Education (Student Financial Aid)

SB 1306 expands Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to allow more families to use public funds for private education. It adds new eligibility requirements: students must either attend public school full-time for most of the prior year (with a transfer agreement) or provide proof of family income below $200,000 (adjusted annually after 2027). The bill specifies that ESA funds can cover tuition at qualified schools, textbooks, educational therapies, tutoring, online programs, standardized tests, and postsecondary costs, but prohibits using funds for school tuition organizations concurrently. This directly affects Arizona families with school-aged children meeting the income or attendance criteria, starting in 2027.

HCR 2027 would change Arizona's rules for determining in-state tuition eligibility at public universities and community colleges. To qualify as an in-state student for tuition purposes starting July 1, 2027, students must have completed at least two years of K-12 education in Arizona (in public, private, or homeschool settings, or via an Arizona scholarship program), graduated from an Arizona high school or earned an Arizona high school equivalency diploma, and be a U.S. citizen, legal resident, or hold lawful immigration status. Community colleges would be required to deny in-state tuition rates to students who do not meet these new criteria. The bill is a voter-approved measure, currently awaiting approval in the next general election.