AZ Universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Expansion Has Arrived!
Securing parental rights in Arizona through school choice is paramount in our mission to replace indoctrination for academic achievement in our children’s educational careers.
With the passing and signing of HB 2853, Universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESAs) Expansion has finally arrived in Arizona.
This means, every Arizona family will now have access to 90 percent of the state's per-pupil education dollars (approximately $7,000) to use toward approved education-related resources including private school tuition, tutors, curriculum materials, public transportation commuter passes, and more!
HB 2853 will take effect on or around September 24, 2022, but, as stated in the bill, is retroactive to June 30, 2022, which means, when the bill becomes effective, ESA funds would be available for the beginning of the 2022-2023 school year. With HB 2853 ADE will receive more than $650M new dollars on top of the billions of dollars already provided through the Arizona budget. Universal ESA does not replace the current ESA program, but it does add another tier to it. Both programs will be administered by the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).
I am hearing from too many parents that under the leadership of the current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Kathy Hoffman, their applications are not being awarded within an acceptable time frame, and Hoffman has been vocal in her opposition to any form of school choice, with the old and tire argument that these funds are "taken away" from public schools.
The purpose of the education funding is not to fund the system, but the students!
I do not trust Kathy Hoffman to use these monies for their intended purpose. That is why it is so critical for Arizona voters to rally with my campaign to defeat my primary challengers on Aug. 2nd and Kathy Hoffman on November 8th. My administration will ensure that parents will receive a quick turnaround in receiving the monies from the state so families can choose how to educate their child in the best possible environment tailoring and customizing their children's education to fit their needs. I will work hard to make sure that the rules created for this program are through the eyes of the parents and not the government. Arizona parents are the ultimate authority and should be at the stakeholder table.
As your next Superintendent of Public Instruction, my commitment is to put students first and respect parents' educational choices. My job, in part, will be to ensure the AZ Department of Education works with you in directing the education of your child rather than being an obstacle in your way. Arizona is now the leader in school choice throughout the entire country. It is a timely passing of this bill, concurring with the time that we live in - a time for change. I will be thrilled and honored as head of a Department that is encompassing educational freedom and various learning option for our children.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result. Revolutionizing and modernizing a failing system is the only way to break away from failure and head towards success. It should be the goal of each and every one of us to give the promise of opportunity to every child. It is also time we see a healthy competition of academic institutions who will compete to be worthy of our children.
I am also very proud to be endorsed by Center for Arizona Policy Action who has been instrumental in delivering school choice to every student in Arizona. Their endorsement demonstrates I am the partner they want to oversee the program at the Arizona Department of Education because they know I am 100% committed to give every child in Arizona an opportunity to succeed.
God Bless,
Shiry Sapir
Candidate for Superintendent of Public Instruction
