Future of ESA program in hands of voters after negotiation breakdowns

The future of Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA) program now rests in voters' hands after failed legislative negotiations. Competing measures are headed to the ballot, setting up a series of legal, language, and campaign battles before the election. Legislators' attempts to finalize a compromise have repeatedly stalled, meaning the program's fate will be decided by the public. This outcome underscores the contentious nature of school choice initiatives and highlights the role of direct democracy in shaping education policy.