Savanna Hoffman
Arizona's spending on public education has been on an upward trajectory over the past few decades, with total funding per pupil for Arizona public schools increasing to $14,673, setting a new spending record. The state's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA), also known as school vouchers, allow parents to use their education tax dollars to pay for their child's school of choice, including education at home. The funding follows the student, and schools receive money based on student attendance. Critics argue that there is a lack of accountability with the ESA program, while supporters highlight Arizona's spending per K-12 student compared to other developed countries and the performance of its lower-cost public charter schools.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total funding per pupil for Arizona public schools | $14,673 |
| Funding increase since 1980 | $12,071 |
| Federal funds per student | $2,494 |
| Tucson Unified District funding per student | $3,253 |
| Gilbert Unified District funding per student | $1,452 |
| Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funding per student | $7,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Arizona's spending per student
Arizona's spending on education has been a topic of debate, with some critics arguing that the state's spending per student is inadequate. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals a more complex picture.
In Fiscal Year 2024, Arizona's state-wide school district spending reached $13.1 billion, an increase of over $500 million from the previous year. This increase resulted in higher per-student spending across all operational areas, including instruction. The rise in district spending was primarily due to a one-time $300 million state aid supplement and an increase in base-level funding for districts. Despite this, the percentage of spending allocated to instruction decreased for the second consecutive year, dropping to 52.6%, the lowest level since FY 2001. This decrease in instructional spending has led some districts to close schools, lay off staff, or explore other cost-cutting measures.
When it comes to per-student spending, Arizona's K-12 public education funding has seen a significant increase over the years. Currently, the projected funding for K-12 public education in Arizona is $14,673 per child, setting a new spending record. This amount is a substantial increase from the $2,602 per pupil spending in 1980 and even represents a significant adjustment for inflation, with a roughly $5,000 increase per student. The actual taxpayer cost of traditional public schools is likely even higher, as the reported per pupil spending is an average of district and public charter schools, with charter schools receiving approximately $2,000 less per pupil.
Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program further impacts per-student spending. The ESA program allows parents to use their education tax dollars to pay for the school that best meets their child's needs, including private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies, and tutoring. The program offers awards of approximately $7,000 per student, and its creation has coincided with a steady increase in overall spending on public school students.
While Arizona's spending per K-12 student has faced criticism, it's important to note that the state already spends significantly more per student than most other developed countries. Additionally, Arizona's lower-cost public charter schools have been shown to outperform district schools, even when adjusting for student demographics. Despite ranking low in per-capita education spending (49th in spending and funding), Arizona's overall spending on education has been on an upward trajectory for several decades.
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School vouchers
Arizona offers school vouchers, also known as Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA), to all students. The ESA program allows parents to use their education tax dollars to pay for the school that best meets their child's needs. The money follows the student from their neighbourhood school to whichever school their parents choose for them, including education at home. This covers expenses such as private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies, and tutoring. The value of these vouchers ranges from $7,000 to $8,000 per student per year, though the exact amount depends on the specific programme. For example, Arizona's universal expansion ESA awards roughly $7,000 per student, while the state's lower-cost ESA programme for students joining under the universal expansion offers a higher amount of approximately $14,673 per child.
Despite the widespread interest in school vouchers among lower-income families in Arizona, particularly in the Phoenix area, usage rates are lower in poorer neighbourhoods. This discrepancy can be attributed to various factors, including the location of private schools, additional costs for transportation, tuition, and meals, and the fact that a voucher may not cover the full price of private school education. For instance, while a typical voucher is valued at $7,000 to $8,000 per year, private schools in Phoenix often charge over $10,000 in annual tuition and fees.
Arizona also offers institutional and residential vouchers for students receiving services through state institutions, such as the Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (ASDB), and those placed in residential treatment centres by state placing agencies.
The state's total funding per pupil for public schools has seen a significant increase over the years, rising from $2,602 in 1980 to approximately $14,673 today. This amount surpasses the cost of college at institutions like Arizona State University. The upward trend in spending on public education in Arizona challenges the notion of funding cuts propagated by opponents of school choice.
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Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA)
Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program provides scholarship dollars to all Arizona families, allowing them to pursue flexible options for their children's learning. The program ensures that parents have the right to choose what's best for their family and that their education tax dollars are used to pay for the school that meets their child's needs. With the ESA program, the money that would have been spent on a student's education in a neighborhood school follows that student to whichever school their parents choose, including education at home.
