Showdown Between ESA and Public Schools Reaches Tipping Point Over Right to Choose

NU Newsmedia

The showdown between a parent’s right to choose an education model for their child and the survival of public schools is at a tipping point in Arizona.

The Arizona Department of Education’s most recent quarterly Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program report shows that a vast majority of its ESA recipients has been awarded to the general public, diverting funds from Arizona public schools to the tune of $944 million.

Gov. Katie Hobbs (R-AZ) is a staunch opponent to the state’s ESA program. (Instagram)

In fact, 45,157 of the 61,689 applications (73.2 percent) were categorized as “K-12 Universal,” which means the qualified student must be at least 5 years old at the time of application, have a birth certificate, and be a resident of Arizona. These criteria are drawing contempt from Democratic lawmakers.