Arizona's school voucher program faces scrutiny after private school closure

Arizona's school voucher program, known as the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), lacks transparency regarding private schools' financial health and academic performance. This has raised concerns after Title of Liberty Academy, a private school, abruptly closed due to financial issues just months after opening. Parents were unaware that Title of Liberty was previously a charter school, ARCHES Academy, which had been shut down for financial problems and poor academic results. The ESA program allows parents to use taxpayer funds for private education without oversight, leading to situations where schools can operate without accountability. The Arizona Department of Education does not track how public funds are used by private schools, leaving parents to navigate the quality and reliability of educational options on their own. This lack of regulation contrasts sharply with the oversight required for public schools.