04.17.14 Daily News Clips – morning edition

Tweet of the morning

‏@RebeccaSibilia: Indeed! RT @ericlerum: Now this is interesting. @SenWarren thinks public ed system needs a shock. #schoolchoice http://bit.ly/1te6ZEd

American Federation for Children

Ariz. Legislature passes bill allowing small businesses to provide scholarships for low-income children

http://federationforchildren.org/articles/882

Arizona School Choice

Wall Street Journal: Schooling on a 'Debit Card'

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304819004579490120210688350?KEYWORDS=school+choice&mg=reno64-wsj

National School Choice Week kicks off TONIGHT!

The official kick-off celebration will begin at 5:30 p.m. PST in Phoenix, kicking of a 14-city whistle-stop train tour in support of educational choice. 
 
More than 7,000 families from across Arizona are expected to take part in the event, which will feature speeches from Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Graham Keegan, and many other educational choice advocates and students. 

The event will conclude this evening with a private concert from the Jonas Brothers.

Over 3,500 events are planned across the country in conjunction with National School Choice Week. 

Click here to find events near you!
 

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, KMS

Strong Push for Accountability in Arizona School Choice Program

When Arizona enacted the nation’s first-ever education savings account program in 2011, parents and advocates celebrated another educational choice option for parents of children with special learning needs.

Now that the program has been greatly expanded this year to include children in failing public schools, children of military personnel, and children who are or have been in foster care—that’s an increase of hundreds of thousands of students students in the state who are eligible to participate in the program—both the state legislatures and other educational choice advocates are working to increase accountability measures in the program.

Under the original law, the program met two of eight accountability checks. The Alliance for School Choice measures the level of accountability in programs, and the program originally qualified in the following areas:

• Administrative: schools who accept a student using an ESA account must not discriminate
• Financial: allow the state to conduct annual audits via a random sample

 The Arizona Department of Education and the Goldwater Institute are working to increase accountability measures in the program—a positive step forward for the program.

The Goldwater Institute is pushing for legislation that would allow the Department of Education to conduct random quarterly and yearly reviews of accounts, establishing online and hotline fraud reporting services, and establishing a surety bond or insurance for account holders.

Victories for Educational Choice

Across the country, Democrats and Republicans who support expanding educational choices win elections

Voters in the 2012 elections sent a clear message: they were going to support candidates who stand for educational options and strong reforms.

The American Federation for Children and its affiliated organizations endorsed more than 180 candidates who won their elections.  But beyond the Federation’s election work, education reform played a strong role in this year’s elections.

Here are the highlights from the 2012 elections:

• Georgia voters pass Amendment 1 to the state constitution, which will allow a key charter school authorizing committee to allow more charter schools to operate in the state.  Thanks to voters in Washington, the state became the 42^nd state to allow charter schools, beginning the trend toward creating strong educational choice in the Evergreen State.

• Indiana elected Mike Pence—a strong supporter of private school choice—to the Governorship.  While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives, Pence supported the only federally-funded voucher program for students in Washington, D.C.

• All of the 10 candidates running in general elections in Arizona that were endorsed by the American Federation for Children won on Tuesday, including Rep. Kimberly Yee (R) and Rep. Barbara McGuire (D), both of whom won state senate seats.

• In Florida, a strong bipartisan coalition was elected or reelected with a mandate to expand educational options, including Representatives Bruce Antone (D), Cary Pigman (R), and Katie Edwards (D) and Senators Darren Soto (D) and Kelli Stargel (R).

• Tennessee voters elected a bipartisan coalition of members from the across the state, including Rep. John Ragan (R) and Rep. Tim Wirgau (R), as well as Dr. Steve Dickerson (R), who won a state senate seat. 

• In Ohio, House Democrats Bill Patmon and John Barnes were reelected, and in Wisconsin, Senator-Elect Rick Gudex provided a key victory by defeating Sen. Jessica King, who routinely criticized educational choice and Gudex’s support for it in candidate forums, thereby helping to flip the Senate and give a majority to educational choice supporters in the chamber.

 - American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Where do the Candidates Stand on THIS Form of School Choice?

