Arizona Education Network

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A bi-partisan task force met in the House today for a second hearing covering investigations of  School Tuition Organizations (STOs) and reform of the private-school tax credit program.  STOs currently take in donations to give to private school students.  According to recent investigative reporting by both the Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune, some STOs fail to meet the spirit of the legislation to help poor to medium income families send their children to private schools.  A representative from the Attorney General’s office, Susan Meyers, was also at hand to give testimony regarding the lack of regulation and oversight that the AGs office has found. In addition, concerned citizens gave testimony ranging from distress over lack of oversight to the financial effects of private-school tax credits on the general fund in a time of large budget deficits.

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Attorney General’s Findings:

AG-Consumer Protection Section, Private School Tax Credits Program

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Financial Ramifications:

testimony on means testing private-school tax credit program

Corresponding Documentation:

JLBC Report, October 22, 2009

The Equity Impact of Arizona’s Education Tax Credit Program: A Review of the First Three Years

School Enrollment Growth in Arizona

Citizens Financial Review Commission – An Examination of Personal Income Tax Credits

Schooling Tax Credit Scrutiny Often Lags in Arizona, Arizona Republic

‘Republic’ Analysis: Tuition Tax Credits Drain State Money, Arizona Republic

Tuition Aid Benefits Wealthy Families. Raises Worries, Arizona Republic

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Media Links:

Survey data incomplete on tuition tax credits, East Valley Tribune, November 16, 2009
Professor puts saving for state at up to $186M, Speculative figures given, Republic found $8M, Arizona Republic, November 17, 2009
Hearing on student tuition tax credits gets testy, Arizona Guardian, November 16, 2009

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Tuition aid not just to the needy,  Arizona Republic, November 15, 2009
AG office advises changes to tax credit law, East Valley Tribune, November 15, 2009

Arizona may sue tuition groups holding donations, Arizona Republic, November 13, 2009
Interview with Task Force Chairman David Chapira, Arizona Guardian, November 12, 2009
Lawmaker questions unspent tuition dollars, East Valley Tribune, November 12, 2009
Capital Censorship, The Arizona Guardian, November 12, 2009.
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Speeches presented to the Task Force:

STOs–Possible Solutions
Mildred Norman speech
Task-Force-Comments Darland

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