School bureaucrats who have mismanaged their finances are hoping that voters will blame a convenient scapegoat: families using Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) to educate their children. As usual, their allies in the legacy media are trying hard to help them shift the blame—but the numbers don’t lie.
Channel 12 recently ran a story titled “Deer Valley teachers self-fund or rely on classroom wish lists for basics, while ESA parents buy luxury items with state tax dollars.” Most of the article reads like a press release from Deer Valley Unified School District Superintendent Curtis Finch, who claims that the ESA program has “zero accountability,” “no oversight,” and is “out of control.” Meanwhile, the article quotes teachers in Deer Valley who are spending hundreds of dollars from their own pockets to cover school supplies for their students.
The implication is clear: district schools are financially starved while ESA families waste money on frivolous luxuries. But the reality is exactly the opposite.
Misuse of the ESA program is vanishingly small. The Arizona Department of Education’s internal audit had turned up $622,000 in ESA funds that are “possible fraud or misuse.” That’s approximately 0.05% of total ESA spending over the past two years.
Misuse of funds in the ESA or any other public program must be detected, deterred, and punished. This is in fact happening in the ESA program, as the Arizona Department of Education had already found the misuse, suspended accounts of those responsible, and reports that it is “in the process of collecting more than $600,000” in improper spending. All of this makes the ESA program far more transparent and accountable than Arizona school districts, which do not post their purchases.
And while Deer Valley teachers may indeed purchase their own school supplies, it has nothing to do with the ESA program and everything to do with misplaced district priorities.
One of the oldest tricks in the school district advocate playbook involves pretending that teachers must buy their own classroom supplies because of a lack of funding. The Channel 12 story cites a Deer Valley biology teacher who said she “spends at least $500 of her own money every summer for her classroom.”
Days after the report aired, former Deer Valley school board candidate Tiffany Hawkins revealed that Deer Valley Unified had spent $560,407 to send students and staff on trips to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Sea World, Universal Studios, and other destinations in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Indiana, and Texas. Apparently, the district leadership decided that these trips took precedence over classroom supplies for Deer Valley teachers.
Don’t hold your breath waiting for Channel 12 to cover that. Deer Valley Superintendent Finch—who recently faced charges of stonewalling public records requests and illegal electioneering on school grounds—attacked the ESA program for “out of control” spending with “zero accountability.” But his critiques of the ESA program much more accurately describe spending in his own district.
The Arizona Auditor General reports that Deer Valley spends $13,717 per pupil, meaning that a classroom of 25 students thus generates over $340,000 in total revenue. Where did this money go? Mainly not to teachers.
The Auditor General reports that Deer Valley average teacher pay is $2,163 below the state average. If Deer Valley is not prioritizing teachers, what is it prioritizing instead? The Auditor General report helpfully provides an answer: “high” and “very high” spending on administration and transportation, respectively, compared to a group of peer school districts.
The Goldwater Institute recently published a study of Arizona school superintendent compensation. Goldwater needed to use the open-records law to obtain this information, as districts compensate their superintendents in a variety of creative ways outside of their base salary, including providing either vehicles or “car allowances,” extra retirement benefits, and other perks.
The Goldwater Institute found that Deer Valley provides a total compensation package for their Superintendent of $290,505, including a car allowance of $10,000. This car allowance alone could have provided 20 teachers with $500 each for classroom supplies.
Even if one were to take the highly perverse view that students were the indentured servants of the school districts in which they reside, it would still be absurd for Deer Valley Unified officials to blame their problems on the ESA program. Arizona Department of Education reports show that 10,966 students lived within the boundaries of Deer Valley Unified but attended other public schools in 2024.
Deer Valley Unified meanwhile “drained” almost 3,000 students and their funding from other public schools. At the end of 2024, only 709 students had left a Deer Valley school to participate in the ESA program. Four different public schools outside Deer Valley Unified each have enrolled more students who reside in the district than the ESA program. Moreover 217 total public schools outside the district enroll Deer Valley Unified resident students.
Luckily, Arizona policymakers have decided that Arizona children are not merely funding units for their local school districts. Arizona families can use ESAs to choose the schools that are the best fit for the interests and aspirations of their children.
Arizona school districts have never had as much money as they have now, enough apparently to prioritize trips to California and perks for superintendents. If Deer Valley Unified officials hope to gain the enrollment of the thousands of resident students who have chosen to pursue their education elsewhere, a clear path forward would be to prioritize their funding.
Purchasing classroom supplies for teachers would be a great first step.
Matthew Ladner is a Senior Advisor for education policy implementation and Jason Bedrick is a Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy.