With the election just around the corner—and school choice playing a big role in the debates—President Obama and Governor Romney have similar views when it comes to school choice (except, that is, on vouchers).

We’d like to know where the candidates stand on another form of school choice that often does not get the coverage charter schools, voucher programs, and scholarship tax credit programs do: Education Savings Accounts (ESAs).

ESAs—the newest form of school choice—currently exist only in Arizona, which created the program in 2011 and significantly expanded it in 2012.  Under the program, students with disabilities, children attending failing public schools, children who are in or have been in foster care, and children of military personnel are eligible to receive their education funding dollars in accounts.  These dollars can be used on a variety of educational tools including, tuition to public or private schools, textbooks, educational therapies, and college courses.

On Forbes.com, James Marshall Crotty argues the free market view in support of these programs.  But ESAs are not the new frontier of school choice because of free market ideals, but rather because these programs give parents real choice in personalizing their children’s education.

Arizona State Senator, Rick Murphy, who sponsored the 2012 legislation that expanded Arizona’s program said, “ESAs…give parents the flexibility to fill in their children’s learning gaps with specialized services, like tutoring or online courses.  There’s not any other tool that allows parents to do that.”

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Setting the Record Straight

The conversation about school choice has been making the rounds in national media lately, following Mitt Romney's inclusion of a voucher proposal in his recently-unveiled education plan, large expansions in Louisiana and Arizona, and the creation of new programs in places like Virginia and the aforementioned Bayou State.

It has all resulted in a crush of media attention, all of which has not been accurate, fair, or unbiased.

Instead of focusing on the evidence showing the benefits of school choice, many editorial boards and reporters have taken to conveying many of the common myths of school choice. But our resident myth-buster, senior advisor Kevin P. Chavous, has made short work of their claims in exposing the truth about choice.

In fact, here’s what Kevin wrote in yesterday’s Boston Globe, in response to a Globe editorial earlier this month:

The Globe’s June 2 editorial “ Romney’s education plan offers serious, debate-worthy proposals” strongly mischaracterized current voucher programs in Milwaukee and Washington, D.C., as yielding “unimpressive results.” The evidence of success of these programs can be clearly seen in the graduation rates of participating students.  

The D.C. voucher program is especially impressive on that indicator. The US Department of Education evaluation of the program found that students who used the vouchers graduated at a rate of 91 percent, more than 30 points higher than the graduation rates of D.C. public school students. An evaluation of the Milwaukee program also found higher graduation rates, and that students are more likely to enroll and persist in a four-year college than their public school peers. 

Furthermore, the D.C. voucher program boosted student reading scores, and students in the Milwaukee program showed improvement in both reading and science. 

For thousands of low-income families across the nation, school choice is a lifeline that rescues children from failing schools and struggling districts. As the bipartisan coalition supporting these initiatives expands, it’s important that politicians, parents, and citizens have a clear picture of the benefits of choice for families in need.

But that's not all. Kevin has also published responses to unfair stories in the New York Times and in a local Louisiana publication in response to a recent Reuters piece about the expansions in Louisiana. He's also worked feverishly to respond to a host of other stories that have appeared in recent weeks, and we'll be sure to share those with you when they're published, too.

Facts Fall to the Wayside in Today's New York Times

After reading Stephanie Saul’s attack on scholarship tax credit programs in today’s New York Times, it would be easy to see how a person could come away being weary of the programs. But that's before one considers something that's conspicuously missing from Saul's story: the facts.

Saul highlights the Georgia Scholarship Tax Credit Program—making the Georgia program sound like the pith of the ten scholarship tax credit programs across the nation.  The program serves approximately 8,131 students (which Saul fails to report)—or only 6.3 percent of the 128,792 students who participate in private scholarship tax credit programs.  Thus, the Georgia program only represents a small minority of scholarship tax credit programs nationwide.

She also fails to mention the programs in Indiana, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Rhode Island, instead only making reference to Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

Some of those other states might have been helpful in showing some context.

