Parents Amplify Buying Power in Latest ESA Handbook Revision

Arizona lawmakers have proposed significant changes in a new draft of the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) handbook by eliminating price caps and broadening the list of permissible purchases. The draft has been submitted for review to the Arizona Department of Education.

The latest handbook iteration was crafted by three ESA parents, supported by legislators and undergoing legal review. However, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has indicated he will not consider this draft, preferring to adhere to the department’s established drafting process, which involves a committee of parents selected for their diverse representation.

“We had an elaborate procedure… They worked extremely hard over a long period of time and they came up with a good product,” Horne stated. “We can’t have random people throwing handbooks at us,” he added, emphasizing the importance of a structured review. The ESA Handbook is updated annually to reflect feedback from account holders, with final approval required from the State Board of Education.

The board has delayed handbook drafts twice, faced with objections from parents and lawmakers regarding proposals to set price limits on purchases like computers and vocational tools. Following the last draft’s return for revisions in April, Horne pledged to facilitate more parent input through town hall meetings.

Recent silence on the topic shifted after ESA parents, frustrated by the lack of progress, took matters into their own hands. Angie Faber, a co-author of the new handbook, revealed that several lawmakers approached her and Stacey Brown to assist in drafting a version that aligns with parental expectations.

This draft proposes removing any spending caps and allows expenses deemed “reasonably” educational. Faber asserted, “As far as we’re concerned, the cap is how much we have in our account… We should be able to utilize that funding how we see fit.”

Brown highlighted the extensive legal review the draft underwent, stating, “This is what parents need and want for their kids… There’s no reason for it to be rejected.”

Carbone supplemented this by noting that lawmakers acted as a resource to ensure the handbook meets parental needs. “We want a good ESA program. We want to be transparent. That’s all these parents are asking for,” he emphasized.

Despite Horne’s critique of perceived frivolous spending in the ESA program, he remains committed to collaborating with lawmakers. “I’m hoping we’ll come up with an agreement soon,” he remarked. As the drafting efforts continue, a pivotal town hall meeting is scheduled for June 10 to gather parent feedback, with the State Board set to review the handbook again on June 23, leading up to a July 1 adoption deadline.