Prop. 305 imperils voucher funds for special-needs kids
I am a parent with two children on the autism spectrum utilizing the existing Empowerment Scholarship Account voucher system. The services provided under the current ESA program, which I fought for in 2011 and which were legally confirmed by the Arizona Supreme Court in 2014, are significantly threatened by Proposition 305.
I know that sounds counterintuitive to those of us currently accessing the voucher system for our special-needs children, but that is the reality. Like many parents using ESA, I did a lot of research and determined Prop. 305 was the wrong choice for families with special-needs children.
While ESA has worked effectively for our defined class, if expanded to all students, it will repeat the same problems we experienced before. There is a fallacy in the logic that what has worked for our small group will simply benefit more groups when expanded to everyone. Our specific benefits will be significantly diluted by the addition of a much larger population.
Basically, our children will again be placed at the back of the line.
Those in favor of Prop. 305 are exploiting our children to crack open the funding door for private religious education. Our children were paraded around as the justification for a voucher expansion for those seeking a private religious education.
ESA benefits will not go away for children with disabilities if Prop. 305 is rejected. However, if Prop. 305 is approved, it threatens the services presently provided to us, as the monetary incentive diminishes with more “typical” children availing themselves of ESAs.
I know from life experience that families of special-education children never have the same ability to compete for a spot in the line or on the same level playing field as families with typical kids, because we start out with less. Less time and energy after the extra care our kids require. Less money after paying for often-costly therapies not covered by various programs, and we generally don’t find private school staff members specifically dedicated to walking us through the process.
If backers of Prop. 305 wanted special needs, foster, and military kids to have preference, they would have written the law that way. They didn’t do so for a reason, and that reason is that they have no problem with us being pushed out.
Do not allow our children to once again be used by another group for their agenda. Vote No on Proposition 305.