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Arizona families scored a huge win in April when the legislature voted to expand the state’s education savings account program. Now, the group “Save Our Schools Arizona” is trying to make sure families who want a choice in how and where their children are educated don’t get one. AZCentral reports:
The expansion of the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, signed into law last month by Gov. Doug Ducey, opens ESAs to all public- and charter-school students. Up to 30,000 parents could use the new program by 2022. It’s scheduled to take effect 90 days after the state Legislature adjourns.
ESAs had been limited to certain children, including those with disabilities and those from poor-performing schools.
Save Our Schools Arizona was formed by women upset by the expansion of the ESA program, which they say could dismantle public education. They also say it disproportionately benefits wealthy families who might otherwise afford private-school tuition without taxpayer aid.
The referendum aims to let the public decide to either uphold or overturn the school-voucher expansion. The committee will have 90 days to collect about 75,000 valid signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot.
I’ve asked this question many times but have yet to receive an answer from the pro-public school people: If your schools are so great, why are you afraid the ESA program “could dismantle public education”? Of course we know the answer, and I sense the public school toadies are fighting a losing battle.
SOURCE: AZCentral
IN THIS ISSUE:
- School Choice Roundup
- Common Core and Curriculum Watch
- Education Today
- PENNSYLVANIA: Hundreds of charter school supporters rally in Pennsylvania.
- ALABAMA: The fate of thousands of Alabama students awaits a vote from the House supporting or opposing tax-credit scholarships.
- FLORIDA: Florida legislators approve a huge public school funding bill full of reforms teachers unions oppose.
- CHARTERS: Florida charter school students outperform their peers in traditional public schools.
Common Core and Curriculum Watch
- DeVOS: U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos insists Common Core is no more, Shane Vander Hart reports.
- AFTER SCHOOL: President Donald Trump questions the effectiveness of a federally funded after-school program and looks to cut its funding.
- UNION STRIKES: North Carolina teachers are taking to the picket line to demand more money.
- PADDLING: Louisiana upholds public school teachers’ right to spank and paddle disruptive students.
- SOCIAL MEDIA: An Alabama student was reportedly suspended for “liking” a picture of a gun on social media.
- COLORADO: More than a third of Colorado graduates need at least one remedial course when they enter college.
- CHALLENGING: The Washington Post releases its list of the most challenging schools in the nation.
Teresa Mull is a policy advisor for education and an editor at The Heartland Institute.
