Sen. Allen supports education referendum

The Payson Roundup reported that State Senator Sylvia Allen stopped by the Payson Tea Party to discuss and recommend how to vote on the five propositions on the November ballot.

One touchstone proposition, a referendum on education, Proposition 305 which asks voters to expand Empowerment Scholarship Accounts that allow a parent to opt out of the federally mandated special education services available at their local public school district. Instead of educating their child there, they can take that money and take their child to a private school or to have services brought to their home. Lawmakers have repeatedly expanded the program. The latest rules would eventually make virtually any child in the state eligible for the vouchers to attend private school.

Since the program started in 2011, ESAs have exploded to use approximately 10 percent of the special education funding from public schools, according to reports.

Morrison Institute has done an analysis on the pros and cons for parents.

Critics of the ESA program say the program has no accountability to make sure the taxpayer funds go to meet the students’ needs, but Allen said, “It is very much monitored.”

READ: Sylvia Allen offers her perspective on the propositions