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AZ’s Voucher-Funded Dune Buggy Boondoggle
🙄 On Monday, the State Board of Ed (SBE) was asked to uphold a parent’s appeal to use state voucher money to purchase 3 dune buggies for their 3 children [[link removed]] on the ESA voucher program, “citing her children’s need for interactive learning.” The ADE mistakenly approved the purchase, then attempted to reverse that approval — which she described as “crass incompetence.” The SBE made the right decision in this case, with only member Jenny Clark (who is a paid voucher lobbyist) voting to uphold the purchase, citing the broadness of legislation governing the voucher program. [[link removed]]
As Board President Daniel Corr said, “At some point, I think the question of reasonableness comes to mind. And this particular purchase, purchases, exceeds my definition of reasonableness.” Dune buggies can vary in cost, but typically cost thousands of dollars (or more), and are not aligned to state academic standards.
🔥 Roberts Scorns Voucher Misuse: As AZ Republic columnist Laurie Roberts pointed out, this “ Dune buggy boondoggle shows a crying need for better school voucher oversight [[link removed]] … A state board has rejected the ridiculous notion of Arizona taxpayers shelling out for dune buggies in the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program. But how did it get this far?”
“Good news for taxpayers, especially the ones who think public money ought to go to public schools. The state is drawing the line at paying for dune buggies. Kayaks, apparently, still are allowed as an acceptable educational expense under the state’s universal school voucher program, as are $900 Lego sets [[link removed]] , trampoline sessions, Broadway tickets and espresso machines. But isn’t it nice to know we absolutely are digging in our heels at the ridiculous notion of taxpayers shelling out for dune buggies? So far, anyway.”
“Save Our Schools Arizona has been sounding the alarm about the state’s runaway ESA program all year, pointing to more than $100 million in non-educational spending approved without any academic justification. Curiously, those fiscal hawks over at the Legislature had no concerns… If ever there was a case that illustrates the need for better oversight of ESAs — something the Republican-run Legislature refuses to consider — surely, this is it. It shouldn’t have taken a trip all the way to the state Board of Education to declare that you don’t need a recreational vehicle to chase down a good education.”
Full Weekly Education Report HERE [bit.ly/September1EdReport] .
AROUND THE HORNE
This week, in another attempt to distract from the ESA voucher program’s rampant waste, fraud, and abuse, Supt. Horne sent out a press release [[link removed]] bragging that the ESA voucher program couldn’t possibly be causing the state’s massive budget crisis because his department ended the year with a $4 million surplus. [[link removed]]
Horne’s deceptive messaging ignores the reality that Arizona legislative Republicans allocated nearly $650 million in the K-12 budget specifically for ESA vouchers — funding that is primarily used as a coupon by wealthier families who already chose (and paid for) private schooling. This massive new cost [[link removed]] has been labeled “the single largest cause of the financial shortfall” [[link removed]] by 12 News. In other words, Arizona is now spending hundreds of millions of dollars in new funds it doesn’t have for the universal ESA voucher program.
In fact, Horne’s own statement reveals a bitter truth: one in every ten dollars of state K12 funding now flows to an off-the-rails, unaccountable school vouchers program. Despite making up only 6.3% of Arizona’s student population, ESA vouchers now use 11.3% of state funding — nearly double the state per-student funding allotted to public schools.
A report from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee found that ESA vouchers amounted to about $718 million in state funding last year — $93 million more than what was originally projected. With approximately $500 million in new funding siphoned from local public schools to private schools with no oversight or accountability, it is hard to understand what Supt. Horne is celebrating.
SOSAZ ❤️s OUR VOLUNTEERS
#TeamSOSAZ volunteers are fired up and contacting thousands of voters every week! THANK YOU to these 🤩 Knockstars and 🤩 Callstars (see what we did there?) for putting in serious work to elect pro-public education candidates!
Don’t sit out — get in the game and make an impact on #Election2024. Find an event near you and sign up here: [link removed] [[link removed]]
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Sharon is among the West Valley’s best canvassers! She knocks doors in a neighboring district because she understands that electing a pro-public education legislature will benefit kids across the state. Thanks for knocking doors and connecting with voters, Sharon!
Want to learn about canvassing? Join us for our Sunday virtual training “What on Earth is ‘Canvassing’?” this Sunday at 3:00pm: bit.ly/Volunteer4PublicEd [[link removed]]
TAKE ACTION
🔥When we elect a pro-public school Legislature and school boards this November, it’s going to be because of everyone who stepped up and stepped out of their comfort zones to talk to voters. If you’ve been meaning to jump in and get involved, NOW is the time. We have 9 weeks left to make massive change for our state!!
Upcoming Canvasses Upcoming Phonebanks
Upcoming Canvasses
Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 1 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] Phoenix - LD 2
Tuesday, Sept 3 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Mesa - LD 9
Tuesday, Sept.3 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] Goodyear – LD 23
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] Maricopa – LD 16
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 6:00-8:00pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] San Luis & Yuma – LD 23
Friday, Sept. 6 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] [[link removed]]
Goodyear – LD 23 Marana Unified & LD 17
Sunday, Sept. 1 – 5:00-7:30pm Tuesday, Sept. 3 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] Phoenix - LD 2 REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Tuesday, Sept 3 – 5:00-7:30pm Scottsdale Unified & LD 4
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] + Maricopa Unified & LD 16
Mesa - LD 9 Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 5:30-7:30pm
Tuesday, Sept.3 – 5:00-7:30pm REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] Goodyear – LD 23 Deer Valley Unified & LD 2
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 5:00-7:30pm w/ Spanish calls
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] Maricopa – LD 16 Thursday, Sept. 5 – 5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 6:00-8:00pm REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] San Luis & Yuma – LD 23 Peoria Unified & LD 27
Friday, Sept. 6 – 5:00-7:30pm Tuesday, Sept. 10 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]] [[link removed]] REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Tempe Elem & LD 9
+ Maricopa Unified & LD 16
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Liberty Elem & LD 23
w/ Spanish Calls
Thursday, Sept. 12 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Unable to join a scheduled phonebank?
Access our Phonebank Hub [[link removed]] to make calls at your convenience!
Upcoming Phonebanks
Marana Unified & LD 17
Tuesday, Sept. 3 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Scottsdale Unified & LD 4
+ Maricopa Unified & LD 16
Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Deer Valley Unified & LD 2
w/ Spanish calls
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Peoria Unified & LD 27
Tuesday, Sept. 10 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Tempe Elem & LD 9
+ Maricopa Unified & LD 16
Wednesday, Sept. 11 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Liberty Elem & LD 23
w/ Spanish Calls
Thursday, Sept. 12 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Unable to join a scheduled phonebank?
Access our Phonebank Hub [[link removed]] to make calls at your convenience!
#Vote4PublicEd Volunteer Training Series
New to volunteering during an election? Ready to jump in and make a difference? Check out each of the topics for the 6-part series HERE [[link removed]] .
What on Earth is “Canvassing”? How to Knock Doors & Make a Serious Difference!
Sunday, September 1 – 3:00-4:00pm
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REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Up Next:
What the Heck is "Phonebanking"? How to Call Voters & Make a Serious Difference!
Thursday, September 5 -- 5:00-6:00pm
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SEE FULL DETAILS & REGISTER FOR UPCOMING EVENTS HERE [sosarizona.org/upcomingevents]
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Every dollar contributed to this fund will go directly towards electing pro-public education candidates up and down the 2024 ballot, from school board to the state legislature.
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Contact Us
[email protected]
Save Our Schools Arizona
PO Box 28370
Tempe, AZ 85285
United States
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