A common comment about the AZ voucher program is that “money moves with the student”. This is only partially correct. If a student moves from the public system to a private school, the voucher allocation is based on the amount the state pays for a charter school student, which is higher than the rate for one in a regular public school. Vouchers for students from public schools in wealthy districts that don’t receive state aid are a new cost for the state.
Many students in the program – 52% in 2024 – have been homeschooled or have always been in private schools. Therefore, the state has not been allocating money for their education in the past. Although the program was sold as a way to reduce costs, the vouchers for these students are, in fact, another additional
cost for the state.
In 2024, 53% of new education expenditures in AZ went to the ESA program, although 92% of AZ students are in public schools.
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Barbara Hall
Midtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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