There is a heavy sadness that has swept the nation. Society is grieving to a level not seen since the 1960s. Earlier this month, America suffered an unspeakable loss. Charlie Kirk was in the middle of doing what he loved, talking to college students about the traditional American values that have made this nation a beacon of hope for millions of people the past 250 years: God, family, and country. And then he was abruptly taken from us. Kirk was singular, indispensable, and irreplaceable. America will not be the same without him. It will take multitudes of people to fill the void.
Wednesday, September 10, 2025, will forever be noted in history as a dark day where evil in its truest form was on full display. Charlie Kirk was assassinated in cold blood by a cowardly terrorist who sought to permanently silence someone he vehemently disagreed with. Americans across all political persuasions will always remember the moment in time they heard about the shooting on the campus of Utah Valley University and the flurry of information leading up to and past the time of Kirk’s passing.
I, for one, will never forget where I was or what I was doing when I heard the horrible news. I was filled with shock, disbelief, and heartbreak. The feeling was amplified by the like-minded voices of millions of individuals across the country who had in some way been influenced by him and felt a personal relationship.
It is no wonder so many people feel a heavy weight for the abrupt loss. His talent and intelligence were not easily parallelled. It is mind boggling what he accomplished in his short lifetime. As a teenager, he followed his dream to start a grassroots organization from his parents’ garage. He defied the odds and naysayers to grow Turning Point into a renowned international organization that would influence the course of American history across several elections.
Throughout his mission, Charlie Kirk became a trusted and influential confidant and advisor to several of our country’s leaders—most notably President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Despite his quick rise to fame and influence, however, Kirk never forgot his humble roots. He always had time for the young people who flocked to his organization, seeking to raise up an army of thoughtful, inspired men and women who would win back the values that made America into the greatest nation on our planet. They followed him, in part because he offered hope for a happy way to live.
Thanks to Kirk’s tireless and determined efforts, a marked change started happening with the youth. The current generation of Americans was bucking the trend of the woke indoctrination so prevalent in society. The left’s stranglehold on the youth across the nation was fading. For the first time in years the younger generation was trending more conservative. His efforts affected not only culture but politics, most notably the most recent presidential campaign, where Trump made a historic comeback. He was truly a public servant.
Charlie put others—and his nation—above himself. He loved the country that had given him the limitless opportunity to pursue his dreams, and he sought to make her a better place for his children and all those who would follow in his footsteps.
We know that full justice for Charlie will not happen in this lifetime. But we must seek as much justice as possible. That includes full prosecution of the assassin. But that is not enough. Kirk was targeted because he was influencing and changing the hearts and minds of millions of people, especially the youth. We must now take on the mantle and teach the traditional values of America to the youth. It will take thousands of people to compensate for Charlie’s immense talent. But justice demands it.
The pain in our hearts over this great loss reminds us to press forward and build our resolve to finish what Charlie has started. It is up to us to make sure his legacy continues. I think President Abraham Lincoln put it best when he said, “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is … for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”
Warren Petersen is the President of the Arizona State Senate and represents Legislative District 14.
A series of new laws taking effect are anticipated to raise Arizona’s economic competitiveness.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Arizona Chamber) highlighted six new laws as giving the state a beneficial boost in economic performance against other states.
These laws aim to make it feasible for international headquarters to build on-site workforce housing and support services (Senate Bill 1543), permit utilities to refinance infrastructure investments through securitization (House Bill 2679), allow Chase Field renovations without increasing taxes (House Bill 2704), make it feasible for advanced air mobility systems such as drone deliveries and air taxis (Senate Bill 1307), require utilities and public power entities to implement wildfire mitigation plans (House Bill 2201), and bars foreign entities from funding lawsuits while limiting outside funding to third-party litigation (Senate Bill 1215).
Dozens of states are working together to create a uniform approach to allowing advanced air mobility, along with the Federal Aviation Administration. Over 30 states are members of the Advanced Air Mobility Multistate Collaborative (AAMMC), formed in 2023 with eight to 10 member states. Arizona is member to the organization leading AAMMC, the National Association of State Aviation Officials.
In addition to raising awareness of the new laws it backs, the Arizona Chamber also releases public reports of failed bills it believed would harm the state’s economy. The chamber announced their 2025 report is forthcoming.
Arizona Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden stated that the six featured laws would retain corporate interest in the state by implementing necessary reforms and new pathways to growth.
“As these laws take effect, Arizona employers can count on policies that reflect their priorities,” said Seiden. “From keeping vital economic drivers in Arizona, to passing commonsense energy reforms that will deliver long-term stability and affordability, to supporting global companies, these are the kinds of policies that keep Arizona competitive and attractive for investment.”
The legislature also passed other laws anticipated to boost the economy, some of which Governor Katie Hobbs also approved from the Republican-controlled legislature despite a historic veto record (nearly 200 bills this year, compared to her previous historic record of over 140 in 2023).
