AZ SB1639

Allows parents of qualified students with disabilities to use Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) monies to pay for evaluations provided by a qualified examiner, adding this as an allowable expense under the ESA program.

Establishes that if the Department of Education fails to maintain a contract with an independent third party for evaluations, parents may obtain evaluations from a licensed physician, psychiatrist, or psychologist, with costs paid from the student's ESA account or by the school district if sufficient funds are unavailable.

Permits school districts to establish reasonable reimbursement criteria and cost limits for evaluations, consistent with federal law, when the district must pay for an evaluation due to insufficient ESA account funds.

Clarifies that the Department of Education is not required to annually reverify a child's disability status for ESA renewal purposes if the child previously qualified based on specific disability criteria.

Modifies language regarding independent evaluations to specify that if allowed under federal law, evaluation expenses shall be paid from the qualified student's ESA account or by the school district.