Arizona Just Says No to Trump's Crazy Voucher Scheme
Katie Hobbs scores a win for public schools
Save Our Schools Arizona reports that Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the GOP legislature’s attempt to force the state to opt in to Trump’s ridiculous voucher scheme.
Gov. Hobbs Vetoes Federal Voucher Bill: On Monday, Governor Hobbs vetoed SB1142, which would have forced our state to opt in to the federal tax credit voucher program in Trump’s HB1. This voucher program is designed as a tax shelter for the rich that would transfer untold billions to private schools — doubling down on the massive inequities created by our state’s ESA voucher program and further eroding public education in our state. We’re grateful our state has a leader who prioritizes the public schools that serve over 90% of Arizona students!
Robert Kim of the Education Law Center writes that opting-in poses risks to state public education - from both a funding and student outcomes perspective.
Any claim that allowing public tax dollars to be redirected to school vouchers is “about putting students first,” as Duncan and Elzora say, is counterfactual. Students taking vouchers have worse educational outcomes. Private schools receiving public money are free to discriminate against students on the basis of race, ability, and/or LGBTQ+ identity. And waste, fraud, and abuse have always gone hand-in-hand with private school vouchers.