School Voucher Opponents Qualify For Ballot

The group looking to undo the state's recent move to greatly expand its school voucher program has scored a major victory, qualifying for the ballot in November, 2018. Save Our Schools Arizona, the group that organized the petition drive, was notified of the news late Friday.

The ballot measure will force voters to decide whether or not to keep the program, which makes all 1.1 million K-12 students in the state eligible to apply for the program but puts a cap on the number who can participate.

The law states only 5,000 new students each year can take part with the total being limited to 30,000 in 2022. (For more local news, subscribe to the Phoenix Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts).

SOS Arizona had 90 days to collect at least 75,000 valid signatures. They turned in more than 100,000.

The state's election director, Eric Spencer, announced the news on Twitter.

Governor Ducey, who helped maneuver the bill expanding the program to passage, has not yet commented on the group qualifying for the ballot.

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