Local opinion: Public schools serve society best

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts sound appealing. For some students — particularly those with special needs — they can be helpful. ESAs were originally pitched as a way to give these students access to specialized services that district schools sometimes struggle to provide.

But since their inception in 2011, ESAs — more commonly known as vouchers — have exploded across Arizona and the country. In Arizona, however, an almost total lack of accountability means we have little idea of the return on investment. Not for students. Not for taxpayers. And not for society as a whole.

In a recent op-ed, William Teal wrote, “It is not simply a financial policy, it is a statement that children are individuals, parents have a right to participate in educational decisions, and flexibility in learning environments benefits society as a whole.”

That sounds like polished marketing built on buzzwords: “children are individuals,” “parents have rights,” and “benefits society.” When a product can’t sell itself, messaging matters — and pro-voucher advocates have spent heavily to influence lawmakers.

The reality is that voters have repeatedly rejected vouchers when given the choice. That includes Arizona. In 2018, voters defeated a universal voucher expansion by a two-to-one margin. In 2022, the GOP-led Legislature ignored that decision and enacted universal vouchers anyway.

Today, more than 100,000 Arizona students participate in the voucher program, most from wealthier families. Meanwhile, more than one million students attend public schools. Those schools — educating over 90% of Arizona’s children — are increasingly underfunded. The evidence is everywhere: a $5,000 per-student funding gap compared to the national average, a $7 billion capital shortfall confirmed by last year’s court ruling, and frequent headlines about schools closing or considering closure.

Yes, children are individuals. That’s why public schools serve all of them — not just those who are easiest or cheapest to educate. Public schools offer programs for gifted students, students with disabilities, and students earning college credit. They provide career and technical education, along with music, art, and athletics.

Yes, parents have rights. That’s why public schools operate with the highest levels of accountability and transparency. School boards are elected and answerable to their communities. Student outcomes are measured through state assessments, with results publicly reported. That’s real oversight — not a slogan.

And yes, we should care about what serves society as a whole. Public schools are a cornerstone of democracy and community life. They bring together students from every background to learn how to live and work in a diverse world. We need more of that — not more segregation and polarization.

Public schools are a public good, worthy of our investment. As John Dewey warned, “What the best and wisest parent wants for his own child, that must the community want for all of its children.” Any other vision, he said, “destroys our democracy.”

Prophetic words.