Protect School Choice: One Arizona Mom’s Heartfelt Story

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)  

Americans have the God-given right—and the Constitutional right—to direct the upbringing and education of our own children. The U.S. Supreme Court affirms this fundamental right declaring that “the child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510 (1925) Pierce v. Society of Sisters | 268 U.S. 510 (1925) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center 

In Arizona, state law reads: “The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care and mental health of their children is a fundamental right.” (A.R.S. § 1-602) 1-602 - Parents' bill of rights; governmental interference restricted; burden of proof; definition  

Arizonans have the unique ability to direct the education of their children through one of the best school choice initiatives in the nation thanks to the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Arizona’s ESA program is a school choice initiative that gives families flexible funding to customize their child’s education. 

According to The Arizona Department of Education: “With the ESA program, the money that would pay for that student’s education in a neighborhood school follows that student to whichever school the parents choose for their child, including education at home.” Welcome to Empowerment Scholarship Account | Arizona Department of Education

America’s Women will be highlighting the positive ESA stories from families across Arizona in hopes of protecting the program’s intent. Here is one inspiring example from an AZ mom, in her own words:

How Arizona’s ESA Program Helped Our Family Continue Homeschooling   

“Homeschooling has always been an important choice for our family. It allows us to tailor our children’s education to their individual needs, interests, and learning styles in ways that a traditional classroom simply cannot. But like many families, we faced a season where continuing that choice felt uncertain.  

When my husband went through multiple surgeries, our family experienced significant financial strain. He lost his job and later started a new one that didn’t provide enough income to comfortably cover the costs of homeschooling—curriculum, materials, programs, and resources all add up quickly. We were faced with a difficult reality: without additional support, we may have had no choice but to enroll our children in public school. 

That’s when Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program made all the difference. 

Because of ESA funding, we were able to continue homeschooling during a time when it otherwise wouldn’t have been possible. Instead of being forced into a one-size-fits-all system, we could continue choosing the curriculum, books, and programs that best fit each of our children. Every child learns differently, and ESA has given us the flexibility to meet them where they are. 

Homeschooling with ESA has opened doors beyond traditional education. Our children have the opportunity to learn through real-life experiences—hiking in nature, visiting museums, and engaging in hands-on learning that brings lessons to life. They can move at their own pace, receive one-on-one attention, and explore interests that will shape their future paths and careers. 

We’ve also seen the impact of ESA in the lives of other families. Many parents of children with autism, ADHD, and other special needs now have access to therapies, specialized programs, and educational tools that were previously out of reach financially. These children are not just learning—they are thriving in environments that truly support them. 

For our family and so many others, ESA is more than just financial assistance. It’s an opportunity. It’s freedom. It’s the ability to provide our children with an education that fits who they are and who they are becoming. 

We are incredibly grateful for the doors ESA has opened and the future it continues to make possible for our children.” 

ESAs Are Under Siege: Easy Calls to Action 

There are thousands of other heartfelt ESA stories like this across Arizona. Right now, over 102,000 students are using ESAs to get the education that fits them best, with fraud rates as low as 0.3 percent. Meanwhile, Arizona public schools report that 60% of students aren’t proficient in reading, and 67% aren’t proficient in math—yet homeschoolers consistently score 15–25 percentile points higher than their public-school peers.   

Unfortunately, Arizona’s own Senator Mark Kelly has called the ESA program a “failed experiment” full of fraud, and is actively working against school choice, including pushing to repeal a new federal tax credit that would help even more families afford the education their children need.  

Adding to the Senator’s attack on school choice, two ballot initiatives are circulating that--if passed by voters in November, 2026--would disrupt the ESA program for many current families and add heavy burdens for those who remain.  

The “Protect Education Act”, which is funded by the National Education Association (aka Teacher’s Union), would impose a $150,000 household income cap on most families, require fingerprint clearance cards for teachers, tutors, and providers, and force mandatory testing and accreditation for ESA-funded schools.  To put the salary cap in perspective, a dual-income home of a firefighter and a nurse would not qualify for ESAs.

The “Reform & Accountability Act” would require background checks and fingerprinting for tutors and providers, add new spending restrictions, extra administrative and reporting requirements, and include curriculum oversight.  

These changes would strip away the flexibility the ESA was created to protect.  

Here’s how we protect what’s working for Arizona kids—three easy steps:  

1. DECLINE TO SIGN the overreaching ESA ballot initiatives when someone approaches you with a clipboard.  

2. Share this article with your family, friends, and networks so they understand why they should decline to sign too.  

3. Contact Senators Kelly and Gallego and respectfully ask them to stand with Arizona parents and students:  

4. Senator Mark Kelly: kelly.senate.gov/contact  

5. Senator Ruben Gallego: gallego.senate.gov/connect 

   
   

To find out more about the AZ ESA program, visit: Welcome to Empowerment Scholarship Account | Arizona Department of Education 

Every child is unique. Arizona families have the God-given and Constitutional right to freely choose the education that helps their kids thrive. Your voice matters!

With gratitude and hope,   Adrienne Johnson America’s Women Education Director