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Word on the Street: Arizona is the Gold Standard for Educational Freedom

Government and Politics

August 19, 2022

From: Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs

Arizona is the gold standard for educational freedom.

That's the consensus this week as Governor Doug Ducey, families, educators and community leaders celebrated the most expansive school choice initiative in the nation.

The landmark in Arizona's journey to the best state in the nation for educational choice ensures every student is empowered to attend any school that best suits their needs.

See what people are saying in the news and on the social media below:

Arizona Daily Independent: School Choice Advocates Celebrate ESA Passage
Long-time school choice advocates celebrated with Governor Doug Ducey as he signed a bill that opens the scholarship program to every K-12 student in Arizona. Ducey was joined by the bill’s sponsor, Rep. Ben Toma, at Phoenix Christian Preparatory School for the signing ceremony.

Arizona’s Family: Here’s how Arizona’s expansive school voucher system works
During his State of the State address in January, Gov. Doug Ducey said he wanted to bring sweeping school choice to Arizona families during his last year in office. Arizona currently has the most expansive education options in the nation, and once this latest education reform bill takes effect, it will have the most comprehensive voucher system.

Gov. Ducey held a ceremonial signing of the bill on Tuesday after the legislature passed it in June and it was signed into law last month.

City Journal: Putting Parents Back in Charge
Arizona governor Doug Ducey is brimming with optimism. The businessman-turned-politician has spent the past eight years campaigning for universal school choice—and he has finally achieved it. Today, the governor is hosting the signing ceremony for H.B. 2853, which will provide every family in Arizona with an “empowerment scholarship account” (ESA) and an annual $7,000 per child to take to any educational institution of their choice, including private schools, religious schools, and homeschool programs.

Washington Examiner: US students start academic year with 'massive gains' in school choice
Millions of schoolchildren across the United States are starting the academic year off with more access to school choice than ever before following hard-fought wins in courtrooms , state legislatures, and at the ballot box. 

Arizona, which has a long legacy of education freedom, is leading the way. The state has pioneered policies that expand school choice, including education savings accounts, state-backed private school scholarships, a growing charter school sector, and a thriving open enrollment policy. 

Deseret News: Opinion: Arizona created educational savings accounts for over 1 million kids. Can Utah?
Educational choice has been called the most important civil rights issue of our time. Last month, Arizonans started calling it the law of the land. Now, it’s time for the Beehive State to call it “the Utah way.”

Betsy DeVos
Thank you for putting students first, Gov. @DougDucey! A brighter future is now possible for so many kids in Arizona. I hope many more across America follow your lead!

Hugh Hewitt
Arizona, led by @dougducey, has made GOP “the party of parents,” and this is the way for every Republican. Democrats can’t break with teachers’ unions and the unions are wrong. Tax dollars should follow the students and their parents’ free choices on where they learn.

Christopher F. Rufo
Today, Arizona Gov. @DougDucey will sign the first universal school choice legislation in the nation, providing families with $7,000/yr per child to take to any educational institution.

Corey A. DeAngelis
Arizona will now fund students, not systems.

Jenny Clark
I never imagined four years ago when our family ended up on an Empowerment Scholarship that we would see a day where every Arizona child would become eligible. So many children are in desperate need of new educational opportunities and now that opportunity has arrived! #ESA4ALL

Love Your School
Thank you @DougDucey, Majority Leader Toma, and everyone who worked hard to expand educational freedom in Arizona! Universal ESAs are here and every family qualifies! Learn more about how to use this amAZing opportunity for your child here: https://bit.ly/3w7VGoj 

National Coalition for Public School Options
Thank you Governor @DougDucey and school choice advocates for helping to make educational freedom a reality for all children in Arizona. #ITrustParents

Goldwater Institute
IT'S OFFICIAL! SCHOOL CHOICE FOR ALL IN ARIZONA! Today, Governor @DougDucey held a signing ceremony for Goldwater's groundbreaking school choice bill—the most expansive school choice bill in the history of the USA!

Jason Bedrick
Arizona is now the gold standard for education freedom and choice. @ClarkRimsza of @iheartmyschool is currently thanking Gov. @DougDucey for expanding K-12 education savings accounts to ALL students at the ceremonial bill signing.

Center for AZ Policy
Signing ceremony for #ESA expansion to all Arizona students. Thank you ?@DougDucey? ?@RepBenToma? and #azleg