CNN has discovered that Dream City Christian School, a private school in the outskirts of the Phoenix metro area, is in the midst of a significant expansion. The school, which is connected to a local megachurch where former President Donald Trump recently held a campaign rally, is building a new wing with modern classrooms and a pickleball court. This expansion comes as the nearby public Paradise Valley Unified School District is facing closures due to declining enrollment, causing disruptions for hundreds of families.
One of the key reasons behind Dream City’s growth and Paradise Valley’s challenges is the flow of taxpayer dollars to private schools in Arizona. The state has a universal “education savings account” program, which allows families to redirect public education funds to private schools. Since the expanded program took effect in 2022, Dream City has received nearly $2 million in taxpayer funds, while public schools like those in Paradise Valley have seen their budgets affected.
This trend is not limited to Arizona, as Republican-led states across the country are implementing universal voucher programs, redirecting public funds to private schools. This effort has been supported by a group of wealthy donors who have spent millions on election campaigns and lobbying to promote vouchers.
Supporters of voucher programs argue that they provide families with more choices in education, particularly benefiting children in underperforming public schools. However, critics warn of the potential dangers of diverting public funds to unregulated private schools with different educational standards and anti-discrimination protections.
The push for universal vouchers has gained momentum in recent years, with nearly a dozen states enacting school choice policies. Advocates have leveraged cultural issues and public dissatisfaction with traditional public schools to advance their agenda, targeting state legislative races and influencing policy decisions.
As the debate over vouchers continues, concerns about the impact on student achievement and the quality of education in private schools have been raised. Studies have shown mixed results, with some indicating negative effects on student test scores in states with universal or near-universal voucher programs.
Arizona has been at the forefront of the voucher debate, with a long history of expanding support for private education. Despite initial setbacks, the state has now seen significant growth in its ESA program, allowing tens of thousands of students to use state funds for private school or homeschooling.
The battle over vouchers is far from over, as states grapple with the implications of redirecting taxpayer dollars from public to private education. The impact of these policies on student outcomes, school funding, and educational equity remains a topic of contentious debate as more states consider similar initiatives.
