Arizona Advocates Seek to Protect State from Voucher Scheme
Public education activists file ballot measure
Public education advocates in Arizona are taking action to protect the state from a runaway school voucher scheme.
The group Save Our Schools AZ - made up of public school families and educators - has filed a ballot measure seeking voter approval to protect taxpayers and public schools from the harms of vouchers.
Yes, the legislature COULD enact these protections, but they have yet to do so.
Here’s what SOS is asking for:
New Safety Measures to Protect Kids:
Requires all voucher-funded schools to comply with basic safety standards
Requires that voucher-funded schools investigate allegations of misconduct
Basic Standards to Prevent Waste, Fraud, and Abuse:
Banning the use of ESA voucher funds for non-educational and luxury items
Recoup millions in unused funds for public schools
Transparency for voucher funds
Clarifying enforcement authority
Re-Focusing the Voucher Program on Families with the Highest Need:
Ending subsidies for the wealthy: Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, requires the annual family income for universal ESA voucher students to be at or below $150,000, adjusted annually for inflation.
Raising the Bar for Academic Quality to Support Student Success:
Requires all voucher-funded schools to follow academic accountability standards. To ensure students are learning, private schools would be required to have their students take similar assessments as public school students or be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization.
Following a 30-day legislative review period, the measure could be sent to the ballot for voters during the 2026 election cycle.