Poll: Voters want accountability and transparency for Arizona's school voucher system

The Arizona Education Association, the labor union for Arizona public school educators, says voters want accountability and transparency for the state’s voucher system. AEA has released results from a survey of 800 likely voters statewide.

They say it shows voters back reforms to the state’s voucher program by more than a 2-1 margin.

AEA President Marisol Garcia said as state lawmakers prepare for the new legislative session, it’s time to pass meaningful voucher reform.

“The irony is that each one of the things we asked voters about that we think are extremely important have been bills that have never been heard and that have not crossed the finish line because they have not even gotten a hearing in the education committee," Garcia said.

Garcia said 67% of those surveyed say they would vote yes on a suite of policies to strengthen oversight of the school voucher program. She said that support extends across political parties, race, parental status and geography.

"Many voters didn't know that private schools do not have to fingerprint or background check educators in their school buildings," Garcia said. "In public schools, it is an essential first step to even be considered for hire."

Eighty-six percent of those who took the survey said they support changes that would require staff at qualified private schools to have a valid fingerprint clearance card. Seventy-three percent support changes that would restrict the use of voucher dollars to qualified educational expenses, including prohibiting luxury items.

“That scored very high with voters that this is ridiculous," Garcia said. "Public school teachers are buying colored pencils at the grocery store. Why would a parent need to access a diamond ring for educational purposes?”

Last year, 12News published a series of reports on voucher dollars that were spent on questionable purchases, like lingerie and jewelry.