Spending in Arizona's ESA Program: A Multi-Stage Transaction-Level Analysis. Research Brief
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| Title: | Spending in Arizona's ESA Program: A Multi-Stage Transaction-Level Analysis. Research Brief |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | John M. Kristof, Susan Pendergrass, EdChoice |
| Source: | EdChoice. 2026. |
| Availability: | EdChoice. 111 Monument Circle Suite 2650, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Tel: 317-681-0745; e-mail: info@edchoice.org; Web site: http://www.edchoice.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | N |
| Page Count: | 16 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Reports - Research Numerical/Quantitative Data |
| Education Level: | Elementary Secondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Educational Finance, State Programs, Private Education, Scholarships, Expenditures, Financial Support, Elementary Secondary Education, School Choice, Educational Vouchers |
| Geographic Terms: | Arizona |
| Abstract: | After Arizona opened its Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to all families in 2022, a program that took a decade to enroll 10,000 students ballooned to ten times that number in just three years. The 100,000 families spending ESA funds in 2025-26 have over 2 million transactions worth over $1 billion for education goods and services. Stakeholders are catching up to the scope of this program and beginning to ask important questions about whether those dollars are in fact going to educational expenses. Our new report digs into the transaction-level data to find out. Our results demand more nuance than many recent headlines want you to have. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | ED680961 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | After Arizona opened its Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to all families in 2022, a program that took a decade to enroll 10,000 students ballooned to ten times that number in just three years. The 100,000 families spending ESA funds in 2025-26 have over 2 million transactions worth over $1 billion for education goods and services. Stakeholders are catching up to the scope of this program and beginning to ask important questions about whether those dollars are in fact going to educational expenses. Our new report digs into the transaction-level data to find out. Our results demand more nuance than many recent headlines want you to have. |
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