In a telling Forbes piece this week, Peter Greene lays out the massive disconnect in school satisfaction between parents and non-parents found in a recent Gallup poll — and outlines how special interests have intentionally spread disinformation to usher in universal “school choice” (aka, universal vouchers). This is exactly what we’ve seen in Arizona: the 92% of families choosing public schools are typically very satisfied with their choice, yet non-parents tend to believe the rampant (and well-funded) misinformation spread about public schools by pro-voucher lobbying groups in Arizona, including DeVos-backed American Federation for Children, the Goldwater Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Center for Arizona Policy, and more.
“Parental satisfaction with their local school is at an all-time high, while Americans’ satisfaction with K-12 quality is at a record-tying low, according to newly-released poll results from Gallup…
Of parents of K-12 students, 76% consider themselves completely or somewhat satisfied with their oldest child’s education quality. Americans as a whole are only 36% satisfied with K-12 education (8% for completely).
Educators have long suggested that this disparity is the result of negative coverage. That theory makes sense; you know your own child’s school firsthand, but beyond that, you only know what you’re told secondhand.”
Voucher pushers have been clear about their intentions. Greene points out that in an April 2022 speech at Hillsdale College entitled “Laying Siege to the Institutions,” school privatizer and DeSantis disciple Christopher Rufo laid out the strategy succinctly: “To get universal school choice, you really need to operate from a place of universal school distrust.”
Astroturf groups like Moms for Liberty have aligned themselves with this strategy, pushing the narrative that parents are “walking away” from public schools for a host of reasons, from casting teachers as groomers and lambasting districts for having pro-LGBTQ+ policies, to agitating for book bans across the country.
But as the Gallup poll shows, the truth is far different. As Greene states, “The poll findings reflect that long repetitive negative messaging, and little else. After all, what would be a better way to gauge the quality of a particular restaurant: talk to people who just ate there, or the people who do PR for a rival eatery?”
The truth is, Americans love public schools and know they’re paramount to safe communities, a well-educated workforce, and the creation of an inclusive democracy that serves everyone. That’s why we need YOU to talk to everyone you know about the amazing things happening in Arizona’s public schools. It sounds overly simplistic, but it matters more than you can know.
Taxpayers in Florida are outraged as they discover their state’s universal school vouchers are being used for “theme park passes, 55-inch TVs, and stand-up paddleboards.” This isn’t fraud, or parents gaming the system: each of these items is explicitly authorized and included on a purchasing guide provided to parents by one of the organizations that manages Florida’s voucher program.
And just like in Arizona, “parents treat the program like it’s their private candy jar,” buying expensive Lego sets, video game consoles, air-hockey tables and skateboards — while public school students go without desperately needed resources.
As Damaris Allen, the executive director of Families for Strong Public Schools, said:
“If we saw school districts spending money like that, we would be outraged. We want to be conservative with our tax dollars. We want to be sure it is being used for worthwhile things.”
This abuse of taxpayer dollars has been occurring in Arizona ever since universal voucher expansion exploded the program. The Guardian reported that Arizona’s universal ESA vouchers have been spent on everything from trampolines to cowboy classes, and we have seen reports from throughout the year on vouchers spent on water park tickets, espresso machines, rock walls, and so much more.
School vouchers lack the accountability and transparency mandated in our public schools, allowing parents almost free rein to buy items that often have little connection to academics — and with zero requirements that private schools, vendors, tutors, microschools, or homeschool co-ops are helping children achieve academically. The egregious use of taxpayer dollars by a school voucher program is no surprise — it’s not a bug of voucher programs, it’s a feature.
LAST CHANCE!!!
Celebration of Arizona’s Public Schools
Join us for a fantastic celebration, fundraiser, and auction at the Arizona Science Center on Saturday, September 23 at 5:30pm.
Last day to buy tickets is Friday, Sept. 15th. Buy your tickets HERE!
Are you ready to learn more and harness your power to be a parent advocate? Join us for any one of these dates to hear our BRAND NEW, short, engaging presentation for parents about how schools are funded, why PTOs and PTAs have to do so much fundraising, and what we can do about it! Sign up HERE:
Equity in Education in Tucson – Saturday, September 16 at 3 pm – Register HERE!
Save Our Schools Arizona is delighted to co-host an online conversation with political analyst and New York Times-bestselling author Anand Giridharadas, so join us and our friends from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting for what’s sure to be an eye-opening special event. Pre-register HERE.
Yuma Rural Action Summit – November 4 – Mark “Going” HERE!
Have you signed the AZ Loves Public Schools Pledge yet? Be part of our growing community of public school supporters, sign the pledge and then share with your friends! Also check out our map of Arizona’s public school supporters and help us fill it in!
Don’t forget to join us on social media. Pick your favorite(s) and join us for fun, engaging content!! This is where we post important updates, key news articles, and informative graphics and videos you can’t get anywhere else.
Stripping mental health supports from students across AZ: This week, Superintendent Tom Horne announced that his Department of Education is clawing back over $40 million in federal grant money for mental health support and student well-being allocated by former Superintendent Kathy Hoffman as part of the third round of federal COVID relief funding.
