Arizona Department of Education
AZFEC Unites with Hobbs and the Radical Left in a Bold Assault on School Choice
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs is facing backlash for her stance on school choice amidst growing public support for educational freedom. Despite opposition in the recent elections, where educational choice became a pivotal issue, Hobbs remains committed to dismantling the existing frameworks supporting this initiative.
The state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, however, continues to thrive, boasting over 87,000 enrolled students. In response, Hobbs and her allies within teachers’ unions have turned to tactics that leverage mainstream media to amplify their anti-school choice agenda.
In early March, a significant criticism surfaced against Primavera, an online charter school catering to thousands of K-12 students in Arizona. This critique originated from Craig Harris, a journalist closely aligned with the Red4ED movement. He reported that Primavera had received a ‘D’ grade from the Arizona Department of Education for three consecutive years, alleging the school failed to meet the necessary academic standards to maintain its charter status.
Harris went further, questioning the financial success of Primavera’s owner, which added a layer of controversy to the discussion. Following this coverage, the Arizona Charter School Board promptly held a hearing to address the allegations. Within hours, they imposed the harshest penalty available—revoking Primavera’s charter, effectively sealing its fate.
While no one disputes the need for accountability in education, key details seem to have been lost in the media narrative. The response from the Charter School Board raises questions about the fairness of the process and whether the decision was influenced by external pressures rather than purely academic performance.
This unfolding situation highlights the ongoing struggle between the state government’s educational policies and the desires of parents and students for greater choice and quality in education.
