Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has proposed a new budget to undo education savings accounts [ESA] signed into law last year by Gov. Doug Ducey.
The law was the country’s most expansive school-choice program by removing eligibility limits—making ESAs available to all K-12 students. However, the new budget would remove the expansion and only allow 1 in 4 students eligible:
“In her first State of the State Address, she assailed the Legislature for expanding the program and warned it “will likely bankrupt the state.” She claimed the new law is “poised to cost Arizona taxpayers an estimated $1.5 billion over the next 10 years if left unaddressed.”But there’s an obvious problem with her math. Arizona spends more than $12,000 a pupil on its public schools, while the typical universal ESA award amount is only $7,000. Ms. Hobbs counts the cost of the program but ignores the fiscal benefit. An analysis from the nonpartisan Common Sense Institute finds that the ESA program will save taxpayer money.”
A Morning Consult poll updated this month found that 67% of adults and 77% of parents of school-aged children support ESAs.
Students are taking advantage of the program now that more of them are eligible:
“As of Jan 9., more than 45,000 students have enrolled in the state’s school choice program, according to to Faith Prep Arizona, a group that advises families using the school choice program. Originally just one-third of Arizona students were eligible for the program, with about 11,800 students enrolled, according to the AZ Mirror.”
The question now is whether Hobbs has the authority to eliminate the expansion. As of right now, the Republican-controlled legislature can keep the ESAs safe.
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