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, for example, serves nearly 40,000 students, yet the program is hardly mentioned in the story.  In fact, Saul does not mention the flagship program until the 16th paragraph, where she writes:

Some states have moved to tighten restrictions after receiving complaints.  In Florida, where the scholarships are strictly controlled to make sure they go to poor families, only corporations are eligible for the tax credits, eliminating the chance of parents donating for their own benefit.  Also, all scholarships are handled by one nonprofit organization, and its fees are limited to 3 percent of donations.  Florida also permits the scholarships to move with the students if they elect to change schools.

This “positive” aspect of the Florida program is shrouded in negative light.  A more balanced way of talking about the program:

The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, created in 2001, serves nearly 40,000 students in the 2011-12 school year.  To be eligible for the program, students must qualify for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program—which in 2011 would require a family income of not more than $41,348 for a family of four.  The program has also been the subject of numerous students from both independent evaluators and the state.  

Support for School Choice: Polling of Likely Voters in Battleground States

The American Federation for Children and the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options led a poll on support for education and school choice in five battleground states.  President Obama and Mitt Romney will be fighting to win Arizona, Florida, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Nevada—all important states in electoral college math.  This survey shows that both should not only make education a major part of the campaign, but should also pay attention to support of school choice among Latino voters.

Beck Research, a Democratic-leaning polling firm conducted a survey of support for school choice across five states from April 17-22.  Surveying 750 likely voters with 117 Latino likely voters, the poll found overwhelming support for school choice.

Education is a top tier issue for battleground voters and Latinos.

Breakthrough Victories: A Legislative Update

The Wall Street Journal called 2011 “The Year of School Choice,” and we think 2012 is the year for breakthrough victories for children, the theme of the American Federation for Children’s third annual National Policy Summit, held earlier this month.

So what have been the breakthrough victories in 2012?  Thanks to the hard work of advocates, parents, elected officials, and many more, there are 29 private school choice programs across the nation.  And already in 2012, two new programs were created in Louisiana and Virginia and four programs were expanded in Arizona (which expanded two of its programs), Florida, and Louisiana.

Arizona

Expanded Program: Governor Jan Brewer yesterday signed legislation expanding the Education Savings Account Program.  Created in 2011, the ESA program allowed students with disabilities to use 90 percent of the state funding, taking into account grade and disability to use on a variety of educational tools including tuition, fees, testing, tutoring, and educational therapies.  With the newly enacted expansion, students attending a school or school district rated “D” of “F,” children of U.S. Military personnel, and children in foster care now qualify for the program.  ESAs are considered to be the new frontier of school choice as the program allows parents to decide how to use their child’s education dollars.

Expanded Program: In February, the Grand Canyon State also expanded the nation’s first scholarship tax credit program by doubling the amount that donors can contribute to Scholarship Tuition Organizations.  Under the expanded program, individuals can donate up to $1,000 and married couples can donate up to $2,000.  In 2011, the program was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Louisiana

Expanded Program: Last month, Governor Bobby Jindal signed the sweeping statewide expansion of the Students Scholarships for Educational Excellence into law.  The expanded program will allow students from low-income families attending persistently failing schools to attend the public or private school of their parents’ choice.  Passed with bipartisan support, House Bill 976 gives priority to students attending schools rated “D” or “F.”  It is estimated that as many as 380,000 children in Louisiana will be eligible to participate.  Originally created in 2008 for students in Orleans Parish, the program currently serves nearly 2,000 children.

Help Education in Arizona—Be a Candidate!

The American Federation for Children is gearing up to host another Cmpaign Training School to support school choice champions who are ready for public office.  We’ve held campaign training schools all across the nation—from Atlanta to Baton Rouge to Milwaukee to Indianapolis.  Now, we’re headed to Phoenix!

Here are the details:

Who: You!

What: Arizona Campaign Training School

Where: Phoenix Corporate Center in downtown Phoenix

When: May 17, 2012 from 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM

Why: Be leader in helping students and improving education

Visit www.VictoryForChildren.org to RSVP and to learn more!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Arizona Leaders Tout Technology in Education

John Huppenthal, state superintendent of public instruction in Arizona and Craig Barrett, chairman of the Arizona Ready Council and former chairman and CEO of Intel, are touting for more technology in Arizona’s education.

In an editorial published in The Arizona Republic, this duo points out that Arizona leads the nation in school choice programs—there are four publicly funded private school choice programs in the state—but also demonstrates the state’s  need to up technology to better implement its education programs.

