Apache Junction offers a la carte public school classes for ESA families

Apache Junction Unified School District is opening its classrooms to students outside the traditional public school system, allowing ESA families to use state scholarship dollars for individual public school classes.

The district’s new Reimagining Learning initiative, also called the FLEX program, is available to students from elementary school through high school.

“We think we could be the first choice for a kid who wants to have a little more. Something you can’t get at home or get through your ESA,” Superintendent Robert Pappalardo said on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Wednesday.

Beyond individual classes, ESA students in the FLEX program can also participate in district high school sports and extracurricular activities, like music or sports.

Arizona’s ESA program allows families to use public education tax dollars for private school or homeschooling expenses. It has more than 105,000 enrolled students for the 2026-27 school year.

The program has only been running for eight weeks, but Pappalardo said the students like the option to choose which classes to take in a public school environment. He added that they also get the public school experience, with joint lunch periods and classes with district students.

“If we are adaptable, if we’re willing to think outside of the box, yeah, we can figure out a class before [their typical school schedule], we can figure out a class after, because the social aspect of public school or schools in general are so important for children,” he said.

Pappalardo said the goal is to build community beyond just the public school students in the area. He said some ESA students may even end up enrolling in the district as part-time or full-time students after the FLEX program.

Prices for individual classes vary depending on the child’s age, with elementary classes costing $450 per class each semester and high school courses costing $600 per class each semester.

Other local districts, such as Mesa Public Schools and Gilbert Unified School District, offer similar programs.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

Subscribe to the KTAR Eyes on Education newsletter to get our top education stories, exclusive guest interviews and more to your email inbox.

Related

Red Mountain High School stays open despite flooding, electrical issuesArizona superintendent hopefuls debate ESAs, education funding and teacher payProp 320 receives no support during KTAR News town hall, compared to ‘punishment referral’Kimberly Yee, Teresa Leyba Ruiz face off in Arizona schools chief debateSen. Ruben Gallego unveils 4-part plan to restore America’s public education systemScottsdale Unified School District weighs more closures as enrollment declines