ESA = “Empowerment Scholarship Account,” a deceptive term for voucher
ESA vouchers will cost the state $900 million in 2024 (bit.ly/ESAfacts)
Every new ESA voucher represents subtracts funding from our local public schools, which are already funded 47th in the US
Vouchers do not save Arizona money: the minimum ESA voucher is $500 higher than the state per-pupil funding to district schools
A majority of vouchers go to students already enrolled in private school or homeschool
Supt. Horne is spending hundreds of thousands in taxpayer dollars to advertise vouchers
75% of ESA voucher users are from wealthy zip codes
Voucher funds are reimbursed by Supt. Horne’s ADE – most expenses are Amazon & Venmo purchases to a massive list of 3000 vendors (bit.ly/vendorsESA)
Reimbursements include questionable expenditures such as gourmet espresso machines, snow cone maker, home gyms, chicken coops, zoo and bounce memberships, trips, and so much more
Lawmakers have decisions to make re ESA vouchers. The average voucher cost to state general fund is $11,000+. The total in AZ is 6X higher than projected.
Nonpartisan JLBC: “We’ve never really faced this circumstance before. You’ve got this requirement but it isn’t funded.”