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ESA

Horne, Hobbs, Covid, overstepping, ESAs, English Language Learners, CRT
Sep 18, 2023

Concerned resident raises concerns about Horne’s actions as schools chief

A concerned Arizona resident shared a letter she sent to Tom Horne, who she claims has overstepped his power since assuming the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction.

ESA, Empowerment Scholarship Account, Arizona Department of Education, Save Our Schools Arizona, Horne, Beth Lewis
Sep 7, 2023

ESA program added almost 50,000 students in the past year, state reports

The state added nearly 12,000 students to the Empowerment Scholarship Account program in the last quarter, bringing total enrollment to 61,689 at the end of June and renewing debates about the costs and benefits of the program.

ESAs, vouchers, public schools, Save Our Schools Arizona,
Sep 1, 2023

Fact-checking Save Our Schools on vouchers 

Save Our Schools Arizona is among the most prominent opponents of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or vouchers. However, certain of their talking points are inconsistent with facts from reputable sources. 

ESA, microschool
Aug 31, 2023

Alternative micro-school fails to meet zoning laws

Tia Howard wanted to start her own micro-school. So, she contracted with a curriculum provider, found a piece of rural residential land, signed a contract and made a $5,000 deposit. But Howard soon found Pinal County’s zoning code does not account for micro-schools. And per an interpretation from the county, a micro-school would be barred from rural residential land as it does not fall under the[...]

Hobbs, Wadsack, Senate, governor, ESAs, vouchers
Aug 28, 2023

Wadsack, Hobbs disagree over meeting tied to vouchers

A member of the legislative Freedom Caucus is boasting that she's getting a meeting with Gov. Katie Hobbs, a meeting she said will let her explain to the governor the virtues of making vouchers of taxpayer dollars available to all parents so their children can attend private and parochial schools.

Petersen, Senate, session wrap, legislature, Republicans, Toma, housing, ESA
Aug 26, 2023

Q&A with Senate President Warren Petersen 

Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert, reflected on the 2023 legislative session.

legislature, Shope, Sundareshan, Senate, House, Hobbs, Democrats, legislation, bills, Republicans
Aug 25, 2023

Longest session didn’t yield much – lawmakers eye 2024 

Arizona lawmakers wrapped up the longest session in state history last month, but little changed by way of new legislation.  

Hobbs, governor, legislative session, Democrats, Republicans
Aug 25, 2023

Q&A with Governor Katie Hobbs 

In her first legislative session as governor, Katie Hobbs had to navigate a sharply divided Legislature, at times working closely with Republican leadership while also facing attempts by GOP lawmakers to thwart her agenda. 

ESA, Horne, vendor, ClassWallet, debit cards
Aug 25, 2023

ADE says work being done on ESA program as ClassWallet continues as vendor

With ClassWallet in the process of continuing its contract with the state as the Empowerment Scholarship Account financial vendor, the Arizona Department of Education confirmed work on long-term changes to the program, most notably the revival of debit cards using automation and artificial intelligence.  

ESA, vendor, ClassWallet, ADE, Horne
Aug 1, 2023

ClassWallet selected to keep operating as financial vendor for ESA program

ClassWallet will continue to operate as the financial vendor for the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, the Office of the State Treasurer Arizona announced today. 

data breach, ESA, Arizona Department of Education, leak, employees, resignations, Accurso, Rizzo, Horne
Aug 1, 2023

AZDOHS concludes former ADE employee is behind data leak of ESA families’ information

The Arizona Department of Homeland Security concluded a former Arizona Department of Education staffer is behind a data leak of Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) families’ personal information.

data breach, ESA, Hobbs, Horne, Accurso
Jul 28, 2023

ESA data breach prompts state Homeland Security investigation 

A recent data breach involving the contractor in charge of Arizona’s expanded Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program is now under investigation by the Arizona Department of Homeland Security.