So take a look at the editorial here, but don’t forget to see Craig Barrett talk about technology and education at our 2012 National Policy Summit on May 3-4.  Registration is open to the public at www.AFCPolicySummit.com.

Register today and see Barrett, legislators, school choice researchers, and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie speak!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Grand Canyon State Celebrates Anniversary of Grand Victory

Many minds have been on the U.S. Supreme Court in recent days, and that includes ours here at School Choice Now! -- but not for the reasons you might be thinking.

One year ago today, families across the nation cheered for some good news when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that scholarship tax credit programs are indeed constitutional.  More than 128,000 students attend the school of their parents’ choice thanks to 10 scholarship tax credit programs across eight states.

The justices reversed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and instead ruled that the Arizona’s Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program does not violate Constitutional principles with regard to separation of church and state.    

In the 5-4 ruling, the majority decided that choice opponents lack standing to challenge the Arizona program on grounds that it uses government funds to promote religious institutions.

Writing for the majority, Justice Anthony Kennedy said that although parents use most of the scholarship funds to send their children religious-affiliated schools, it does not amount to the funding of those schools by the government.

“Contributions result from the decisions of private taxpayers regarding their own funds,” Kennedy said.

Since it began in 1997, the Arizona Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program has grown to become the third-largest school choice program in the country—one of four school choice programs in Arizona alone. It is also the third-longest running school choice program in the country and the nation’s oldest scholarship tax credit program.

The ruling was just one of many victories for educational options in 2011—a year The Wall Street Journal—dubbed “the year of school choice.”  In addition, seven new publicly funded private school choice programs were enacted and 11 were expanded.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Vote for Expansion of ESA Program Likely Next Week

Last year we brought you news of a first-of-its-kind school choice program in Arizona: education savings accounts (ESAs).  Now, the Arizona legislature is poised to vote on a bill that would expand the ESA program, thereby making thousands more children eligible to participate.

Arizona enacted its fourth school choice program and the nation’s first education savings account in April 2011. Under the program, the Empowerment Savings Account Program, students who are identified as having a disability are eligible to receive 90 percent of the per-pupil expenditure to use on a variety of educational tools, including tuition and fees, textbooks, educational therapies, and tutoring.  According to the Alliance for School Choice’s 2011-12 Yearbook, 142 families currently participate in the program. You'll recall that, back in December, we told you the story of Aaron, who is thriving because of the ESA program.

While many are inspired by stories like Aaron’s, others are more interested in protecting the educational status quo.  Special interests evensued to have the program dismantled. Thankfully, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge rejected the lawsuit, saying that “the exercise of parental choice among education options makes the program constitutional.”

Fast forward almost two months, and we're on the cusp of seeing the program expanded.  

Parent Empowerment at Work in the Grand Canyon State

Here at School Choice Now!, we have a singular goal of kids being in the best school possible—whether that school is a private school, a charter school, or a traditional public school.  Parents, especially those from low-income families, should be empowered to choose what school they think will best prepare their child for a successful life. 

And research shows that parents are very satisfied when they get to choose where their children should go: just look at Louisiana, where four consecutive surveys on the voucher program show parental satisfaction rates of over 90 percent, and at Florida, where 95.4 percent of parents participating in the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship rated their schools as “excellent” or “good.”

But it's not just the numbers that speak to the value of school choice. The stories do, too.

One recent story, from a reporter writing for Arizona's East Valley Tribune, tells of how she exercised her educational options not in her role as a reporter, but as a mother:

Earlier this month, I did something I've said I was going to do for a long time: I took a tour of a charter school as a PARENT, not as a reporter.

Why? Let's just say I'm an over thinker. My kids are doing great at their school - our neighborhood district school. But I keep hearing and talking to people about this charter school and I wanted to go in with a different set of eyes.

Michelle Reese, the reporter and mother of three, is happy with her traditional neighborhood school, but wanted to take a look around. And, living in Arizona, Reese has lots of options.

Arizona has public school choice, private school choice (with three scholarship tax credit programs and one education savings account program), charter schools, and homeschooling options.

