Grand Canyon Times

The Arizona Department of Education today expressed support for the state's school choice program and said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is "committed to growing" the program.

"ESAs give parents the ability to send their children to the school that best suits them," tweeted the department. "Superintendent Horne’s administration is committed to growing this program and helping all students receive a quality education! Learn more about the program here https://azed.gov/esa."

 "50,718 Arizona Students benefit from an Empowerment Scholarship Account (as of 03/27/23)," according to the department's website. 

Governor Katie Hobbs' (D-AZ) proposed 2023 budget includes a repeal of the ESA program.

Steve Smith, Arizona state director of the American Federation for Children, previously told the Grand Canyon Times that, "The ESA program is designed to provide education equality to all students as they receive the same amount of funding. This is a dream come true to so many low-income and minority families [who] have typically been those disenfranchised the most."

On July 7, 2022, previous Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey signed into law the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. According to the Arizona Department of Education, the ESA program expands educational opportunities for eligible students outside of the public school system; provides public funding that can be used for a wide variety of educational expenses; and pays for private school tuition, educational therapies, tutoring, and more.