Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has criticized the Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) program, expressing concerns about its negative impact on the state budget. In a statement released on Wednesday, Hobbs addressed Superintendent Tom Horne, a vocal advocate of ESAs, urging him to address what she referred to as excessive spending and take measures to curb it, according to the Governor's Office.

"The school voucher program threatens to decimate our state's budget," said Hobbs in a post on platform X. She called on Superintendent Horne, Speaker Toma, and President Petersen to join bipartisan leaders in bringing accountability to the program and ending what she called wasteful and runaway spending.

However, Hobbs' criticism of the ESAs program has drawn backlash from Jenny Clark, a member of the Board of Education. Clark expressed her surprise at the Governor's remarks, stating, "Wow. I didn't think our own Governor would become this unhinged." She questioned the Governor's claim that the ESA program threatens funding to fight against drug trafficking and criticized her for pitting children and parents against veterans. Clark also questioned whether the Governor understands how the Arizona budget process works.

Superintendent Horne, Speaker Toma, and President Petersen also responded to Hobbs' request, reaffirming their support for ESAs. Horne disputed the Governor's calculation, stating, "She is counting the $7,200 paid for each ESA student without offsetting the $13,000 paid per student that would otherwise be spent for that student to attend a public school." He emphasized that the overall numbers show that all public school spending, including the ESA program, is $72 million below budget.

Hobbs has been a vocal critic of school choice and has promised to repeal a major school choice bill from July 2022. The bill expanded ESA access, allocating $7,000 per child for alternatives to public education. According to Reason, the program's expansion was one of the most substantial in the nation.

The Arizona ESA program was introduced in 2011 with stringent criteria, covering only 23% of students. However, a recent comprehensive school choice bill significantly broadened ESA access, making it available to all students, according to Kindled.

Despite Hobbs' criticism, a survey commissioned by the "yes. every kid. foundation" in August showed that 63% of Arizona voters are in favor of school choice. The survey also highlighted that 78% of parents support the program. However, Hobbs faces limited support within the state, with an approval rating of only 34%, according to the foundation.