Arizona frees public money for private education

Gov. Doug Ducey of Arizona has signed into law sweeping changes in how state money can be used to educate students, making it easier for parents to enroll their children in private schooling at public expense.

The bill, which the state Legislature passed Thursday, makes all 1.1 million public school students in Arizona eligible for money from a program that until now was available only to some students, including those with disabilities and those in underperforming schools.

Under the law, parents who withdraw their children from public school can use their child’s share of state education funding to pay for private school tuition, home-schooling costs, tutoring and online education.

Democrats and teachers unions vociferously opposed the expansion, which they said would drain money from already underfunded public schools.

The law expands the use of money from the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program, known as an ESA. Unlike traditional vouchers, in which states pay private schools directly, ESAs allow parents to distribute public dollars for expenses.

This year, about 3,500 Arizona students, the majority of whom have special needs, are participating in the program. The average size of an account is $5,700 per year for children without disabilities and $19,000 for children with them. The funds are distributed via debit cards.