Senate Bill 1279 is a bill that would expand the eligibility voucher program.
The Empowerment Scholarship Account, otherwise known as ESA was originally available to 1.1 million students in the State of Arizona. That number has been capped off at one-half of one percent, making a total number of 24-hundred students.
“It’s bill that would allow parents to give more choice in educational opportunities for their child,” said Sen. Debbie Lesko (R-21) who is the sponsor of the bill.
“The parent can use that money for other educational choices for the student, whether that be for an educational tutor in the case of sometimes special needs children or the case of sending their children to a private school, online school or home schooling.” Said Lesko.
But not all agree that it would be put to good use.
“It allows rich kids to get richer,” Christine Marsh, the 2016 Teacher of the Year said. “It takes funding away, the funding follows the child…when that money leaves with how ever many kids who use the ESA and take it else where, that takes the funding out of the public school.”
But Sen. Lesko disagrees.
“I’m in no way of trying to hurt the public schools. I am a big supporter of public schools,” Sen. Lesko said. “This is meant as an alternative for a certain number of parents where their children are just not doing well for what ever reason in the traditional district public schools.”
According to Sen. Lesko, the voucher would be capped off at a small percentage, and she believes people shouldn’t view its as any type of competition to public or charter schools.
ESA has been expanding its demographics for years. First, vouchers were available to children who have disabilities or special needs. The program was then expanded to give students in schools with D or F ratings funds to go elsewhere. It was expanded again to children of parents in the military.
But with the funding for Arizona schools being at one of the lowest of all 50 states, Marsh will never think vouchers will be a good “alternative.”
“I think almost any voucher expansion is a bad idea until we get adequate funding. Period.” Marsh said.
The House Floor vote was on the agenda for Wednesday afternoon but was put on hold for final revisions. It’s expected to make its way back to the floor within the next two to three weeks before the legislative session is over.