Arizona’s $1 billion ESA voucher program continues to spark controversy at home and across the country, as other states look to us as a cautionary tale of what not to do. We’ve heard story after story detailing chronic waste and abuse of our tax dollars in the voucher program, even as public school classroom educators dig into their own pockets for pencils and paper.
But when it comes to Arizona voters, there is widespread agreement and support for K-12 education—most of all that every child deserves access to a well-resourced, world-class education regardless of zip code or background. Arizonans agree that kids should be safe, kids should be learning, and our taxpayer dollars should be used wisely and transparently. Arizonans want to see their dollars go to pay raises for teachers and staff, as well as high-quality student supports so our children can have the quality education they deserve. And an overwhelming number of voters, of all political parties, agree that vouchers should go to the kids and families who need them most—not the wealthiest Arizonans who use them to send their children to private school.
It’s no secret that Arizona public schools have been defunded to the bone by our state legislature, where anti-public-school, pro-voucher lobbyists have whittled away funding for decades. At 48th in the nation in per-student spending, Arizona’s students collectively receive nearly $6 billion less than the national average each year. We hear it all the time from parents, educators, and students—they have to go without the resources, programs, and technology that their peers across the country have access to. Meanwhile, state lawmakers haven’t even begun talks to settle a lawsuit that could fix crumbling school facilities. Despite this dogged lack of support, Arizona educators prepare our students—all students—for success each and every day.
Public schools are the heartbeat of our communities. They are places where students and parents forge lifelong bonds; they are home to the community events, resource hubs, and sports that bring neighbors together. More than 90 percent of Arizona families choose public schools for their children, but we are losing these neighborhood choices as budget cuts force unprecedented school closures across our state. Since universal voucher expansion in 2022, thirty-nine schools across Arizona have closed. Vouchers are sold as “school choice,” but in Arizona, they are killing choices, especially for low-income and rural students.
This is why a coalition of parents and educators, represented by Save Our Schools Arizona and the Arizona Education Association, launched the Protect Education Act to rein in universal ESA vouchers. The Protect Education Act was written to uphold Arizona values, rooting out waste and abuse while preserving the program for the students who need it most—especially students with disabilities for whom the ESA program was originally intended. ESA parents, public school parents, educators, and community members are working side by side to ensure children’s needs as the highest priority, and must gather 256,000 valid signatures by July 2 to qualify the measure for the November 2026 ballot.
Arizona voters already rejected universal vouchers by a two-to-one margin in 2018, only to see lawmakers override their vote. This initiative puts power back into the hands of hard-working Arizonans who deserve a say in how our taxpayer dollars are spent. Once passed, this measure will be voter-protected, meaning that politicians won’t be able to tamper with the results down the road.
We are so proud to be doing this critical work, and hope you will join us.