In Reese’s ZIP code alone, there are 85 different elementary schools: 47 public schools, 24 charter schools, and 10 private schools. 

So what did she end up doing?

I choose to send my kids to my neighborhood school. We've been there for years, though each spring I do debate other options (just ask my husband and friends who hear about it over and over). Why? Because I can. Because I want my kids to be getting the best education possible. Just last year, I really struggled with where to send my middle child, not because I wasn't happy with our school, but because I knew a Spanish dual language program was opening up not far from us and she wants to learn Spanish.

Because when it comes down to it, school choice is about ensuring that all children have access to a great education that works for them—no matter what type of school that is.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Arizona

With the release of the Alliance for School Choice's School Choice Yearbook 2011-12 (available for download here), we'll spend the next few days on School Choice Now! highlighting some of the new data and research it contains.

Thanks to the hard work of Arizona’s elected officials and tireless advocates, Arizona is now one to two states that can boast FOUR school choice programs.  And it’s home to the nation’s first and only Education Savings Account Program!

2011 Results

• Number of School Choice Programs: 4
• Total Number of Students: 30,178
• Total Number of Participating Schools: 2,600
• Total Expenditures: $58,362,748

Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit

An individual scholarship tax credit created in 1997.

    2011-12 School Year Data Update

• Scholarships Awarded: 25,343
• Schools Participating: 911
• STOs Operating: 49
• 2011 Expenditures: $47,105,564

    Growth in Student Participation

    

Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit

Enacted in 2006, this scholarship tax credit program provides tax credits to businesses that donate money for scholarships.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

• Scholarships Awarded: 4,578
• Schools Participating: 342
• STOs Operating: 17
• 2011 Expenditures: $9,189,905

    Growth in Student Participation

Lexie’s Law

A corporate scholarship tax credit program for students with disabilities and foster care children.  This program was originally a voucher program and transitioned into a scholarship tax credit program in 2009.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

• Scholarships Awarded: 115
• Schools Participating: 47
• STOs Operating: 5
• 2011 Expenditures: $561,029

    Growth in Student Participation

    

Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program

A NEW type of school choice program created in 2011, this program allows parents of children with special needs to receive an account where parents can spend their child’s education dollars on a variety of options including tuition, books, tutoring, and educational therapies.  In January, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge upheld the program, letting hundreds of families remain in the program.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

• Scholarships Awarded: 142
• 2011 Expenditures: $1,506,250

    Growth in Student Participation

    

2012 Outlook

Arizona is looking to strengthen and expand its existing scholarship tax credit programs and to continue to protect the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program as special interests continue to attempt to disband the program.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Governors Feature Education Reform in State of the State Addresses

Tis the season! And by season we mean it’s that time of year when governors from across the country present their State of the State addresses. Year after year, these remarks always include the obligatory statements on what improvements should be made, how certain policies have been enacted, and of course, the goals for the next twelve months. 

This year, however, we’ve noticed something new creeping into the rhetoric of our nation’s executive leaders: an education reform plan. That’s right – so far sixteen governors have presented their outline for 2012 – and we’re pleased with what they have to say!

All across the country – from Arizona to Indiana – the sparks created for school choice in 2011 have created a fire in our national leaders. And they’re not afraid to take bold steps in the fight to reform America’s education system by providing more choice to parents and more opportunities to students.

Here are a few highlights from some of the recent State of the State addresses:

“Our state is a leader in allowing parents to choose a school that best meets their children’s needs.” – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer

“If we continue to create a culture of excellence in our schools, Florida will merit a full chapter in that history that describes the reawakening of a mighty, prosperous nation. We can do this. And, we begin to do this by building on the successes of last session when we increased school choices for Florida’s parents.” – Florida Governor Rick Scott

“To spur innovation, I am recommending $8.7 million in supplemental grants in both the Amended budget and next year’s budget for state chartered special schools affected by the Georgia Supreme Court ruling on charter schools. These schools are key to Georgia’s educational success.” – Georgia Governor Nathan Deal

 “…Others are following Indiana. It’s our new commitment to rewarding the best teachers, liberating principals and superintendents, and providing low- and middle-income parents the same choices as their wealthier neighbors; and that’s what has caught the world’s attention.” – Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels

