
Applicant adheres to the approved expenditures
Applicant spends a portion of the quarterly funds every quarter and at least 25% of their annual award per year

For more information on the Empowerment Scholarship- Azed.gov/esa

Catholic Parishioner Scholarship

Students whose families who are verified to be registered and active members of a Catholic parish within the Diocese of Phoenix are eligible to receive the $2,900 Catholic Parishioner Scholarship. This scholarship is eligible for annual renewal.

Families of students who wish to receive this source of financial aid must also submit a completed financial aid application for Catholic Education Arizona, which is available online. Late Applications are now being accepted.

Other Scholarships and Grants

Thanks to the many supporters of the mission of Bourgade Catholic High School, there are several financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to those students that demonstrate a need.

American Legion
Black Catholic Ministries
Catholic Community Foundation
Catholic Daughters of America
Christ Child Society of Phoenix
Father Joseph Patterson Foundation
Gila River Indian Tribe
Kiwanis Club
Knights of Columbus
Navajo Nation
Parish or Church

Bourgade Catholic Supplemental Financial Aid Scholarships

Students receiving Bourgade Catholic supplemental financial aid scholarships are the beneficiaries of the Bourgade Catholic Scholarship Fund, derived from tuition tax credit monies and proceeds from the community’s fundraising efforts. As part of their financial aid package, some students are involved in the Bourgade Catholic work-study program, in which they work on campus in exchange for credit toward their tuition bill. Bourgade Catholic students cannot apply for a work-study program to receive more funding. All financial aid is based on need and is very limited! Applications for this scholarship are available from the school in March.

Families of students who wish to receive this source of financial aid must also submit a completed financial aid application for Catholic Education Arizona, which is available online in February. The deadline for is April 16, 2018.

Additional requirements may include a minimum GPA, acceptable attendance history, acceptable discipline history and completion of the service hour requirement. Please note: it is not possible to meet all requests in full. Financial aid covers only a portion of the tuition costs.

There are many other opportunities for financial assistance! We recommend you search the internet and contact your schools, parish and community organizations for funds that are available. Inquire about scholarships in the private sector through parent workplaces and local or national fraternal or civic organizations. Many Bourgade Catholic students contribute to the cost of their education through after-school and weekend jobs.

TO PRINT THE FINANCIAL AID OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE 18/19 SCHOOL YEAR
PLEASE CLICK HERE

PARA RECIBIR INFORMACION SOBRE OPORTUNIDADES PARA RECIBER
AYUDA FINANCIERA PARA EL ANO ESCOLAR 2018/19
Por Favor Oprima Aqui

Need help? Contact...

Sue Rounds
602-973-4000 ext. 119
srounds@bourgadecatholic.org

Susan Chavarria (en español)
602-973-4000 ext. 133
schavarria@bourgadecatholic.org