The governor’s proposal would rob students – especially minority students, the majority of whom live in under-performing public school districts – of the opportunity to receive the best education available.
Today, Concerned Communities for America (CCA) Executive Director DaQuawn Bruce issued the following statement urging Arizona state lawmakers to protect the state’s universal school voucher program after Governor Katie Hobbs proposed scrapping the program in her first budget.
Arizona lawmakers should reject the governor’s proposal to gut the state’s innovative and effective universal school choice program, which gives all Arizona children equal access to quality education. The governor’s proposal would rob students – especially minority students, the majority of whom live in under-performing public school districts – of the opportunity to receive the best education available.
The only ones who would benefit from scaling back school choice in Arizona are the teachers’ unions, who are among the governor’s most ardent supporters and biggest benefactors. Students, who are still recovering from the effects of COVID shutdowns that disproportionately hurt students in traditional public schools, would be the losers.
Arizona voters already made clear that they support the state’s universal voucher program. Last year, an effort by the teachers’ unions to subject the program to a voter referendum failed to even get on the ballot because the petition did not receive enough signatures. Lawmakers who represent the people of Arizona should keep this in mind, and reject the governor’s short-sighted proposal to eliminate this popular and effective policy.
Press release, 1/18/23
