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School Choice in Arizona

Summary

Arizona has four private school choice programs (educational savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships). The state does have a charter school law, and it also enables public virtual schooling. Open enrollment exists, both for intradistrict and interdistrict public school choice.

Laws & Regulations Governing Private Schools

Constitutionality

Both tax credit programs and vouchers are school choice options for Arizona. The Arizona Constitution contains Blaine Amendment language in two separate provisions, but Arizona state courts have interpreted neither expansively. In Kotterman, the Arizona Supreme Court definitively upheld the constitutionality of tuition tax credits.

Given its strong adherence to federal precedent on Establishment Clause issues, the court is also likely to uphold a religiously neutral voucher program. It has already held that the state can contract with a religious organization for public services without improperly aiding the organization’s religious mission. In addition, the Arizona Supreme Court has viewed the “uniformity” language of its education article (Article XI, Section 1) as establishing a floor for adequacy below which districts may not go, but permitting programs that go further.

–Quote from the Institute for Justice (April 2007)

Legislative Updates

8/4/2009	2009 Legislation: Scholarship Tax Credit Proposals
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School Choice Programs

Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

Enacted 2011 • Launched 2011-12

Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program allows parents of children with disabilities to withdraw their children from public district or charter schools and receive a portion of their public funding deposited into an account with... Read More

Lexie’s Law Corporate Tax Credits

Enacted 2009 • Launched 2009

Arizona allows corporations to receive tax credits for donating to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships to children with special needs and foster care students. The total credits claimed statewide... Read More

Corporate Tax Credits for School Tuition Organizations

Enacted 2006 • Launched 2006

Arizona provides a credit on corporate income taxes for donations to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships. Corporate taxpayers contributing to STOs may claim a tax credit equal to the full amount of... Read More

Personal Tax Credits for School Tuition Organizations

Enacted 1997 • Launched 1997

Arizona provides a credit on individual income taxes for donations to School Tuition Organizations (STOs), nonprofits that provide private school scholarships. Individual taxpayers contributing to STOs may claim a dollar-for-dollar credit of up to... Read More

Research

A Guide to Understanding State Funding of Arizona Public School Students

1/19/2004

This study analyzes and explains Arizona’s school funding system. It finds that Arizona spends between $8,500 and $9,000 on each student in public schools, but students using private-school scholarships funded through the tax code receive only... Read More

News

10/15/2012	Education News \| Are Arizona’s Ed Savings Accounts a Model for Voucher Programs?
10/12/2012	Forbes.com \| Can Education Savings Accounts Level The Playing Field For All American Students?
10/11/2012	Heartlander \| New Report Labels Education Accounts ‘Way of the Future’
10/11/2012	Education Gadfly \| The Way of the Future: Education Savings Accounts for Every American Family
9/11/2012	Last Resistance \| Survey and Parents Say Public Schools Failing
8/27/2012	President's Comments: School Choice Still Rising with More States Coming on Board
5/21/2012	Education News \| Choice Advocates Cheer Arizona’s Voucher Expansion
5/15/2012	Arizona Governor Signs Groundbreaking School Choice Plan
5/15/2012	Heartlander \| Arizona Enacts Statewide School Choice Measure
4/6/2012	AP \| School Vouchers Spark Growing Court Fights in US
11/18/2011	America \| Where Credit Is Due
9/29/2011	Lawsuit Would Restrict Arizona Families' Educational Options
8/2/2011	AP \| School Voucher Bills Flood GOP-led Statehouses
7/30/2011	Enlow \| Friedman's Dream Unleashed
5/27/2011	Reed \| Jeff Reed on WSPD's Brian Wilson and the Afternoon Drive
5/5/2011	Forster \| Indiana Triple Play Delivers the Win
4/28/2011	Washington Times \| States Leaving Feds Behind on School Reforms
4/22/2011	EdIsWatching.org \| Hoosier School Reform Daddy?: Voucher Plan Advances, Bargaining Bill Signed
4/5/2011	Wall Street Journal \| Private-School Tax Break Is Upheld
4/5/2011	Orlando Sentinel \| Arizona scholarship program upheld by U.S. Supreme Court, advocates say it gives “wide discretion” to lawmakers who want more choice programs
4/4/2011	School Reform News \| Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Tax Scholarship Program
4/4/2011	Foundation Lauds U.S. Supreme Court Ruling on Arizona Tax Credit Program
2/28/2011	Why 2011 will be a Year of Growth for School Choice
12/7/2010	Christianity Today \| School Choice 2.0
9/2/2010	Enlow \| Robert Enlow on Lowman Henry's Newsmakers
3/25/2009	Statement by Friedman Foundation President Robert Enlow on Arizona Supreme Court ruling on Vouchers for Special Needs and Foster Children
3/1/2008	Federal Court Hears Challenge to Arizona Tax Credit Program
6/14/2007	Arizona Superior Court Judge upholds constitutionality of scholarships for disabled and foster children
6/21/2006	Arizona: Three more steps toward universal school choice
6/21/2006	Arizona : three more steps toward universal school choice
3/30/2006	Arizona enacts corporate tuition tax credit, expands educational freedom for second consecutive year
5/20/2005	Arizona Governor Vetoes School Choice
1/19/2005	New report brings transparency to arizona education finance