Most Applicants for Arizona's New ESA Voucher Already Enrolled in Private Schools

In keeping with Arizona State Senator Martin Quezada’s prediction in June following passage of Arizona’s universal Education Savings Account that the program would amount to an expensive handout to middle- and upper-income families with children in private schools, a substantial majority of the 6,500 applicants for this new kind of voucher are already enrolled in private schools, according to the State Department of Education, reported National Public Radio affiliate KAWC.

“The legislation approved earlier this year was billed by supporters as providing more choices to students stuck in neighborhood public schools,” reported KAWC. “But the state Department of Education says 75% of those applications are from children not in public schools. That is drawing concern from the state superintendent of public instruction.”

According to KAWC, Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said, "The ESA program was intended to provide more options for children with special needs or unique circumstances, like military families. With the current status of applicants, it is not achieving those goals,'' she continued. "Instead, it is just a taxpayer-funded coupon for the wealthy.''

Policy experts expected this outcome. “Even before HB 2853 became law,” reported KAWC, “legislative budget analysts estimated the first-year cost of providing vouchers to those already in private schools or those being home-schooled would approach $30 million. That doesn't count another $2.2 million in new administrative costs. And by the third year, the report said, the price tag for paying for kids picking up vouchers versus paying their own way will approach $120 million. That is above and beyond the $176 million the state is now paying for vouchers for students who have been eligible under prior standards.”

- S.E. Abrams