ESA dollars cover multiple education expenses, such as private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies, tutoring, and more. The amount of ESA funding for students with special needs is determined by their disability category. The program requires full accountability, with all expenditures needing to be for a valid educational purpose and at a reasonable cost considering market prices.
The total funding for K-12 public education in Arizona is projected to reach $14,673 per child, setting a new spending record. This amount has increased significantly since 1980, even when adjusting for inflation. Arizona's lower-cost public charter schools outperform the state's district schools, and the state already spends more per K-12 student than most other developed countries.
The ESA program offers awards of approximately $7,000 per student under the universal expansion. This lower-cost program has not hindered the upward trajectory of funding for public education in Arizona, which has seen substantial increases during the years of the ESA program's operation.
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Funding sources
Funding for K-12 public education in Arizona is projected to reach $14,673 per child. This figure has increased substantially from $2,602 in 1980, even when adjusted for inflation. This funding comes from various sources, including federal, state, and local taxpayers.
Federal Funding
Federal funding for public schools in Arizona totalled $2.8 billion, or approximately $2,494 per student. This amount is slightly lower than the national average of $2,536 per student. Federal funding is allocated based on factors such as poverty status or whether a district is located in a rural area. Specific programs that receive federal funding include child nutrition programs, education for disadvantaged students, and special education. For instance, the Tucson Unified District received the highest federal funding among Arizona's largest school districts, with 23.5% of its 2021-22 funding coming from federal sources, amounting to $3,253 per student.
State and Local Funding
State and local funding for public schools in Arizona has also increased significantly. The total funding for K-12 public education is primarily driven by state and local taxpayer contributions. While the exact breakdown between state and local sources is not provided, the increasing levels of state and local funding have coincided with the implementation of the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which offers awards of approximately $7,000 per student.
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA)
The ESA program allows parents to use their education tax dollars to pay for their child's education at the school of their choice, including homeschooling. The funding follows the student, covering expenses such as private school tuition, curricula, educational supplies, tutoring, and more. The expansion of the ESA program has contributed to the overall increase in funding per pupil in Arizona.
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Instructional spending
Arizona's spending on K-12 public education has seen a significant increase over the years, with the current projected funding reaching $14,673 per child. This amount surpasses the tuition and fees of colleges within the state, such as Arizona State University, where resident undergraduate fees are approximately $13,161. This upward trend in spending is not an isolated incident, as Arizona has been consistently increasing its investment in public education over the past several decades.
While the total funding for K-12 education in Arizona is substantial, it is important to note that this figure includes both district and public charter schools. Public charter schools in Arizona receive approximately $2,000 less per pupil than district schools. Therefore, when considering only traditional public district schools, the per-child cost of public education is expected to surpass $15,000.
In Fiscal Year 2023, Arizona's state-wide school district spending witnessed a notable increase of nearly $1 billion compared to the previous year. This included increments in per-student spending across all operational areas, including instruction. However, it is worth mentioning that the proportion of increased spending allocated towards instruction decreased compared to previous years, resulting in a statewide instructional spending percentage of 53.4%. This trend continued into Fiscal Year 2024, where the instructional spending percentage further decreased to 52.6%, the lowest recorded since FY 2001.
Despite Arizona's substantial investment in public education, it is essential to consider the state's relative funding compared to other states and countries. While Arizona spends more per K-12 student than most other developed nations, its ranking in spending and funding within the United States is lower. For example, California's K-12 schools spend $18,020 per pupil, while Arizona's per-pupil spending is approximately $10,622. These figures highlight the variations in educational investment across different states.
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Frequently asked questions
The total funding for K-12 public education in Arizona is projected to be $14,673 per child, setting a new spending record. This figure has increased by over 50% since 1980, when it was $9,618.
Funding comes from state and federal sources. State-wide school district spending increased by over $500 million to $13.1 billion in FY 2024. Federal funding per student is $2,494, which is 1.7% lower than the national average.
In Arizona, school funding follows the student. Schools receive funding based on student attendance. If a student uses a school voucher, the funding is allocated to the student's family to pay for their education outside of the public school system.
School vouchers, or Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA), are funds that follow the student to whichever school their parents choose, including homeschooling. The funding can be used for multiple education expenses, such as tuition, curricula, educational supplies, tutoring, and more.
A voucher usually provides around $7,000 to a student, which can be used for various educational purposes, including private school attendance, homeschooling, therapies, or other educational services.
