Page 10 - AASBO EDGE Back to School 2025
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EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS
BY CLEMENTINA CARLYLE
Surviving the Enrollment Rollercoaster:
Financial Strategies for Arizona Schools in
Clementina Carlyle
the Era of Universal Vouchers
Arizona’s school voucher program, known as "The challenge? Maintaining fiscal
Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs), was stability in an environment where the
initially implemented in 2011. The program was
originally limited to students with disabilities, rules keep changing."
military families, foster children, and students
attending low-performing schools. The Enrollment Effect
• Declining Revenue: State aid tied to average
In 2022, the program was expanded to become daily membership (ADM) decreases when
a universal voucher program, making all K-12 students leave mid-year, but utility bills,
students eligible regardless of income or other insurance, and staffing costs remain largely
criteria. This program allows all families, fixed.
regardless of income or prior school enrollment, • Unpredictable Shifts: Families can now move
to receive state funds to use for private school between public, private, and homeschool
tuition, homeschooling expenses, or other options with relative ease, making forecasting
qualified education costs. The program has faced more complicated.
criticism for lack of accountability and potential • Equity Concerns: Schools serving higher-need
to increase existing inequalities. Critics argue the populations may face disproportionate cuts if
program is lacking in oversight and accountability families with more resources take advantage
measures, allowing for potential misuse of funds of voucher programs at higher rates.
and a lack of transparency.
Strategies for Stability
The New Normal 1. Scenario-Based Forecasting
Universal Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Build three budget models — best case, moderate,
(ESAs) have transformed Arizona’s education and worst case — based on projected enrollment
funding landscape. For school business officials, changes. Update quarterly with real-time ADM
this means that enrollment — once relatively data from the state.
predictable — is now a moving target. Each student 2. Optimize Staffing Models
who leaves for a voucher-supported option takes Use flexible staffing structures, such as shared
per-pupil funding with them, leaving districts to specialists or cross-trained support staff, to adjust
juggle fixed costs with shrinking budgets. more quickly to enrollment changes without over-
hiring.
3. Maximize State and Federal Grants
Aggressively seek grant funding to supplement
lost ADM revenue. Title I, and targeted state
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