Horne reacts to Attorney General Mayes statements regarding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

For immediate release: July 24, 2023
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Horne reacts to Attorney General Mayes statements regarding Empowerment Scholarship Accounts

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has issued the following statement in response to today’s remarks by Attorney General Kris Mayes concerning the universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program.

Horne stated, “The Attorney General raised several issues, one of which centers on special education students. Under the ESA program, special education students receive the same funding as they would attending a public school.

In regards to the other concerns raised, under my Democrat predecessor as schools chief, the law was not strictly followed and ESA funds were used for non-educational purposes. One of my first acts when I took office was to hire from the Arizona Auditor General an internal auditor for the Department of Education. This person makes sure that every ESA transaction is conducted according to the law and all funding is used appropriately.

There have been significant protests against me from people who were used to the old lax system, but I am insisting that every law is strictly followed and that every penny of these funds is used for valid educational purposes.”