Empowerment Scholarship Account Archives

New Report Shows Arizona’s Universal School Choice Unlikely to Bankrupt State

May 31, 2023May 30, 2023 Neil Jones

The Universal Expansion of the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program is unlikely to bankrupt the state, according to a new report from the nonpartisan research group, the Common Sense Institute Arizona (CSIAZ).

According to the report, at least 56,000 students received an ESA grant as of May, an increase of 44,000 who joined following the expansion. In total, the CSIAZ states that there are roughly 82,000 private or homeschooled students in the state eligible for the program, and they expect all of these families to join during the 2024 school year.

Arizona Lawmakers Stand up for Education Savings Accounts as A.G. Kris Mayes Attacks the Program

May 28, 2023May 27, 2023 Neil Jones

The leadership of both houses of the Arizona Legislature sent Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) a scathing letter Thursday, demanding that she redact public comments she made against Arizona Universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.

“As legislators and other elected officials have long emphasized, Arizona was the first in the nation to implement universal school choice and has been a model for the rest of the country. Legal and political attacks against ES As have failed time and time again. Parents have spoken and the Legislature has enacted ESAs into law. Your job, as an executive branch official, is to execute the law, not attack it,” the lawmakers wrote.

Arizona House Celebrates Passage of $18 Billion State Budget

May 12, 2023May 11, 2023 Neil Jones

After months of debate and negotiations between Governor Katie Hobbs (D) and state Legislative leaders, the Arizona State House and Senate have passed a $17.8 billion state budget with bipartisan support, delivering some wins and losses for both sides of the political aisle.

“From day one, our Majority has been focused on getting the job done for our constituents: putting Arizona families first, protecting the vulnerable, and growing opportunity and freedom. We’re conservatives. We believe you should keep more of your money and the government should spend less. That’s why we believe this is Arizona’s Budget — a budget that reflects our needs, gives back, spends smart, and addresses real issues,” said House Speaker Ben Toma (R-Peoria). “We needed a budget that the Governor would sign that accomplishes our goal of putting Arizona families first. This budget accomplishes both.”

Half of Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account Students Left Public Schools, Latest Data Show

February 15, 2023 The Center Square

The portion of students taking advantage of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program after previously attending a public school has dramatically shifted.

According to the latest information from the Arizona Department of Education, the ESA program now has 47,200 students participating. The data, released Monday, is a marked increase from the roughly 30,000 students participating in January.

New Department of Education Officials Face Massive Backlog of ESA Requests From Previous Administration

January 24, 2023January 23, 2023 Neil Jones

As a new administration takes over operations for the Arizona Department of Education (ADE), led by Superintendent Tom Horne (R), it appears they are swamped with a massive backlog of Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) requests leftover by the former administration of Kathy Hoffman (D). Christine Accurso, an advocate for ESAs, is now the program’s executive director and is shacking up how the office tackles requests to deal with the backlog. “Our team is processing expense requests in sections, by category so that we can get through them efficiently and effectively. In the past the requests were processed in the order they were received. We are working on new processes to use going forward, as we work through the backlog,” Accurso said in a statement emailed to The Arizona Sun Times.

State Rep. Ben Toma Celebrates as Arizona’s Universal ESA Law Appears to Move Forward

September 27, 2022September 26, 2022 Neil Jones

State Rep. Ben Toma (R-Maricopa) released a statement of celebration Monday following the news that Save Our Schools Arizona (SOSAZ) allegedly failed to provide enough signatures to force a referendum on Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) law.

“Chalk up another major victory for Arizona families wanting the freedom to choose the education that best meets their child’s needs,” Toma said in a press release. “School choice is increasingly popular with Arizona parents, especially those whose children are stuck in a failing school, so I find it baffling that anyone would try so hard to take that choice away from parents. It’s good that they have apparently failed.”

Arizona Parents Declare Hope for Universal ESAs as Save Our Schools Arizona Petition Numbers Come in Under Initial Estimate

September 27, 2022September 26, 2022 Neil Jones

An Arizona mother and leader of the “Decline to Sign Arizona” movement, Christine Accurso, shared that there is hope for Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) law as Save Our Schools Arizona (SOSAZ) may not have submitted enough valid signatures to pause the law from going into effect.

“ESA’s for all coming soon! As we patiently await the official word from the Secretary of State’s office, Arizona parents declare the victory over this battle. The 88,866 signatures that were submitted are well below the minimum of 118,832,” tweeted Accurso.

Love Your School Founder Jenny Clark Explains Arizona’s New School Choice Law

August 17, 2022August 17, 2022 Neil Jones

Jenny Clark, the founder of Love Your School, spoke with the Arizona Sun Times to explain the newly signed House Bill (HB) 2853, sponsored by state Rep. Ben Toma (R-AZ-22), which expands the eligibility for Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) and how it will benefit parents in the state.

“The expansion means that every Arizona family who has a child in kindergarten through 12th grade is now eligible to take a portion of their education dollars to the school or education environment that works for them,” Clark said. “The empowerment scholarship can be used for tutors, therapists, home education, and it can be used for private schools.”

Arizona GOP Sends Ducey Universal School Choice Bill

June 29, 2022June 29, 2022 The Center Square

Arizona is likely to become the first state in America that empowers students to take tax dollars with them to a school of their choosing.

Lawmakers sent House Bill 2853 to Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday. When the governor signs the bill, all of Arizona’s school-age children will be eligible for the Empowerment Scholarship Account. An ESA is a state-funded account that parents can spend on tuition and other education expenses. The program is currently limited to disabled students, those in failing schools or others that qualify in a handful of other methods.

Three Arizona House Republicans Vote Against School Choice Expansion

June 26, 2021June 25, 2021 Corinne Murdock

PHOENIX, Arizona – Three Arizona House Republicans voted against an amendment to significantly expand school choice during Friday’s budget discussion. State Representatives Joel John (R-Buckeye), Michelle Udall (R-Mesa), and Joanne Osborne (R-Goodyear) all voted against the school choice legislation sponsored by State Representative Regina Cobb (R-Kingman) as amended by State Representative Shawnna Bolick (R-Phoenix).

HB 2898 as amended under Bolick would have added 14 provisions addressing Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program. In part, Bolick’s amendment would have opened up children of veterans and children in free or reduced-price lunch programs to ESAs, decreased the amount of time students must attend government schools full-time to be eligible for ESAs, allowed ESAs money to be used for educational therapies not covered by insurance and public transportation services, entitled children to equitable shares of funding otherwise allocated to school districts or charter schools for that child, and mandated the state to include ESA children in the statewide weighted student count for calculation of per pupil amount from the Classroom Site Fund (CSF).