SAFFORD — The Graham County Democratic Committee is hosting a signing event for a proposed initiative to put limits on school vouchers.
The Stop and Sign to Protect Education event will take place Thursday, June 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Graham Democratic Headquarters, 325 E. U.S. Highway 70.
The citizen initiative seeks to put limits on the state’s ESA program, including:
- Requiring background checks for all school employees
- Prohibiting purchase of non-educational items with ESA funds
- Limiting eligibility for ESA vouchers to families earning $150,000 or less; however, families with a special needs child are exempt from the income requirement
A minimum of 255,949 valid signatures must be collected statewide to qualify a statutory initiative for the ballot, and 383,923 valid signatures for an initiative that amends the state Constitution.
The deadline is July 2 to submit signatures to qualify for the General Election ballot in November.
ESA vouchers give state education funds to parents rather than to public schools, for the parents to spend at tuition-based private or parochial schools, or for homeschooling.
State law requires private and home schools to instruct children in reading, math, grammar, social studies and science. However, there are no testing requirements, no attendance requirements, no record-keeping requirements, and instructors are not required to be certified or have a degree.
