Children listen to a presentation in a 1st grade classroom. | Centers for Disease Prevention and Control/Unsplash
Children listen to a presentation in a 1st grade classroom. | Centers for Disease Prevention and Control/Unsplash
Arizona could become the first state with a universal school choice program after Gov. Doug Ducey signs a new bill that he says, “establishes Arizona as the gold standard of educational freedom and puts the power to parents to establish their child's education."
The Arizona State Legislature passed House Bill 2853 June 24 via party-line vote, with the Republican majority backing the measure to grant the state's Empowerment Scholarship accounts to all students, according to a report by the Washington Examiner. The bill will provide Arizona students of all income brackets with more than $6,000 annually in education scholarships that can be used to cover school-related expenses, including private school tuition, materials and tutoring.
"Arizona has already been the leading state in the nation on school choice," Ducey said.
Ducey touted the choices that will be available to students and parents in a tweet July 3.
"Our message is simple: Arizona parents have more power now to make decisions about their children’s education than ever before,” Ducey said.
The Empowerment Scholarship accounts were established in 2011 by then Gov. Jan Brewer and are available to about 12,000 Arizona students, the Washington Examiner reported. The new bill would expand those scholarships to be available for more than 1 million students.
"This policy can transform our state," Ducey said. "I think if other governors follow suit, it can transform our country.”
Ducey said the measure is long overdue.
"K-12 education has been flatlining for decades,” he said. “This is the innovative improvement that will take it to the level we expect so that our kids get a great education in math, reading, science, American civics, and character formation.”
Ducey asked lawmakers to create a pathway to school choice during his State of the State address, and he expressed pride in Arizona’s latest achievement.
“Arizona is proud to be a trendsetter in educational excellence and freedom,” he said. “We’re happy to have everyone come along and we're happy to help. Reach out and we'll show you the way."
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