Republicans May Revive School Voucher Measure

Published: Monday, April 21, 2014 - 10:17am

The battle over expanding the voucher program for private and parochial school educations may not be over for the year. There may be a move to reconsider the measure after its defeat last week in the state House.

Six Republicans joined Democratic members to reject the expansion, many of them saying it would take too much money away from Arizona’s public schools.

State Rep. Debbie Lesko says she thinks reconsideration is possible for the bill expanding eligibility to 112,000 low-income kids.

“To me, it’s not about protecting the institution of public schools,” Lesko said. “To me, it’s about improving the education of our children and that’s why I sponsored the bill.”

Lesko believes one of the lawmakers she says changed their minds and voted against the bill last week will move for reconsideration before lawmakers adjourn their 2014 session.

Right now, only children with special needs and those whose schools got a D or F grade are eligible for the Empowerment Scholarship Account.