FREE ENTERPRISE CLUB: Democrats Must Tackle Public School Districts to Combat Fraud

By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |

As the 2025 legislative session commences, Arizona’s political landscape is heating up again, with Democrats targeting the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Under Governor Katie Hobbs’ leadership, this initiative has returned to the forefront of their agenda, highlighting a pattern of resistance to school choice.

Despite the recent political setback, where anti-school choice advocates struggled to sway public opinion, Democrats remain steadfast in their opposition. Over the past two and a half years, multiple attempts to dismantle the ESA program have failed, yet the party seems intent on revisiting these same arguments without adapting to the electorate’s preferences.

This latest push centers on claims of “fraud” within the ESA program. Proponents of the program note that instances of waste and abuse are minimal and argue that ESAs demonstrate greater financial accountability compared to other government operations. Nonetheless, Democrats persist in their allegations, with Attorney General Kris Mayes advocating for increased funding to probe alleged ESA fraud.

A critical question arises in this ongoing debate: if fraud is truly the concern, why not extend scrutiny to Arizona’s public school districts as well? For example, examining the Isaac Elementary School District (IESD) could yield valuable insights.