House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-AZ) isn't holding back after a union-supported group filed paperwork for a ballot measure that could dramatically reshape the state's school choice program.
Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) is being targeted, a program that gives families state money to pay for private school, tutoring, homeschool materials, and other educational expenses instead of attending traditional public schools.
The ballot proposes new regulations for the program, including income limits that cap eligibility for families earning under $150,000 a year, as well as additional safety standards, fraud-prevention measures, and academic testing requirements.
Montenegro called the ballot initiative a calculated move to shut down a program that union opponents haven't been able to kill through normal legislative channels. "The ballot campaign announced by ESA opponents has one clear goal: to strip parents of the freedom to choose the best education for their children," Speaker Montenegro said.
ESA Under Fire
Speaker Montenegro warned that if successful, the measure would dismantle Arizona's ESA program and force tens of thousands of students back into traditional district schools their families deliberately left behind.
The Speaker framed the issue as a clash between parental rights and institutional control. "This effort is not about accountability or improvement. It is a direct attack on parents—working families, military families, rural families, and families of children with special needs—who finally have options and refuse to give them up," he stated.
The ESA program operates differently from traditional public education funding. Any student in kindergarten through 12th grade can qualify, with no income limits. Most families receive between $7,000 and $8,000 annually, while students with special needs may get different amounts. Families can use these funds on state-approved educational expenses.
Furthermore, Montenegro referenced recent school protests that led to significant teacher absences across Arizona. "House Republicans built the strongest school choice program in the nation because parents, not government or union bosses, know what their children need," he continued.
Montenegro is vowing House Republicans will defend the program and ensure voters understand what's at stake before they cast their votes.
