Arizona will expand eligibility for the Empowerment Scholarship account to K-12 students. This is a huge victory for schools choice and all families that wish to benefit from it.
Arizona Mirror reported that parents will receive an average $7,000 voucher to pay private school tuition, or for other education expenses. The program will require families to sign up, and is likely to be used by around 23,000 students, an increase of the 11800 who currently participate, according to Arizona Mirror. Republican Governor Doug Ducey should sign the bill in law shortly.
“This win is the biggest school choice victory in U.S. history,” Corey DeAngelis, National Director of Research at the American Federation for Children, said.
Arizona is home to many low-income areas, such as Phoenix and Tuscon. This expansion may help families provide better opportunities for their children, who could otherwise be stuck at a failing school. This program can also be helpful for families that are not facing economic hardship.
DeAngelis told RedState that the expansion will act as the “gold standard” nationwide and will likely start a “friendly competition” between Republican governors over parental rights and educational freedom.
“If Arizona can do it, other Republican states should be able to do this coming session. It should not be difficult to follow your party platform, especially in states where you have 80 percent of the legislature,” he added.
The Center Square reported that House Bill 28553 could be viewed as a cost-cutting measure by taxpayers. However, an EdChoice 2021 study concluded that taxpayers will benefit on average $7,500 per student that participates in the program.
Shawnna Bolick (Arizona state representative), voted in favor of the bill.
“We blew the top for educational freedom last Friday when both chambers of the Arizona legislature passed universal ESAs. Education freedom is a win! Let me say one thing: Arizona is better for school choice than Florida. Our belief is that parents should decide which school their child can attend.
“Now, all Arizona students qualify who reside in the state and could enroll in a public school, including homeschool students and private school students. Students can take part in the ESA to help pay tuition, therapy and tutoring at a private or online school. A huge win and the best way to wrap up my tenure as a legislator.”
The expansion is not supported by everyone, who believe that it will harm public schools.
“We have no financial transparency and we have no academic transparency,” Democratic state Sen. Christine Marsh said, according to 12 News. “I’d like to know how many families that earn maybe a million dollars a year are getting voucher money versus how many families earning maybe 30 or 40,000 a year are getting voucher money.”
DeAngelis, however, argues that minimal accountability is a weak argument.
“Underperforming private schools shut down. Underperforming public schools get more money,” he said. “Private schools are directly accountable to families. If families aren’t happy with what they’re getting in a private educational option, they can vote with their feet and take their kid’s educational dollars elsewhere.”
Arizona leaders stand at the forefront in fighting for education rights and parental rights after the outbreak of coronavirus. Alternative options to one’s local public school allow children opportunities outside of their immediate community, and that could be life-changing if the quality of education is better elsewhere. Although public schools are worth investing in, those that do not perform well should not have cash constantly thrown at them if their students do not show any improvement, as it’s unfair to both families and taxpayers.
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