A recent investigation by 12News in Phoenix uncovered widespread misuse of school voucher funds by some families who received them. Journalists found that school voucher families used education tax dollars for luxury items such as diamond rings, resort vacations, and high-end grills.
School vouchers are certificates that let parents use public education funds for private school tuition or homeschooling. Tax dollars are diverted from public schools to fund school vouchers, but there is typically very little oversight once the funds have been distributed.
The state of Arizona has approved $124 million in voucher spending since late 2024, automatically approving any expense under $2,000. This unchecked spending has been occurring at the same time that Arizona’s public schools are crumbling due to lack of funding.
In fact, a judge ruled in August of 2025 that the lack of sufficient funding for some Arizona public school districts is unconstitutional. The ruling included photos of damaged roofs, cracked floors, and peeling walls, and cited teachers needing donations to buy basic supplies like books. School vouchers are pulling $1 billion from Arizona’s public schools this school year alone.
