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vouchers

Dec 2, 2024

More indictments related to voucher program come, Horne touts safeguards

A state grand jury returned another fraud indictment related to the Empowerment Scholarship Account program Monday.

school vouchers written on a chalkboard
Mar 26, 2024

New voucher rulebook delayed a year for parent input

Following backlash from parents in the Empowerment Scholarship Account program and Republican lawmakers,  the State Board of Education adopted last year’s program handbook in lieu of approving a new redlined draft from the Arizona Department of Education today.  

Kris Mayes at podium to explain indictment of former Department of Education employees in connection with defrauding the state's voucher program
Mar 1, 2024

Mayes blames lawmakers for making voucher program ‘easy to target for fraud’

Three former Empowerment Scholarship Account employees are accused of defrauding the program of more than $600,000 by using falsified birth certificates and disability diagnoses to enroll five adults, seven children and five “ghost children.”  

school vouchers written on a chalkboard
Feb 15, 2024

Senate panel kills one Hobbs voucher bill, moves another

A Senate committee killed a measure to require private schools to lay out and provide services for students with disabilities Wednesday and narrowly advanced a bill to require updated Empowerment Scholarship Account cost projections from the Arizona Department of Education. 

Feb 2, 2024

3 women indicted in alleged scheme to defraud state’s voucher, Medicaid programs

A state grand jury indicted three women last year for allegedly funneling more than $100,000 from the Empowerment Scholarship Account program and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System into private school and caretaking companies.  

Jan 31, 2024

Horne vouches vouchers no drain on budget

Arizona’s education budget is set to see a $28.5 million surplus by the end of the year, according to the latest report from the Arizona Department of Education.  

Jan 13, 2024

Governor’s wish list depends on cuts to GOP-favored programs, spending

Gov. Katie Hobbs proposed a $16.2 billion spending plan is built on cuts to vouchers that are unlikely to survive the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Jan 9, 2024

Freedom Caucus slams Hobbs’ plan to regulate school vouchers

Arizona’s Freedom Caucus leader said today any legislation Gov. Katie Hobbs proposes to modify the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program is “dead on arrival at the legislature.”  

Jan 6, 2024

Lawmakers to start 2024 session with massive budget deficit

From a $2 billion surplus to a $450 million deficit, lawmakers will have tough choice to make to balance the budget.

ESAs, vouchers, public schools, Save Our Schools Arizona,
Jan 3, 2024

Hobbs takes aim at regulating school vouchers

Gov. Katie Hobbs released an eight-point plan to curtail the Empowerment Scholarships Account program, but the proposals, slated to run in Hobbs’ executive budget and in the upcoming legislative session, caught near-immediate opposition from Republican leadership who claimed the governor fundamentally misunderstands the program.  

Switch button positioned on the word internet, black background and green light. Conceptual image for illustration of Marketing Advertising Campaign and communication strategy
Dec 15, 2023

State agency spends millions marketing vouchers

The Arizona Department of Education is on track to spend about $2.5 million on advertising for the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, or school vouchers, through the end of the year. 

Toma, Republicans, Hobbs, Legislature, budget crunch
Oct 16, 2023

Republican legislative leaders face first budget crunch in nearly a decade

Republican leaders in the Arizona Legislature are facing their first budget crunch in nearly a decade and minority Democrats are pointing the finger right at the GOP, saying the pain that will be felt by state residents is a self-inflicted wound.

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