Group drops effort to pass Arizona school voucher measure

Arizona’s school voucher debate has narrowed to a single ballot measure after Fortify AZ dropped its competing proposal. The group cited the collapse of a potential legislative compromise between House Speaker Steve Montenegro and education groups, including the Arizona Education Association (AEA) and Save Our Schools Arizona. Fortify AZ, backed by Stand For Children with $1.3 million in funding, will now focus on persuading voters to reject the AEA’s stricter initiative, which includes a $150,000 income cap for vouchers and restrictions on how funds can be used. The AEA’s proposal also requires private schools accepting vouchers to meet public school standards, such as educator background checks. It follows reports of parents using voucher funds for non-educational expenses like jewelry, lingerie, and amusement park trips. Backers must collect 255,949 signatures by July 2 to secure the measure’s place on the November ballot. Originally approved in 2012 for special-needs students, Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts expanded in 2022 to all students, including those already in private schools, ballooning enrollment from 12,000 to over 100,000 with a $1 billion annual cost. Fortify AZ’s withdrawn alternative lacked income limits and school regulations, leaving voters to decide solely on the AEA’s plan—though Republican lawmakers added a 'poison pill' measure. If approved by voters, this provision would trigger a court order to void the entire initiative if it affects military families’ ability to 'bank' unused voucher funds for future expenses, including college. The AEA did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but the group’s initiative remains the only voucher-related measure still advancing toward the ballot. The outcome hinges on voter approval and the potential legal challenge from the GOP’s added provision, which could derail the entire effort.