Prop. 305 isn’t about poor kids, bad schools

Anyone who thinks that Gov. Doug Ducey’s expanded voucher program is aimed at helping poor kids escape failing public schools, raise your hand. Anyone?

If you’re buying the Prop. 305 argument that creating a universal voucher program is about helping poor and middle-income kids escape bad schools, make sure you read Republic reporter Rob O’Dell’s latest analysis of who is using state money to pay for private school.

And as importantly, who is not. Here’s a hint: It isn’t the poor kids and the parents seeking to help their children leave failing schools.

O’Dell’s analysis shows that nearly 70 percent of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (read: vouchers) are being used by students leaving wealthier A- or B-rated school districts.

Only 7 percent of ESA money is being used by students leaving districts rated D or F.

Yet Ducey and the Republican-run Legislature have repeatedly expanded the voucher program, which began in 2011 to allow children with disabilities to attend the school best suited to address their special needs. Since then, it has been broadened to include a variety of categories of children, including those who attend failing schools.

In 2017, our leaders expanded the ESA program yet again, decreeing that any child should be able to snag public funds to put toward private school but capping the program (for now) at 30,000 students by 2022.

An earlier Republic analysis showed that 75 percent of ESA money was going to help suburban kids get out of wealthier, higher-performing school districts. The top districts being “escaped” with a little help from taxpayers: Mesa, Tucson, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler and Peoria.

That 2017 expansion is now on the ballot, thanks to a referendum campaign launched by a group of women who formed Save Our Schools Arizona.

A vote for Prop. 305 would allow voucher expansion to take effect. A vote against Prop. 305 would kill the expansion plan.

Jenny Clark, spokeswoman for the pro-305 Yes for Ed, told O’Dell his analysis shows that parents just aren’t aware of the ESA program.

Because if they were aware, suddenly poor and middle-income students would miraculously be able to use a $5,000 public voucher to attend a $10,000 private school?

Because if they were aware, suddenly their parents would be able to drive them across town to get to the better private schools?

Our leaders say it’s all about providing “choice,” never mind that par-

ents already have a variety of choices — from open enrollment in public schools to charter schools to tax-funded private-school scholarships.

“Prop 305 is fiscally responsible, improves accountability and transparency, prioritizes low-income students and families and does not raise taxes,” Ducey told reporters last week. “When parents have options, kids win.”

Well, some kids, anyway. More likely, if Prop. 305 passes, Arizona will end up with two distinct educational systems.

A well-funded private system for the suburban kids whose parents can

A vote for Prop. 305 would allow voucher expansion to take effect. A vote against Prop. 305 would kill the expansion plan.

afford to pay tuition, with a little help from taxpayers.

And an underfunded public system for the poor and middle-class kids whose parents cannot.

Remember the old separate but equal argument?

Prop. 305 is more about separate and shameful.