Karrin Margaret Taylor Robson of the State of Arizona said on Jan. 26 that Arizona leads the nation in school choice by trusting parents to make decisions for their children’s education, and committed to protecting these programs if elected governor.
The topic of school choice remains significant in Arizona as enrollment in related programs continues to grow and state leaders debate the future direction of educational policy. According to Taylor Robson’s post on X in January 2026, she affirmed Arizona’s prominence in school choice by placing faith in parents’ choices for their children’s education and noted that this method has proven effective as a key state asset. She also pointed out efforts by Governor Katie Hobbs to weaken these initiatives and remove choices from families, while pledging to safeguard school choice, support parents, and maintain Arizona’s top status in educational liberty if elected governor.
“Arizona leads the nation on school choice because we trust parents to do what is best for their children. That approach works and is one of Arizona’s greatest strengths, but Katie Hobbs is actively trying to undermine school choice and take options away from families. As governor, I will protect school choice, stand with parents, and keep Arizona the gold standard for educational freedom,” Taylor Robson said according to her statement shared on X.
As reported by the Arizona Department of Education, the Empowerment Scholarship Account program has 101,063 students enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year as of February 9, 2026. This growth followed a universal expansion in 2022, increasing participation significantly from previous years. The program enables families to use state funds for various educational expenses, reflecting strong demand in the state.
According to a recent EdChoice report, Arizona’s ESA program crossed the 100,000-student threshold in January 2026, becoming the fifth such initiative nationwide to achieve this milestone. Over half of recent participants transitioned from public schools, indicating the program’s role in shifting educational preferences. State reports highlight quarterly data on usage, promoting transparency in fund allocation.
EdChoice data indicates that as of 2026, over 1.5 million U.S. students participate in private school choice programs. Florida leads with the highest participation rate, followed closely by Arizona at around 10 percent of its student population. Nationally, this equates to approximately 2.8 percent of students utilizing such options, showing continued expansion across states.
Taylor Robson founded and leads Arizona Strategies, a Phoenix-based firm specializing in land use and development. She previously served as executive vice president at DMB Associates managing community projects and practiced law focusing on zoning issues. Appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents in 2017 overseeing public universities until 2021, she has also held roles with organizations including the Greater Phoenix Economic Council and announced her candidacy for governor in 2025 before suspending it on February 12, 2026.