One such law promises to further protect Arizona from regulatory capture by monopoly-controlled utilities (House Bill 2518). The legislation prohibits Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) members from accepting employment with the utilities under their regulation. Not all ACC members were pleased with the legislation, namely ACC Chairman Kevin Thompson.
TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR
AZ Corporation Commission member Kevin Thompson’s personal attacks against Rep. Justin Olson are totally unprofessional
Arizonans have become accustomed to childish meltdowns like this from Katie Hobbs
Chair Thompson was the subject of an ethics claim filed by the Energy Policy Institute earlier this year, as first reported by the Arizona Republic. The institute alleged a conflict of interest regarding the relationship between Thompson’s consulting firm and utilities.
Another law will ensure construction crews may work in the early morning hours in the summers by prohibiting municipalities and counties from enacting or enforcing noise ordinances, rules, or regulations prohibiting general construction activities during certain summertime hours (Senate Bill 1182).
And another law requires municipalities to give affected businesses at least 60 days’ notice before voting on tax increases (House Bill 2119).
The legislature also chose to sunset the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program rather than renew. Critics of the program blame lax policies and procedures for the Department of Housing’s loss of around $2 million to a wire fraud scam in 2023.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Native American students across Arizona are achieving significant improvements in reading and math proficiency, driven by targeted school improvement strategies, according to State Superintendent Tom Horne.
Notably, three schools in the Chinle Unified School District are now surpassing state averages in both math and English, making a transformative shift in educational outcomes. They saw an increase from 20% proficiency in 2023 to 34% districtwide.
“When I took office in January 2023, I was informed that the average proficiency rate for Native American students was five percent,” said Superintendent Horne in a press conference. “This was very upsetting to me, as it would affect the students’ employment prospects and quality of life. I said that we would change everything we were doing in that respect and give total focus to increasing proficiency rates among Native American students. I met with tribal leaders who were shocked to learn about the five percent number and agreed with me that action had to be taken.”
Through collaboration between the Offices of Indian Education and School Improvement, schools have received extensive support, such as teacher training, on-site visits, and leadership guidance, to help them and their students succeed.
Horne added, “With outstanding leadership from leaders of Native American districts, and our help, the proficiency rates of Native American students have soared.”
Other districts in the state have also reported extraordinary progress. Ganado Unified School District saw a 159% growth in students testing proficient in math and English, while Red Mesa Unified School District achieved a growth of 149%.
Baboquivari Unified School District recorded a 197% increase, Kayenta Unified School District a 122% jump, Sacaton Elementary District a 124% increase, and Tuba City Unified School District a 113% improvement.
Chinle Unified School District Superintendent Quincy Natay credited the success to a collective effort. “We are extremely proud of the progress our students and teachers have made,” Natay said. “These gains are a direct result of our governing board’s support of our vision and strategic plan, dedication of our educators, the support of our parents and communities, and the hard work of our students. We remain committed to building on this momentum and ensuring that all our students, across every grade level, have the opportunities and education to improve their quality of life.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona added 700 nonfarm jobs in August, a modest increase that ranked the state 31st nationally in monthly job growth, according to a new analysis by the Common Sense Institute (CSI). Nationally, the U.S. economy gained 22,000 jobs, while 18 states recorded employment losses.
On an annual basis, Arizona showed stronger momentum, adding 41,400 jobs over the past year, a 1.29% gain that placed it 15th in the nation. However, CSI noted that the state has shed 15,100 jobs since April 2025, marking the second-highest nominal job loss in the country during that period and the fifth worst relative decline at 0.46%. Arizona’s unemployment rate remained at 4.1% in August, unchanged for six straight months. Labor force participation also held steady at 61.4%, below its pre-pandemic level of 62.2%.
Manufacturing led the way in August with 1,100 new jobs, a 0.6% increase that ranked Arizona third nationwide for monthly manufacturing growth. Despite the improvement, the sector remains down 1,100 jobs compared to last year. Mining and Logging posted the strongest year-over-year growth, adding 1,500 jobs, or 10.2%. By contrast, Leisure and Hospitality lost 0.6% of its workforce last month, while the Information sector continues to lag behind with a 2.7% year-over-year decline.
Average hourly wages in Arizona rose to $34.91, up 4.1% from August 2024. Adjusted for inflation, real wages increased 2.7% over the past year—outpacing the national average of 0.7%. Still, CSI’s report highlighted longer-term challenges: since April 2020, real wages in the state have fallen 4.3%.
Overall, the report points to a mixed picture for Arizona’s labor market: modest gains in key industries and wage growth, offset by lingering job losses since the spring and participation rates that remain below pre-pandemic levels.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
