Arizona union head for public school educators blasts ESA program before U.S. Congress

The head of a labor union for public school educators in Arizona blasted the state’s ESA program while testifying before Congress this week. The Senate committee hearing was focused on school choice.

Arizona Education Association president Marisol Garcia told the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee that Arizona's voucher program is a “bloated mess,” saying roughly a billion dollars a year is diverted from public schools to private hands.

"For low income families, vouchers often only offer the illusion of choice. Private school tuition in Phoenix has exceeded $20,000 a year, leaving families thousands of dollars short. Private schools can reject those students for any reason," Garcia said.

Garcia also pointed to reports of abuse and waste. Testimony from one supporter described school choice as an issue of educational plurality — a system designed to accommodate numerous models and pathways toward success.

The Trump administration recently announced its Education Freedom Tax Credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to Scholarship Granting Organizations. These SGOs can then fund scholarships for students at public, private or charter schools.