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AZ’s Voucher Drama Continues…
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¡Lea el Semanario en español! [[link removed]]
A new week, a new voucher scandal… or three? If there was ever a time to recognize that Arizona’s universal ESA voucher program desperately needs additional guardrails to keep students safe, prevent the waste and abuse of taxpayer funds, and stop the bleed from our neighborhood public schools, it’s NOW. [[link removed]]
The question remains: will Republican lawmakers stand up to special interests and do what is right for our kids? Or will they continue the status quo of grift, fraud, and safety violations in publicly funded private schools – while public schools of choice around the state are closed?
🐊 Florida man indicted for fraudulently using AZ vouchers: Once again, an ESA voucher recipient has been indicted for defrauding the state by applying for vouchers for multiple “ghost children” [[link removed]] — this time, he’s a fraudulent Florida man who isn’t even a resident of our state. Meanwhile, the Arizona legislature refuses to implement any additional guardrails to stop the fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.
😞 Lack of oversight in voucher-funded school leads to sexual abuse: ESA voucher-funded private school Dream City Christian (associated with Turning Point USA) is being sued for negligently ignoring signs of sexual abuse [[link removed]] . The family of the victim is suing the school, along with school leaders. The lawsuit states, “They did nothing to stop him. Pineda was never disciplined, fired, or given additional oversight, which led directly to the foreseeable criminal conduct resulting in significant harm.” All Arizona kids deserve to be safe in their schools.
Unlike public schools in Arizona, which must conduct background checks on all teachers and staff and have safety protocols in place for situations like this, as well as due process rights for families and a review process through the State Board of Education, ESA voucher-funded schools are not subject to any safety oversight, and families have no rights to due process. The school has taken in $2 million in taxpayer-funded ESA voucher funds [[link removed]] so far in 2025.
Meanwhile, the AZ legislature refuses to impose any safety measures or guardrails in the voucher program. Kids will continue to be hurt until protective laws are put in place.
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Vouchers leading to more school closures: A “rise in school vouchers” is once again forcing public school closures — now in Amphi schools, [[link removed]] one of Tucson’s most historic districts. Amphi is considering shutting down up to 5 elementary schools in its boundaries at the end of this school year.
Amphi schools are losing $13.7 million a year to vouchers in their boundaries — and ~87% of Amphi’s voucher students never attended public schools [[link removed]] .
This comes as the Kyrene school district is considering shuttering nearly one-third of its schools [[link removed]] . It’s worth noting that Kyrene schools are losing $12.1 million a year to vouchers in their boundaries — and 73% of Kyrene’s voucher students never attended public schools. [[link removed]]
Find out how much funding your school district is losing to vouchers here 👉 bit.ly/VoucherDrain [[link removed]]
School closures cause great harm to kids, families, educators, and communities — but because the AZ legislature has chronically underfunded public schools and is now siphoning $1 billion to private schools, [[link removed]] closures are being forced onto communities against their will.
READ THE FULL WEEKLY EDUCATION REPORT HERE [[link removed]]
LEA EL SEMANARIO EN ESPAÑOL [[link removed]]
Congressional Corner
❓What a shutdown means for schools: By forcing a government shutdown, Republicans are causing chaos for students and families across the US, leaving them without critical resources. Here’s a great explainer [[link removed]] . The l onger the shutdown lasts, the more severe the impacts are for schools [[link removed]] ; a prolonged government shutdown could have major consequences for Arizona students, educators, and schools.
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❓What schools stand to lose in this budget:
Congress and the White House have released not one, not two, but three competing funding packages for the nation's K-12 schools in fiscal year 2026 [[link removed]] (which began this week on Oct 1st). Two of those three proposals — from the White House and House Republicans — would impose steep cuts on some of the United States' most vulnerable students and disadvantaged school communities.
* President Trump's proposed budget [[link removed]] would cut U.S. Department of Education funding by 15%. It would eliminate all funding ($1.3 billion) for English language learners and migrant students. It would also cut $4.5 billion from 18 programs — including help for rural schools, civics education, at-risk youth, and students experiencing homelessness.
* The House Republicans’ proposal [[link removed]] would push for even deeper K-12 cuts, notably a $4.7 billion reduction in Title I funding that supports schools in low-income communities.
* The Senate’s proposal [[link removed]] would make minor cuts but largely maintain funding for public schools.
How would these cuts impact YOUR local school district?
👉 Use this NEW tool [[link removed]] to find out! 👈
Find out how much YOUR school district stands to lose! [[link removed]]
🚨There’s Time to Stop These Cuts! The House and the Trump administration's proposed $12 billion in cuts to public education [[link removed]] would be a devastating blow to America’s students. We must all speak up and demand that Congress reject these cuts and protect our children’s futures. Find out how much YOUR school district stands to lose! [[link removed]]
👉Use our one-click email and call tools to tell Arizona’s members of Congress to STOP K-12 education cuts TODAY!