These grants were designed to boost academic performance by improving the social and emotional well-being of students post-COVID, but did not include any specific requirements to measure academic achievement. Last month, Supt. Horne sent notice to some of the grantees that they had five days to “send measurable results you have had from your expenditures in improving the academic performance of students.” Because this was not a requirement of the original grants, most of the programs were not collecting data on academic achievement and were unable to fulfill Horne’s last-minute ultimatum.
Here are just a few of the programs Horne stripped funding from:
Supt. Horne claims that the $40 million he clawed back from these programs will be used “to pay teachers to tutor students struggling in math and reading, and hire a testing company to regularly assess whether the tutoring program is helping raise student achievement.” However, few details are known about who exactly will benefit from this tutoring scheme. Horne’s abrupt actions will only disrupt efforts to combat learning loss across the state and negatively impact thousands of students.
School choice for me, but not for thee: As Laurie Roberts wrote in a fiery takedown this week, Tom Horne’s lawsuit against state officials and the Creighton Elementary School District is as hypocritical as it gets. Horne says he is committed to “empowering parents,” but Roberts points out that he’s only interested in giving those rights to some parents.
“I get it. Horne believes the best way for children to learn English is to be immersed in English. But what about what their parents believe?… Families [may] choose to take a taxpayer-funded $7,200 voucher and spend on a private school that teaches in Spanish, in Swahili or in Klingon, if that’s what they want. And Horne would cheer them on. It’s the parents’ choice, after all. Unless they choose a public school program in which they believe their children will actually learn something, in which case…”
Check out some incredible pictures and stories from across the state that make us #PublicSchoolProud!
The Life Skills classroom at Cienega High School received a grant from the Vail School District Foundation to allow them to build a mock grocery store on campus. The store will allow them to develop real-world job experience and learn important life skills such as meal planning, budgeting, and nutrition.
At Wilson K-8 in the Amphitheater Public School District, Ms. Steiner’s 6th grade learned about chemical reactions and how to draw inferences with a fun, hand-on dry ice lab.
Chandler High held their first “Vote Day,” an opportunity for students to have their voice heard and decide how the school would spend $15,000 in campus improvement funds. Vote Day was inspired and supported by the Center for the Future of Arizona’s Student Participatory Budgeting project, which was designed to encourage students at Chandler High to manage all aspects of the project, from collecting ideas to canvassing the vote. Students also had the opportunity to register to vote through the Maricopa County Recorder's office.
LAST CHANCE!!!
Celebration of Arizona’s Public Schools
Join us for a fantastic celebration, fundraiser, and auction at the Arizona Science Center on Saturday, September 23 at 5:30pm.
Last day to buy tickets is Friday, Sept. 15th. Buy your tickets HERE!
Are you ready to learn more and harness your power to be a parent advocate? Join us for any one of these dates to hear our BRAND NEW, short, engaging presentation for parents about how schools are funded, why PTOs and PTAs have to do so much fundraising, and what we can do about it! Sign up HERE:
Equity in Education in Tucson – Saturday, September 16 at 3 pm – Register HERE!
Save Our Schools Arizona is delighted to co-host an online conversation with political analyst and New York Times-bestselling author Anand Giridharadas, so join us and our friends from Civic Engagement Beyond Voting for what’s sure to be an eye-opening special event. Pre-register HERE.
Yuma Rural Action Summit – November 4 – Mark “Going” HERE!
Have you signed the AZ Loves Public Schools Pledge yet? Be part of our growing community of public school supporters, sign the pledge and then share with your friends! Also check out our map of Arizona’s public school supporters and help us fill it in!
Don’t forget to join us on social media. Pick your favorite(s) and join us for fun, engaging content!! This is where we post important updates, key news articles, and informative graphics and videos you can’t get anywhere else.
Have you signed the AZ Loves Public Schools Pledge yet? Be part of our growing community of public school supporters, sign the pledge and then share with your friends! Also check out our map of Arizona’s public school supporters and help us fill it in!
Don’t forget to join us on social media. Pick your favorite(s) and join us for fun, engaging content!! This is where we post important updates, key news articles, and informative graphics and videos you can’t get anywhere else.
AZ Loves Public Schools Car Magnets & Yard Signs!
Be the first to order HERE!
Note: Yard signs are currently available only in Maricopa, Pima, and Yavapai Counties where our field team can personally deliver. Check back for more counties soon!
Order AZ Loves Public Schools Tees, Tanks & Sweatshirts on AMAZON!
Be the first to order HERE!
Don’t forget your red #PublicSchoolProud shirt – order HERE. While we get ready to change suppliers, we’re offering 2 shirts for your donation of $30, or one for an $18 donation. Wear Public School Proud gear to show your dedication to well-funded public education in Arizona!
Sign up for a Community Action Team: East Valley, West Valley & North Phoenix, Scottsdale & Paradise Valley, Central & South Phoenix, Northern Arizona, and Southern Arizona! Your local coordinators will help you with using Request to Speak and contacting your lawmakers.
Request an SOSAZ Education Roadshow presentation HERE
Sign up to automatically receive the SOSAZ Legislative Weekly Report HERE
