What Is ESA?

ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) is an Arizona program that allows parents to use a portion of their tax dollars to fund their children’s education the way they see fit. 

This gives Arizona families the freedom to choose the educational path that best suits their own children, including:

  • Homeschooling
  • Private Christian schools
  • Other specialized educational programs

ESAs Save Taxpayer Money

ESAs not only increase educational freedom, they also reduce costs for Arizona taxpayers.

Here are the numbers for AZ taxpayers according to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee:

  • Average public school cost per student: Nearly $16,000
  • Average ESA cost per student: About $7,500 

That means ESA students receive their education for less than half the cost of the public school system.

Why ESAs Matter for Christian Families

The Lord tells us to train and instruct our children according to His Word (Deuteronomy 6:4-9). This kind of discipleship is not separate from our children’s formal education–the two are intimately connected.

The public school system trains children to believe that they are cosmic accidents, that they descended from bacteria, and that their life does not have any inherent meaning. This kind of education could not be more opposed to the truth of the Scriptures and the biblical worldview we are to impart to our children. 

The biblical worldview teaches:

  • That God created all things
  • That every person is made in God’s image
  • That mankind has fallen into sin
  • That Jesus Christ came to redeem His people
  • That believers are set free to a new life of serving God and taking dominion

ESAs give Christian parents freedom and financial help to educate, and therefore disciple, their children in the truth of a biblical worldview. 

ESA is Under Attack

Despite all of the benefits, ESA is facing significant opposition.

Organizations such as the teachers unions and Save our Schools (SOS) are supporting efforts that could ultimately dismantle the program.

Supporters of these efforts often claim:

  • ESAs function as harmful “vouchers“
  • ESA spending lacks accountability
  • Fraud is widespread within the program (some have claimed 20% fraudulent spending)

However, according to figures reported by the Arizona Department of Education:

  • About 2% involves unallowable expenses
  • About 0.3% involves fraudulent spending

This means that 97.7% of ESA spending is used correctly. The numbers don’t lie. The program is functioning successfully for the overwhelming majority of participating families.

How You Can Help

1. Education is Key

Learn more about ESA and the fight to protect it.

The team at AZLovesESAs.com has created an excellent resource center covering ESA and the opposition it’s facing. 

2. Oppose Petition Efforts

Please oppose the ballot initiative. If you see someone at the grocery store collecting signatures, do not sign it. They will likely present it as a harmless effort to support schools or students in Arizona. Don’t fall for it. Decline to sign. Their long-term goal is not to improve ESA. Their goal is to weaken it and ultimately dismantle it.

If the ballot initiative is successful, Arizona families could lose one of the strongest school-choice programs in the nation.

By God’s grace, we won’t let this happen. You can file your formal opposition to the ballot initiative through Arizona Free Enterprise Club. 

Join us in the Fight

For the sake of our children, for the sake of freedom, and for the glory of God, let’s join together to protect ESA!