SEND AN EMAIL - STOP K12 CUTS [[link removed]]
CALL YOUR REPS - STOP K12 CUTS [[link removed]]
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Stop the MAGA Civics Takeover
👀 What is “Patriotic” Education, Anyway?: The Trump administration’s US Dept. of Education (US ED) has announced [[link removed]] a new MAGA-driven “patriotic education” curriculum [[link removed]] initiative that it plans to force into classrooms across America. This is being pushed by a civics education coalition of more than 40 partner groups, all of which are closely aligned with the president’s MAGA, extremist movement [[link removed]] — including PragerU, Moms for Liberty, the Heritage Foundation, Turning Point USA, ALEC, the Goldwater Institute, and Stephen Miller’s American First Legal. Now, US ED says it will provide discretionary grants to schools that promote ‘patriotic’ education.”
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There are only 2 more weeks for public comment, so we must speak up NOW.
Use our easy email tool to send a message to AZ members of Congress and the US Dept. of Education 👉 bit.ly/NoCivicsTakeover [[link removed]]
👉 Then ALSO submit a comment on the federal register HERE [[link removed]] .
2025 Elections Spotlight
Many Arizona school districts have critical elections on the ballot in 2025 [[link removed]] — and we need you to get involved to spread the word to vote YES! Across Arizona, 35 different school districts are going out for special bond, override, and budget increase measures to ensure local funding for schools so that students and educators can have the resources they need to be successful and safe.
In many areas, these special elections are “mail only,” meaning your ballot will come in the mail , and you should return your ballot by Oct. 28 to make sure it counts! We encourage you to Vote YES on all school funding measures! Arizona students and educators are counting on you.
sosarizona.org/vote-yes-2025 [sosarizona.org/vote-yes-2025]
Find out if YOUR local school district will have a school Bond or Override measure on their ballot here 👉 sosarizona.org/vote-yes-2025/ [[link removed]]
LOOK UP BOND & OVERRIDE ELECTIONS [[link removed]]
Join Us!
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📚Banned Books Week Panel 🔥 Join us this Monday in Tempe [[link removed]] for a panel discussion featuring local educators, librarians, and activists on the front lines of the growing movement against book bans, in our own communities and across the nation. Hear how book bans are impacting local schools and libraries and learn how you can take action.⁠
Whether you're a concerned parent, student, teacher, or reader, you'll leave with practical tools, powerful insights, and resources from local organizations to help defend the freedom to read. Speakers include representatives from SOSAZ, ACLU AZ, and the American Library Association's Policy Corps.⁠
Monday, October 6⁠ @ 7pm⁠
Changing Hands Tempe⁠ – FREE EVENT⁠
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💥☎️ Register Voters on Thursdays! Want to help new voters? Join us [[link removed]] for a virtual phone bank every Thursday from 4-5:30 pm to help voters get registered! Training is provided — all experience levels are welcome!
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
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💥📲 Help Call Young Voters! Join a coalition of Arizona youth organizations to make critical calls to Gen-Z voters! From voter registration to bond & override elections, we will be engaging young voters from across the state. No experience necessary, all training will be provided. Join us Wednesdays via Zoom. Register to make a difference and share with your friends!
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
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💥💻Join our Deep Canvassing Team! Learn all about deep canvassing and how to have meaningful conversations with swing voters. Deep canvassing focuses on listening and connecting with voters to understand their concerns, questions and perspectives on public education. Our Knock & Talk Deep Canvasses are off and running! Sign up for one of our interactive virtual trainings so you can be part of this incredible team of changemakers.
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
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💥📚 From Page to Power: A Justice-Focused Book Club by Save Our Schools Arizona Network! Join us virtually on Sundays, October 19 & November 16 from 4-5 pm to discuss “The Privateers:: How Billionaires Created A Culture War and Sold School Vouchers” [[link removed]] by Josh Cowen! No pressure to finish the book — just come for the conversation. Let’s read, reflect, and build power for Arizona’s public schools! Sign up to get the Zoom info!
🎉 EXCITING news 🎉 The author, Dr. Josh Cowen, will attend the Oct. 19th meeting to launch the book club discussion — sign up [[link removed]] ASAP as space will be limited!
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
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⛰️Northern Arizona Inclusive Schools Summit: Join our friends at JustSchools for an Inclusive Schools Summit for Northern Arizona! The event is for teachers and school staff, trusted adults and parents, and youth. Every attendee will get 3 workshops, networking, and a youth panel with a keynote speaker. Lunch is included and the event is FREE!!
REGISTER HERE [[link removed]]
Support SOSAZ
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Our newsletters don’t write themselves! Support our work by becoming a paid subscriber to Save Our Schools Arizona’s Substack [[link removed]] . A monthly or annual donation of any amount helps to keep the lights on at the Weekly Education Report so we can provide you with the latest news in education week after week.
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Contact Us
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Save Our Schools Arizona
PO Box 28370
Tempe, AZ 85285
United States
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