The Debit Card For Public Education (NAPSA)—A one-of-a-kind, first-in-the-nation student funding modelis growing in Arizona’s public education system, whereeligible families get debit cards to shop for the schools and services that work best for them. Participating parents couldn’t be happier with the program. HowIt Works Education savings accounts (ESAs) provide Arizona parents a portion of their children’s state public education funds to purchase—using debit cards—educational services outside of public schools,including private school tuition, therapies, tutors, curricuTum and online courses. Unused funds can be rolled over to the next school year and even saved for college. Originally created for students with special needs, the program has been expanded to include students in underperforming public schools, youths in foster care, dependents of military personnel and incoming kindergartners. Two new reports from a national organization that studies and supports school choice programs, the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, shows just how effective ESAs can be in transforming students’ learning opportunities. Parents’ Opinions Ina surveyof ESAparents conducted by researchers Jonathan Butcher and Jason Bedrick, 71 percent ofparticipants were “very satisfied,” 19 percent “satisfied” and 10 percent “somewhatsatisfied” with the program. By comparison, just 43 percent of those parents reported similar satisfaction levels with their previous public schools. “This has allowedusto do what is best for our son,” one parent told Butcher and Bedrick, “and Among surveyed Arizona parents with education savings accounts 4/10 wore satisfiedwith their previous public sctiool @OG@O@O@OO 10/10 atesatistied witheducation savings accounts Studies show that most parents are satisfied with education savings accounts. that has made a hugedifference in all ourlives.” To find what’s best for their children, ESA parents can use a numberof educational options. Analyzing Arizona Department of Education data from the ESA program’sfirst year, researcher Lindsey Burke found parents spent 34.5 percent of ESA funds on multiple educational services while 65.5 percent used just one educational plan. If parents had more of their children’s public funding in the ESAs, their most sought-after service would be additional education therapy, according to Butcher and Bedrick. What's Next ‘As for the future of ESAs, the Arizona program had been mired in litigation after the Arizona School BoardsAssociation and the Arizona Education Association challenged its constitutionality until the Arizona Court of Appeals unanimously upheld the program. With that decision, supporters anticipate the program, and families’ school shoppinglists and satisfaction levels, will continue to grow. Learn More The reports are available at www-edchoice.org/EdDebitCard and www.edchoice.org/SchoolingSatis faction for downloading.
