Jenny Clark, a member of the Arizona State Board of Education, criticized SOSAZ for its anti-ESA views. | Jenny Clark | LinkedIn
Jenny Clark, a member of the Arizona State Board of Education, criticized SOSAZ for its anti-ESA views. | Jenny Clark | LinkedIn
On Aug. 21, Jenny Clark, founder of Arizona School Choice Organization Love Your School, took to Twitter to advocate for school choice in Arizona. Her post featured a recent poll indicating that a majority of Arizonans support Education Savings Accounts (ESA), regardless of their party affiliation.
"Hey Arizona - check this out! If you’re a parent, policy leader, elected official, and everything in between, take note. ESA approval in Arizona is popular across party lines," Clark wrote in an Aug. 21 Twitter post. "Maybe @GovernorHobbs will get a clue! Families want choices!"
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has displayed a lack of support for school choice within the state, stating funding should go towards public schools. According to Reason, she has gone so far as to pledge the repeal of the comprehensive school choice bill passed in July 2022, which extended access to Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) to all. The expansion of the program last year marked the most significant one in the United States. It allocated $7,000 to each child who chooses alternatives to public schools, such as private school tuition, homeschooling, or other options.
ESAs were initially introduced in the state back in 2011, but only 23% of students met the qualifying criteria at that time. These criteria included students with disabilities, those attending failing public schools, and wards of the court, among others, Reason reported.
The recent survey commissioned by the "yes. every kid. foundation.," an advocacy group promoting educational freedom, revealed that 63% of Arizona voters support school choice. Among these, 78% of Republicans and 61% of Independents expressed support, while even among Democrats, 48% were in favor of school choice. The poll also indicated that 78% of parents are supportive of the program. However, Gov. Hobbs finds herself with limited support within the state, as only 34% of voters approve of her, according to the survey.
"During yesterday’s signing ceremony, Gov. Hobbs thanked me for my bipartisan work, something we need more of, and I agree. Let’s start with “School Choice," Arizona Sen. Justine Wadsack wrote in an Aug. 23 Twitter post. "So, after we shook hands, I told her that ESA is not to be dismantled on my watch, and then I asked her for a meeting to discuss ESA… and she said 'O.K.' It’s time to put the people first."
Founded by Jenny Clark, a native of Arizona and a mother of five, Love Your School functions as a valuable resource for Arizona families exploring school choice. It offers information about the diverse range of schooling options available and can provide families with education on these choices. The organization also keeps the community updated on the latest developments in Arizona's educational landscape, according to Love Your School's website.
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