Arizona school choice program survives union ballot measure challenge

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program remains intact after the Arizona Supreme Court blocked a union-backed ballot measure, Proposition 212. The measure, supported by the National Education Association with over $7 million in funding, sought to implement administrative restrictions and limit scholarship eligibility for high-income families.

The court's decision followed challenges regarding the validity of signatures collected for the petition. Investigations revealed that the petition effort failed to secure the required 255,949 valid signatures, partly due to the use of legally ineligible circulators, including felons.

Originally established in 2011 to assist students with disabilities, the ESA program has expanded significantly. Following legislation in 2022, enrollment grew from approximately 11,000 students at the start of 2023 to over 100,000 by early 2024. The program currently has a budget of $870 million and allows families to use state funds for private tuition, tutoring, and textbooks.

Observers note that the outcome in Arizona may influence similar educational policy debates in neighboring states, such as Utah’s Fits All Scholarship Program.