During the Spring 2022 semester, I had the opportunity to work as a legislative intern for the Arizona Department of Education. While working there, I came into contact with various issues revolving around public education. However, these issues were nothing compared to the pressing issue of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). ESAs allow state funding to follow a student to whichever school they choose - public schooling, private schooling, or homeschooling. The most significant debate surrounding this issue is whether or not the legislation was created with the intent to help students in their educational pursuits. I noticed that many left-leaning legislators had it in their minds that right-leaning groups supported this legislation with the intent of giving private schools public money. However, right-leaning supporters claim that ESAs are intended to assist needy students when public schools cannot meet their needs. I wanted to pursue my thesis on this topic because as an intern I always wondered which group was correct.
Details
- What is the intent behind ESA expansion in Arizona?
- Barton, Amelia (Author)
- Lennon, Tara (Thesis director)
- Strickland, James (Committee member)
- Barrett, The Honors College (Contributor)
- School of Politics and Global Studies (Contributor)
- Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch (Contributor)