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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
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
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: Spending in Arizona's ESA Program: A Multi-Stage Transaction-Level Analysis. Research Brief
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22John+M%2E+Kristof%22">John M. Kristof</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Susan+Pendergrass%22">Susan Pendergrass</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22EdChoice%22">EdChoice</searchLink>
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  Data: EdChoice. 111 Monument Circle Suite 2650, Indianapolis, IN 46204. Tel: 317-681-0745; e-mail: info@edchoice.org; Web site: http://www.edchoice.org
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Finance%22">Educational Finance</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22State+Programs%22">State Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Private+Education%22">Private Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scholarships%22">Scholarships</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Expenditures%22">Expenditures</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Financial+Support%22">Financial Support</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+Secondary+Education%22">Elementary Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22School+Choice%22">School Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Vouchers%22">Educational Vouchers</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arizona%22">Arizona</searchLink>
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  Data: 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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  Data: 2026
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Educational Finance
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State Programs
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      – SubjectFull: Private Education
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      – SubjectFull: Scholarships
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      – SubjectFull: Expenditures
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      – SubjectFull: Financial Support
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      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
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      – SubjectFull: School Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Educational Vouchers
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      – SubjectFull: Arizona
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Spending in Arizona's ESA Program: A Multi-Stage Transaction-Level Analysis. Research Brief
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              Y: 2026
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