Do ESA vouchers really provide a better education for Arizona students?

Sharon A. Phelps

Submitted photo/Women's Watch

Submitted art/Women's Watch

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Imagine what Arizona public schools could do with an infusion of $1.1 billion in their budgets. These funds could make public schools stronger and better by supporting programs that have been shown to improve student outcomes. They could provide comprehensive teacher training, foster smaller class size, expand support services and improve the facilities that deliver them. Then perhaps our public-school ranking might rise above 49th in dollars spent per pupil and our state could be much better able to retain our valuable teachers and provide world-class education for all our graduating students in the public school system.”

OPINION — As a retired public-school educator, I have always been interested in the latest trends and challenges that are happening in public schools throughout our country. Most recently, I have been watching what has especially happened here in Arizona.

After listening to Superintendent Tom Horne and other legislators defend the use of Empowerment Scholarship Account vouchers as saving taxpayers money, I wonder if they are even listening to citizens on how they would like to see these precious dollars spent.

As I began my research on this topic, I learned some things I’ve always thought, and that supported my own personal opinion that ESA vouchers do not work. They also do not guarantee a better education for students who are removed from the public schools in an attempt to provide them with that better education.

It is my personal belief that high-quality public education has always been the foundation of a democratic society and will always be the key to economic success, providing college and career readiness for every student who graduates high school. It can help them become productive citizens who are ready to enter the workforce in the careers of their choosing.

I wonder how many taxpayers who are using the vouchers for their children can guarantee that this is what the vouchers are providing for their students?

A recent study by the Rand Corp. revealed that in 2011-12, Arizona had 144 students utilizing ESA vouchers. At that time, vouchers were used mostly for students with learning disabilities or special needs. Vouchers should always be an option for those parents.

After program expansion, vouchers can now be utilized by any Arizona family and enrollment has soared, with 105,103 students withdrawn from public schools and utilizing ESAs for 2026-27.

The dollars taken from the public education budget went from $2.2 million in 2011-12 to over $1.1 billion this school year. Even more alarming, an investigation by a local news station uncovered questionable spending of vouchers, with some used to purchase luxury items such as diamond rings and jewelry as well as out-of-state trips to San Diego and Las Vegas.

In addition, Education Forward reported in a new poll that recent state education decisions are out of step with Arizona voter priorities. In that poll, 91% agree the state’s future depends on a strong public education system that provides students with strong academic foundations that will prepare them for the workforce needed here. How can that be accomplished if we continue to gut the public education budget with reduced enrollments due to the accommodation for ESA vouchers?

In that same poll, 77% of voters were concerned about how taxpayer dollars are being wasted through ESA vouchers, and 86% support requiring annual independent financial audits to track the use of vouchers.

Are any of our legislators listening? This is not a partisan issue. It should be a concern to all taxpayers who are funding education for our students who will enter our complex workforce.

A September 2026 article in Newsweek reported additional data, stating that voter approval for private school vouchers is tanking throughout our country. The article suggests parents should check to see if they are getting a good return on their investment. Many private schools that accept taxpayer dollars do not conduct background checks on all their staff. Newsweek also learned that many private schools do not require teachers to hold bachelor’s degrees nor conduct standardized measurements of student achievement. These are all things public schools do.

So, the question remains, are Arizona students utilizing the ESA vouchers actually getting a better education than they would if they were attending public schools? By educating our students using vouchers we are diverting desperately needed resources from the public school system to fund education at private or religious schools that are not proven to improve academic achievement and that are not committed to the same national education standards committed to by our public schools.

Imagine what Arizona public schools could do with an infusion of $1.1 billion in their budgets. These funds could make public schools stronger and better by supporting programs that have been shown to improve student outcomes. They could provide comprehensive teacher training, foster smaller class size, expand support services and improve the facilities that deliver them. Then perhaps our public-school ranking might rise above 49th in dollars spent per pupil and our state could be much better able to retain our valuable teachers and provide world-class education for all our graduating students in the public school system.

Women’s Watch is a cooperative writing effort of the local chapters of the American Association of University Women, the League of Women Voters and the National Organization for Women. This piece was authored by Sharon A. Phelps, a retired high school media specialist and teacher. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to azopinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.