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๐Ÿซ๐Ÿ’ธ๐Ÿ“Š๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ How students are faring in Arizonaโ€™s voucher program that could be adopted nationwide

๐Ÿค– AI Summary

๐Ÿ“œ Arizona introduced the nationโ€™s first universal school voucher program in 2022, called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA).

  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Enrollment has soared from 11,000 to over 90,000 students since the 2022 expansion, directing public funds to parents for private tuition or home education expenses.
  • ๐ŸŽ Parents find the funds allow them to curate a childโ€™s education to their specific needs and address concerns like bullying and safety in public schools.
  • โŒ There are no restrictions on who can accept the funds, meaning those with no teaching qualifications can receive taxpayer money.
  • โš”๏ธ Proponents argue school choice generates competition, which forces public schools to improve by motivating staff to do their best.
  • ๐Ÿšจ Critics cite a lack of guardrails in the nearly one billion dollar program.
  • โš–๏ธ Public school advocates demand private entities follow the same rules as public schools, requiring transparent accountability and acceptance of every student.
  • ๐Ÿ’ธ Instances of misuse have led to fraud convictions; critics argue funds should instead prioritize raising public school teacher pay in a state already ranking low in per-pupil spending.
  • ๐Ÿ”™ When private educational experiments fail, children often return to public schools behind in state standards, requiring more resources from the district.
  • ๐Ÿ’ฐ Despite universal intent, most early participants lived in higher income zip codes.
  • ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿคโ€๐Ÿง‘ School choice is seen as a source of polarization, leading to groups unplugging from community institutions like public schools, which is deemed not good for society.
  • ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ 18 states have since followed Arizonaโ€™s lead, expanding their voucher programs to be universal.

๐Ÿค” Evaluation

  • ๐Ÿ“‰ Comparison and Contrast
    • ๐Ÿ“‰ Unbiased research from the Learning Policy Institute and the Brookings Institution contrasts the goal of better education. Studies show students who switch from public to private schools using a voucher often experience significant losses in achievement on standardized tests, sometimes compared to the learning loss seen during the pandemic, according to the National Education Association (NEA).
    • ๐Ÿ’ต The programโ€™s nearly $1 billion cost is confirmed by external sources; The Education Trust reports this expense has exceeded estimates and equates to half of Arizonaโ€™s state deficit for the current fiscal year, shifting money from public schools.
    • ๐Ÿš” While the content notes fraud convictions, supporting sources like the NEA emphasize the systemic issue: private entities often face minimal to no financial or academic oversight, making the program uniquely vulnerable to abuse and fraud, as detailed by the Save Our Schools Arizona Network.
    • ๐Ÿ’ฐ The program primarily benefits families in higher-income and more educated areas, as confirmed by the Brookings Institution, which labels the universal ESA a handout to the wealthy because a majority of new recipients were already enrolled in private schools or homeschooling.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Topics to Explore for a Better Understanding
    • ๐ŸŽ“ The long-term effect on student attainment (e.g., college-going rates) for ESA participants, a metric often overlooked in achievement studies.
    • ๐Ÿ“ˆ Whether the influx of voucher money has caused private school tuition to rise, effectively diminishing access for genuinely low-income families.
    • ๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ An examination of policy safeguards adopted by other states to prevent universal choice programs from disproportionately benefiting the wealthy, a key finding from the Brookings Institution.

โ“ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

๐ŸŽ“ Q: What is Arizonaโ€™s school voucher program called, and what is the difference between a traditional voucher and an ESA?

A: ๐ŸŽ“ Arizonaโ€™s universal program is the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). ๐Ÿ’ก Unlike traditional vouchers, which are usually for tuition only, an ESA is an Education Savings Account. ๐Ÿ’ต It grants parents funds for a wider range of approved expenses, including private tuition, curricula, and various educational services.

๐Ÿ’ฐ Q: How much does Arizonaโ€™s universal voucher program cost the state annually?

A: ๐Ÿ’ฐ The ESA programโ€™s cost has grown uncontrollably since 2022 and is projected to cost the state about $1 billion this year. ๐Ÿ›‘ The Education Trust highlights this enormous expense as a significant contributor to state budget deficits, diverting funds from public schools and other essential public services.

๐Ÿ“š Q: Do school vouchers improve student academic performance?

A: ๐Ÿ“š No, a significant body of rigorous research indicates they donโ€™t. ๐Ÿ“‰ Studies, as summarized by the Brookings Institution, show students switching from public to private schools with a voucher often experience significant decreases in academic test scores in subjects like math.

๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป Q: Who is primarily using and benefiting from Arizonaโ€™s universal ESA program?

A: ๐Ÿ’ฐ The program largely benefits families who were already in private schools or homeschooling, according to the Learning Policy Institute. ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ป The Brookings Institution confirms that funds are disproportionately used by families in high-income areas, making the program a subsidy for choices they were already able to afford.

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