PHOENIX — Despite silence from some colleagues, a Republican legislator said there should be a change in the state’s universal school voucher program.
12News first reported in April one of the unintended consequences of universal ESAs. Since the program’s expansion was passed nearly two years ago, there has been a surge of families going to school districts seeking special needs evaluations for their children in private education.
Republican State Senator Ken Bennett, chair of the Senate Education Committee, tells 12News it is a “legitimate concern.”
“School districts shouldn’t be having to pay one or two thousand dollar evaluations for students not attending their school district,” Bennett said Wednesday.
Bennett said some lawmakers are aware of the unique financial burden being placed on school districts but he does not know if legislative leaders plan to address it.
“I haven’t spoken to the (Senate) president or the speaker specifically about this issue, but it has been bubbling around now for a year or two since the ESA was expanded,” Bennett said.
Dr. Curtis Finch, superintendent of one of the Valley’s largest districts, told 12News an evaluation can run up to $6,000, depending on the complexity of the case. Finch said legislators should find a way to reimburse districts from the general fund or through ESA funds.
“The legislature needs to find the money to pay these bills since they aren’t my kids,” Finch said. “Obviously, being 49th in the nation for per-pupil funding doesn't help. That makes the fight over every penny that much greater.”
The ESA program allows families to receive public funds for the private education of their children. Families qualify for higher annual funding if their child has one or more diagnosed disabilities.
Federal law requires school districts to provide disability evaluations to families living in their boundaries, regardless of whether they attend public school.
But critics said the law is outdated.
“The statutes are built on a 40 year-old model,” Bennett said. “Obviously in the current landscape of more choice, charter schools, and ESAs, this needs to be looked at and taken care of.”
Republican House Speaker Ben Toma of Glendale is the architect of the ESA universal expansion and his legislative district includes DVUSD’s boundaries. Toma has not responded to repeated requests for comment. He has rebuffed suggested reforms to ESAs the past two legislative sessions.
Republican State Representative Beverly Pingerelli also represents legislative boundaries that cover DVUSD. Finch accused Pingerelli of ignoring requests to address the issue. Pingerelli also did not respond to requests for comment from 12News.
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