Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee says Empowerment Scholarship Account marketplace platforms must be updated and improved to protect taxpayer dollars.
The Treasurer’s Office is responsible for managing the contract with the financial platform vendor that operates the portal ESA parents use to submit reimbursement requests and process payments for allowable expenses.
In a statement Thursday, Yee said she’s requested information to see if there’s another platform that can provide ESA families with funds efficiently, while also identifying any misspending or misuse.
It’s a change in tone for Yee, who’s challenging fellow Republican Tom Horne by running for state Superintendent of Public Instruction this fall.
When she launched her campaign last year, Yee criticized Horne for denying reimbursement for ESA purchases that Horne said weren’t academically justified.
KJZZ reached out to Yee's office for comment on the change in tone. She did not respond.
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