Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne expressed his support for the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program on a recent interview on the “Students Over Systems” podcast. 

“Competition’s good for everyone,” said Horne. “If a school is complaining that the fact that they have competition from a private school means that a student may leave, the solution to that is for them to do a better job academically, get better results academically, so the parent will want to keep the student there.”

Horne’s remarks were in response to a question from host Ginny Gentles, director of the Education Freedom Center at the Independent Women’s Forum.

“It sounds like you’re dedicated to ensuring that this ESA program and the school choice options work for families. You’re also dedicated to improving that the traditional public school system is improved and is serving families well,” said Gentles. “How do you respond when critics of school choice programs, like Red for Ed, like the Save Our Schools, say that these choice programs are actually pulling resources and are hurting?”

“Most parents, overwhelmingly the majority of parents, want their students to go to the neighborhood public schools,” said Horne. “If they take them out of the schools because students’ needs are not being met, improve academics, meet the students’ needs, you won’t lose any students. That competition is very good for everybody and results in a good system, just as a competitive capitalist system results in a prosperous country rather than a poor country where you have a monopoly.”

As of April 3, 2023, “51,248 Arizona Students benefit from an Empowerment Scholarship Account,” according to the Arizona Department of Education website.

The program's growth comes despite the fact that, as the Grand Canyon Times previously reported, Gov. Katie Hobbs' proposed 2023 budget includes a repeal of the program. 

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.

Horne (R) was elected to serve as the Arizona Superintendent of Education in November 2022. He defeated incumbent Kathy Hoffman (D), winning 50 percent to Hoffman’s 49 percent. 

This is Horne’s second stint as Superintendent of Education, having also served in the position from 2003 to 2011. He also served as Arizona Attorney General from 2011-2015, and in the Arizona House of Representatives from 1996-2001, chairing the Academic Accountability Committee and served as vice-chair of the Education Committee. 

Horne graduated Magna cum laude from Harvard College and with honors from Harvard Law School. His wife of 47 years, Martha, died in 2019, and they had five children together.