Arizona ESA students can’t play public school sports, but new bill would change that

PHOENIX — An Arizona lawmaker wants to let students who use ESAs compete alongside their public school peers in sports and other interscholastic activities if they pay their share.

Republican state Sen. John Kavanagh introduced SB 1004 as a way to expand opportunities students who receive ESA (Empowerment Scholarship Account) school vouchers.

“I believe that extracurricular activities, be it the chess club or the football team, are an important part of student development and learning. And I don’t think that students should be excluded from public educational opportunities just because they’re on an ESA,” he said.

Why can’t ESA students participate in public school sports?

The ESA program lets families use taxpayer education dollars for alternative learning options such as private school tuition or homeschooling supplies.

Currently, students outside the public school system who don’t receive ESA funding are allowed to participate in interscholastic activities if their school does not offer the programs. But the same does not apply to ESA students because of funding concerns.

All households pay taxes that fund local school districts, and therefore fund sports programs. But when a parent receives those tax dollars back through the ESA program, they are no longer paying for the activities.

The solution to this, according to Kavanagh’s proposal, is for ESA parents to pay for their share of the activities.

“Under this version the bill, the student could still be charged whatever fee the district students have to pay for the activity. And in addition, the parent would have to pay that share of the parent’s ESA amount that is equal to … the amount the school pays for the program as a percentage of their total revenue.”

Additionally, ESA students would have to prove they are meeting the educational standards for public school athletes, including submitting their class grades.

This policy is currently school district dependent, with each district able to decide if ESA students are able to play. The new bill would make this a statewide policy.

Kavanagh introduced a similar bill last year, but it did not pass. He said he added details about parents paying schools for the sports programs, which he hopes will push it through.

He believes those who oppose his plan see private schools and homeschooling as a threat to public schools.

“I think a lot of opponents of school choice, meaning people getting vouchers or just not sending their kids without a voucher to a private school or homeschooling, believe that that’s competition for district schools, and they don’t want to help the competition,” he said.

Mesa ESA family having hard time finding opportunities for son

Sara Johnson, a mom of three kids using ESAs in Mesa, said that one of her children is interested in participating in some programs at Westwood High School.

“Our son would like to participate in marching band and potentially basketball. So, we have a call into them, but they haven’t returned it yet about what that looks like to get him registered,” she said.

A spokesperson with Mesa Public Schools contradicted her claim, saying Mesa Public Schools welcomes these students to participate in our programs, with 10 ESA participants playing on Mesa Public Schools sports teams this year. The district charges parents different amounts per sports program.

Johnson went on to explain there are enrichment programs through the Mesa Public Schools that offer elective classes, but once students reach high school it becomes harder to find those opportunities.

“We have seen a collapse of intermural sports for kids over the age of 13, especially if they are not wanting to participate in sports in a way that has a goal of college scholarship,” she said, explaining that groups like Little League end at high school.

Johnson said she would be interested in paying so her son could play if Kavanagh’s bill passes.

Rural students have few options outside public school sports

Another Arizona mom in the Eagar area said her three children would like to participate in interscholastic activities, with little to no other sports options in in rural communities like hers.

The woman, who prefers to remain anonymous, wrote a letter to the local school board earlier this year requesting that the ESA contract be counted as an affidavit to allow her kids to play.

“Opening school sports programs to homeschooled ESA students would not only provide these students with opportunities, but could also allow the district to charge fees for sports participation, generating additional income that could be utilized to support the district’s sports programs, which often face significant funding challenges,” she wrote in the letter.

Funding for this journalism is made possible by the Arizona Local News Foundation.

Related

Does Arizona's ESA program cost $1 billion? Nonprofit clashes with officials over exact amountESA handbook approved, removing spending limits for purchasesHobbs calls Arizona ESA voucher program a 'billion-dollar boondoggle'Peoria Unified board member questions quality of training, alleges sex scandal cover-upPeoria Unified governing board members deny accusations surrounding teacher sex caseArizona judge rejects Republican effort to block ESA reform ballot initiative; appeal planned