Arizona is a leader. It leads the country in school choice for scholars in kindergarten through high school. As home to a culturally and linguistically diverse population, Arizona’s school choice provides its citizens with a variety of school settings, each with its distinct curricula and teaching methods.
School choice policy began in small steps; first, it was for scholars with special needs, with another step benefiting students who were failing in traditional school settings, then it included active duty military parents, and it expanded to include children living on Indian reservations.
Today, Arizona has a policy of open enrollment. This means that any scholar can attend any public school in the state. Known as “the gold standard for educational freedom,” this policy was enacted by then Governor Doug Ducey when he signed the first-ever universal school choice bill in 2022. He publicly acknowledged that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for good education, but rather, parents need to have the freedom to choose a school that fits their children’s learning styles and developmental needs.
In this blog, let’s look at the various issues surrounding school choice. We’ll explore:
- What school choice is in Arizona
- The different types of school settings available in the state
- The benefits of school choice for families
- Why many parents choose charter schools for their families
- How to navigate school choice in Arizona
What is school choice in Arizona?
Arizona scholars have school choice, meaning families can choose to attend a school other than their neighborhood school. This gives parents the option of selecting a school that best fits their child’s needs.
If a parent decides that the public school their child attends is not giving them the type of education or support their child needs, they can opt out of this school and join the Education Savings Account program (ESA). Here, their tax dollars for their child’s education are applied to a private school of their choice, including virtual options. They can use an average of $7,143 to pay for schooling in a group of approved, private K–12 schools. The universal school choice bill (H.B. 2853) allows leftover money to be spent on school supplies and electronics.
As a result of Senator Doug Ducey’s leadership in 2022, Arizona remains the leading state in school choice.
The Different Types of School Settings Available in Arizona
Parents in Arizona can choose from five different types of schools for their children:
- Traditional district schools: 261 public districts have most of the state’s scholars enrolled.
- Private schools: some are associated with the Christian Church, others are preparatory schools for college-bound scholars, and others teach with a specific emphasis or pedagogy. Private schools require parents to pay tuition, but ESAs provide the bulk of that payment.
- Charter schools: these are tuition-free public schools. Arizona is home to over 570 charter schools; some are K-8, some are K-12, and others are only for high school students. Each school is focused on a particular methodology of teaching.
- Homeschooling: parents may elect to teach their children at home. They may use ESA money to adequately supply their homes with the teaching needs.
- Online schools: with this option, children can access schooling from home on their computers.
Other types of Arizona schools include magnet schools and micro schools for a small body of students.
The Leman Virtual Academy offers scholars the option of learning online. Though they learn at home, scholars have the opportunity to participate in in-person and online clubs with their classmates and teachers. They can also participate in athletics and extracurricular activities on Leman’s campuses. The Virtual Academy is a tuition-free, classical education school choice for parents.
Benefits of School Choice for Families
According to the American Federation for Children, states with school choice witness many benefits. Among them are:
- Increased college enrollment
- Increased reading and math comprehension
- School choice reduces crime
- Vouchers serve less-advantaged scholars
- Increased School Safety
The best benefit of school choice is the chance to find the right school for your child. Perhaps your child is gifted and needs more challenging academic material. Or maybe your child excels in fine arts or a more hands-on approach to learning. With school choice, you can explore the different schools and their teaching methods to find the one that is just right for your child.
In this way, when you find the school that best matches your child’s talents, needs, and desires, you’ll witness progress in his or her academic performance. You can watch your child bloom in an environment that is supportive and engaging.
Specialized programs that you’ll find in schools other than the traditional district schools include emphases on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), college preparatory with a rigorous academic schedule, Montessori programs for children who perform best with a hands-on-approach, fine arts in visual arts and music, and the classical education model.
Additionally, many non-traditional schools have a smaller teacher-student ratio, thus giving your child more time and attention.
Why Many Parents Choose Charter Schools
When parents realize their children aren’t performing to their potential in traditional district schools, they explore options. More and more, parents are choosing one of the hundreds of charter schools in Arizona.
Tuition-free public charter schools offer innovative curricula and pedagogy, distinct from traditional schools. Charter schools allow scholars more autonomy in their work, and scholars can perform up to their potential. Parental involvement is welcomed in charter schools, where parents are viewed as “partners” by the schools.
All charter schools in Arizona are required to meet educational standards set by both the Arizona State Board for Charter Schools and the Arizona State Board of Education. Charter schools are thus required to meet all state academic standards. While charters are held to the same standard as public schools by the state, many believe charter schools are held to a higher standard, but that is not the case.
In addition to rising charter school enrollment, Classical Education is making a comeback. Parents are “flocking” to schools that teach the classical method. Why is this teaching method becoming so popular? Because of its dual magnet: It teaches scholars how to think, and it develops character in the children who attend.
Classical Education is a key advantage in The Leman Academy of Excellence. A public, tuition-free charter school, Leman offers classical learning aligned with the Trivium. Of the three learning stages in the Trivium; grammar, logic, and rhetoric, Leman’s K-8 schools teach the grammar and logic stages while preparing their scholars for the rhetoric stage to follow in high school.
How Leman Academy Fits into Arizona’s School Choice Landscape
As a top classical education K-8 school, Leman’s curricula of integrated studies focuses on classical literature, language, and history in addition to math, science, and social science. In the Grammar Stage, which aligns with grades 1-6, scholars fill their knowledge banks with facts, names, events, dates, and other foundational information.
The Logic Stage, during the middle school years, is where scholars apply higher-level thinking to the information acquired in the Grammar Stage. Through classical texts, Socratic discussions, and project collaboration, scholars at Leman learn to think critically about the subjects they study.
Leman has schools in both Arizona and Colorado. Parents in these states view Leman as a top school option. In particular, Leman Academy is founded on the principles of Dr. Kevin Leman, a renowned psychologist and author specializing in parenting and education. This reassures parents about the quality of its curriculum and student character development.
“We absolutely love it. We were accepted by four other charter schools, all good in their own ways, in my book, but after we toured Leman it felt like home. I actually drive a half-hour each way for my twins to attend.”
– A parent of Leman Academy
“Since coming to Leman Academy, I feel like my learning has really taken off. The teachers are so supportive and always push me to reach my full potential, while also making sure I understand the material.”
– A student of Leman Academy
How to Navigate School Choice in Arizona
As a resident of the leading school choice state in the country, you might feel overwhelmed with the many options before you. You might find this Schools Near Me tool helpful for exploring your local school options.
Before you begin your search, clarify what you are seeking in an environment for your child. Search the schools you discover online, then attend them personally. See when their open enrollment is scheduled. Be sure to ask any questions you have. Make notes of application and enrollment deadlines, and become familiar with the schools’ processes for registration.
Most schools have a waiting list when the number of applicants exceeds the seats available. When one opens up, a lottery is used to randomly select the scholar to fill that seat.
Arizona Department of Education links can be found here to answer more of your questions about school choice.
Conclusion
As you set out on your school choice journey, remember that finding the right school for your child impacts his or her future. Choosing the best-fitting school for a scholar leads to college acceptance, academic success as high as the scholar’s potential, the opportunity for a scholar to excel in his or her area of interest, and a best chance at support, safety, and engagement.
In Arizona, the buffet of schools to choose from is the largest in the country. Explore, discover, and find what is best for your children.
Learn more about the Leman Academy of Excellence and how they can be a second home to the scholar in your home.