Chuck Essigs News Today

It’s a topic of much debate: how much is the universal Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program costing the state versus how much is saving the state?

There are 48 “no state aid” districts in Arizona.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne claims the expanded school voucher program isn’t a drain on the state budget, even though it is projected to cost $100 million more than lawmakers planned for. Horne said the state’s overall education budget — which covers funding for  K-12 public schools, charter schools and the Empowerment Scholarship Account, or voucher

Research by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee shows that the state general fund pays out more for ESAs than it does to pay for a public school education.

Though changes could come soon, the state land trust will continue to pump substantial funds to public schools. Here's how the trust plan works.

Republican Rep. Matt Gress says he is looking into creating a bill that could allow school districts to join the state’s large health insurance pool to lower costs for teachers. But Gov. Katie Hobbs thinks her administration can accomplish the same goal administratively, without going through the Legislature.

Concerns for the district’s financial position have been shared by the Yuma County School Superintendent’s office, the Yuma County Treasurer and members of Antelope Union High School District’s (AUHSD) immediate

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott plans a special session on school choice as more states pass vouchers and Arizona's universal program sees costs explode.

Four states this year have passed laws allowing any parent to spend public dollars on private school tuition or other education expenses.

The Arizona Senate and House have overridden the aggregate expenditure limit for the second year in a row, which will allow school districts to spend their Legislature-appropriated funds. Gov. Katie Hobbs said the action was “long overdue” and called the limit from 1980 an “​​archaic cap on school funding.”