A new report reveals that children in low-income communities across Arizona benefit significantly from Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs).
- 100% Tuition Covered: More low-income families can afford private elementary school tuition thanks to Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.
- The average ESA award covers 100% of the median private elementary school tuition and fee rate in Arizona.
- The average ESA award covers 100% of the median private elementary school tuition and fee rate in Arizona.
- Helping Low-Income Communities: Empowerment Scholarship Accountsare the most popular in areas with overwhelmingly socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
- The three districts with the highest concentrations of ESA students in Arizona have child poverty rates over 38%–more than double the state average.
- The three districts with the highest concentrations of ESA students in Arizona have child poverty rates over 38%–more than double the state average.
- Helping Native American Families: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts are particularly valuable to families on Native American reservations.
- On reservations, per pupil public school spending can exceed $16,000 a year, yet up to 60-100% of public schools there are rated D or F by the State Board of Education. However, the average ESA award for students on reservations is less than half of that amount.
- On reservations, per pupil public school spending can exceed $16,000 a year, yet up to 60-100% of public schools there are rated D or F by the State Board of Education. However, the average ESA award for students on reservations is less than half of that amount.
- New Opportunities for Urban Communities: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts are transforming educational opportunities for families in low-income, urban communities.
- In FY 2019, Roosevelt Elementary School District—the Phoenix area school district with the single highest proportion of D- and F-rated public schools—saw more than 100 students participating in the ESA program.
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts are helping to give all students educational options that are geographically accessible and economically affordable.