Arizona parents, teachers prepare to collect signatures to get school-voucher reform on the ballot

A grassroots coalition of Arizona parents and educators filed the final text of a school voucher reform initiative with the secretary of state this week.

That was the final step before volunteers can start collecting signatures in order to send the issue to voters.

They need 255,000 signatures by July 2 to get the “Protect Education Act” on the ballot.

Nicky Indicavitch with Save Our Schools Arizona said the initiative would add safety requirements for voucher-funded schools, like the background checks and fingerprint cards that are required at public schools.

“I'd like to see student safety taken seriously in the voucher program the way that our public schools do by requiring that basic background check on an adult that's going to be around a young person, especially when it's taxpayer funded," Indicavitch said.

The initiative also adds an income cap for the program and bans the use of voucher funds for non-educational or luxury items.

"It's going to give taxpayers in Arizona some peace of mind that the dollars we send to educate young people in the state of Arizona don't get spent on things that are wildly inappropriate," Indicavitch said. "You know we've all seen the reports recently about diamond rings, gift cards, expensive trips, [and] lingerie."

They plan to start collecting signatures as soon as possible.

"We are very anxious just to get our hands on petition sheets," Indicavitch said. "The second that those come off the printer we will be getting those launched out to communities across the state."