"In America, you do not have a right to have everything your neighbor has, you do not have a right to a big house or a fancy car and you do not have a right to redistribute your neighbor's wealth. But I would suggest that we long ago decided that every kid does have a right to a quality education from an excellent teacher. And by getting a good education, kids then do have the opportunity to pursue their dreams."  – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal 

We are so pleased to see these school choice champions stand in front of their state leadership and declare that 2012 will be another successful year for families. Understanding that these Governors have a lot of priorities, we hope you’ll join us in giving them praise for giving education reform a platform in their 2012 State of the State addresses.

Stay tuned for more updates on State of the State addresses from other governors. 

An Arizona Scholarship Student Lets Legislators See Why School Choice Is So Important

Max Ashton, a sophomore at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, testified yesterday before members of the Arizona Senate Finance Committee, explaining to legislators how the state saved thousands of dollars thanks to him receiving a scholarship through the Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program.

Ashton, who is blind, told senators about some of his amazing accomplishments, most of which wouldn't have been possible had it not for the opportunities he had at Brophy Prep.

The testemony was presented during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on a series of Senate Bills (most importantly, SB 1047) that would amend the state's three scholarship tax credit programs to allow for increased maximum donation amounts to School Tuition Organizations. 

Click below to watch moving and inspiring testimony from a young man who attributes his remarkable success to private school choice.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, NM

State of the State: In Arizona, New Year Brings Renewed Commitment to School Choice

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer delivered a 2012
State of the State address focused on school choice.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a longtime supporter of school choice, this week told members of the state legislature that in 2012, the Grand Canyon State is poised to continue to be a leader in allowing parents to choose the school that best meets their child’s needs.

“We must find a way to fund the results we want and reward those educators who guide us into our next century,” Brewer said at her annual State of the State address on Monday. “That’s my commitment to children for the next century; quality teachers, safe environment, a setting of parents’ choosing, and data driven decisions and the highest of standards.”

The Governor also unveiled a broad-based education reform plan, one that called for investments to be made in schools and support given to teachers who delivering quality results for kids. The educational setting, she said, does not matter.

Brewer's speech also touched on providing adequate funding to reforms that work, saying that tough economic times call for making sure that taxpayer dollars aren't being poured haphazardly into a system that has failed to show significant improvements.

In Midst of Impending Court Fight, Arizona Families Prosper With School Choice

Although Aaron McLemore, a student participant in Arizona's
Empowerment Savings Accounts Program, has thrived as a result of
school choice, the future of the program remains in jeopardy.

An Arizona lawsuit filed to prevent special needs students from participating in a new form of school choice is likely headed to the state Supreme Court.

The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program allows children identified as having a disability to receive 90 percent of state funding to use on a variety of educational tools including tuition and fees, textbooks, educational therapies, tutoring, and college courses.

This program, commonly called an education savings accounts or ESA, puts parents—not schools or bureaucracies—in charge of education dollars.

But opponents, including the Arizona School Boards Association and the Arizona Education Association, want to prevent this program from moving forward.  Instead of putting the power in the hands of parents (who know their children best), special interests want the status quo for special needs children.

The Institute for Justice (IJ) has taken the case, Niehaus v. Huppenthal, on behalf of participating families and supporters of school choice.  According to the IJ , ESAs are constitutional because they offer a wide variety of educational choices.

The Goldwater Institute has also joined in the fight to help families.

But while lawyers battle it out for educational choice in the courts, we must remember that this program helps real families; just ask the McLemores.

Two-Day HCREO Event Highlights Need for School Choice in Southwest

Elected officials joined education reformers from around the country in thunderous applause, as they took to their feet to cheer a young Arizona Hispanic student after hearing the young scholar's inspiring story.

It was just one of the many moving stories told this week in Arizona, where a two-day conference hosted by one of the most unwavering of school choice allies aimed to address one of the seminal educational problems facing the country.

The event, hosted by the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (HCREO), brought together reformers from around the country, elected officials from several states in the Southwestern U.S., and local parents and students eager to discuss how they could all get more involved in providing Hispanic children with educational options.