Grand Canyon Times

Jenny Clark, a member of the Arizona Board of Education, has voiced her disapproval over Governor Katie Hobbs' 2024 budget proposal, which was unveiled last Friday. The proposal features cuts across several sectors, including school choice.

Clark expressed her criticism in stark terms. "When you applaud kicking low-income families, disabled, and foster kids out of private schools because they're using a Student Tuition Organization (STO) tax credit (and have for years!) something is seriously wrong," she stated. She continued to admonish the governor, saying: "This is not the winning side, Governor Hobbs - and it also doesn't save money."

The budget proposed by Governor Hobbs for 2024 involves slashing funding for school voucher programs such as Student Tuition Organizations (STOs) and Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). According to Hobbs, these vouchers, which are intended to promote school choice, contribute to the state's funding gap issue. An article from the Associated Press reports that Hobbs has also proposed a requirement for students to attend public school for 100 days before becoming eligible for a voucher.

STOs provide scholarships that allow students to enroll in eligible private schools within Arizona. Since its establishment in 1998, the STO program has been described as "a tax-exempt nonprofit organization certified by the Arizona Department of Revenue to receive donations and issue scholarship funding to private schools as provided by state law." In 2009, it expanded its services to include students with disabilities. Unlike ESAs, STOs are specifically designated for covering only tuition costs according to information from the Arizona Center for Economic Progress website.

Clark aired her objections on an unspecified platform where she also shared a statement from Save Our Schools Arizona praising Governor Hobbs' efforts to dismantle school choice programs. "We support the governor's commitment to rein in the runaway voucher grift that is plaguing our state," read the post from Save Our Schools. "The Governor's Office understands that the only way to resolve the Republican deficit and achieve a responsible, balanced budget is to hold the runaway ESA voucher program accountable and cut irresponsible spending on both ESA and STO tax credit vouchers."

Apart from her role as a board of education member, Clark is also the founder of Love Your School, an organization serving as a resource for Arizona families exploring school choice options. As stated on its website, Love Your School provides information about various schooling options available and educates families about these choices. It also keeps the community updated on the latest developments in Arizona's educational landscape.