By Philip Haldiman, Independent Newsmedia

The bill expanding Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program to any student in Arizona has been contentious ever since it was proposed in the Legislature and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey, April 7.

Public education advocates aren’t letting a little signature get in the way of the fight, and Arizona School Boards Association is spearheading the effort.

The Peoria and Dysart unified school districts have approved resolutions saying they will continue to fight the bill, urging its reconsideration and appeal.

About 35 school district boards across the state have signed resolutions.

In PUSD, the governing board voted 3-1 in favor of the resolution. Board member Judy Doane dissented and President Beverly Pingerelli was not present.

Heidi Vega, a spokeswoman for the Arizona School Boards Association, said the fight will continue.
“I think the next strategy that’s circulating in the lobbying community is working toward mandating caps on the voucher bills and eventually repealing the scope of the law,” she said.

With many schools in disarray and West Valley districts relying on bonds for new schools and improvements, advocates say the bill allows for funds to be taken away from already desperately needed districts.

Furthermore, the Arizona Constitution prohibits tax revenues for church, private or sectarian schools, or any public service corporation.

Ms. Vega said the expanded law allows students to use funds for private or religious schools that would otherwise go to public schools.

She said the expansion is in direct conflict with ASBA’s political agenda, and a massive blow to K-12 public schools.

Combined, School Tuition Organizations and Empowerment Savings Accounts divert $168 million from state coffers annually and their reach is designed to grow, she said.

“Since the program was introduced six years ago, Arizona has spent $99.7 million in funding ESAs, and the state continues to turn its back on public schools and embrace private schools,” she said. “Instead of providing ‘for the establishment and maintenance of a general and uniform public school system,’ as stated in the Arizona Constitution, the state has expanded its support of private schools through Empowerment Savings Accounts and School Tuition Organization tax credits.”

Governing Board member  Kathy Knecht said the resolution was created to give the public an opportunity to take a stance.

She said ESAs can go to families who may be affluent and who have children already attending private schools.

“The code of ethics we signed and our first priority is to the students of PUSD. We feel an obligation to protect the interests of the 37,000 students attending the schools in our district,” Ms. Knecht said. “I wanted to believe what the governor said when he committed to moving schools in the right direction. This moves us in the wrong direction, and I resist anything that would diminish our ability to serve our population.”

Governing Board member Judy Doane, who voted against the resolution, said education is a necessity in any civilized society, and in this society it is necessary to prosper.

It is also mandatory, she said.

“I’m an American, and I believe in free market. I don’t think we have to be afraid of competition. In a free market, our district doesn’t have to be afraid of that,” she said. “I also believe in school choice.”

The Arizona ESA program currently gives certain students the necessary funding to let them pursue the education they choose. The new bill expands the program, giving equal access for all students by making certain grade level students in public and charter schools eligible over the next four years. Previously, the program targeted students who fell into categories such as special needs, foster care and those who attended D- and F-rated schools.

The ESA program, established in 2011, is administered by the Arizona Department of Education. The department estimates 3,100 students are enrolled in the ESA program and about $46 million was disbursed in fiscal year 2017, according to a state Senate fact sheet on the bill.

An ESA student receives 90 percent of the total funding a public school would receive for that student. Under the law, students receive 100 percent of the funding, rather than 90 percent, if their families’ incomes are at 250 percent of the federal poverty level or less, which is roughly $60,000 for a family of four.

The bill’s sponsor Sen. Debbie Lesko (R-Peoria) said she understands school districts do not like competition and that the reaction is being over-blown by some who are listening to rhetoric being strewn out and not actually knowing what the bill does.

The law is limited to half a percent of all public school students, she said.

“It’s so minuscule that the thought that somehow this would hurt public schools is totally inaccurate,” she said. “I would hope they actually read the bill and understand what it does because it provides another option for parents to chose the best education for their children.”