Behind the Ballot: Spread thin
If donors are asked repeatedly to open their wallets for both the candidates and the causes they care most about, will the available dollars be spread too thin?
Voucher vote creates dilemma for school-choice supporters
If voters approve the voucher expansion law in November, many believe those changes would be locked in under the Voter Protection Act.
Livingston accuses Blanc of doctoring referendum petitions, calls for resignation
Rep. David Livingston said Rep. Isela Blanc should fully comply with any investigation into allegations she or others doctored petitions to help get a referendum of school voucher expansion on the ballot, and if she’s found in the wrong, resign from office.
Referendum on school voucher survives first hurdle
State Elections Director Eric Spencer concluded there are more than enough signatures on petitions calling for a 2018 vote, even after he disqualified some of them. That sets the stage for county recorders to do their own verification.
Group hopes to stop school voucher expansion before it takes effect
When Arizona students return to school in August, a new law could make the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts available to all 1.1 million of them. Unless a grassroots group of opponents has its way.
School vouchers have voters’ approval, poll says
A poll commissioned by school-choice group American Federation for Children suggested a tough road ahead for a group working on a ballot measure to repeal an expansion of vouchers.
Voucher-backing group’s Capitol ‘Thank You’ lunch cancelled
Republican Speaker J.D. Mesnard said he called off the "Thank You to the Legislators" luncheon because it was ill-timed and emotions are still running high at the Capitol.
Lesko proposal could greatly expand school ‘voucher’ funds
State lawmakers are making a new attempt to provide taxpayer-provided dollars to all of the 1.1 million students in Arizona schools to help their parents pay to instead send them to private and parochial schools.
Advocates will try again to expand school choice program
School-choice advocates are again going to try for more expansion of a program that provides public money for children to attend private schools, even after falling short in 2014 to pass a proposal to make most of Arizona’s school children eligible.
AZ school choice program expands, but many children aren’t accepted
Nearly doubling the number of students in a program that provides public money for private schools is a bittersweet accomplishment for nonprofits that worked to increase the enrollment.
State money spent on empowerment scholarships nearly doubles
There will be almost double the number of students from last year starting the new school year in a program that provides public money for private schools.
Huppenthal robocall stirs debate over education’s future
If public students are migrating to private schools via a first-of-a-kind state program, it’s happening in a trickle. But some public school advocates worry that the exodus soon could become a torrent.