The proposed bill, SB1706, mandates the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to prepare and submit a quarterly report on the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program. This report must be consistent with federal law and shared with the State Board of Education, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Additionally, the report will be posted on the ADE's website and provided to the Secretary of State. The report will include detailed information such as the number of applications received, their approval or denial status, the number of qualified students disaggregated by various categories, the annual award amounts, and the percentage of accredited schools.

The new bill expands the current reporting requirements by specifying additional data points that must be included in the quarterly report, such as the types of educational services used, the demographics of the students, and the amount of approved expenses. It also clarifies the definition of "type of educational services" to include both qualified schools and instruction from approved vendors outside of qualified schools. Overall, SB1706 aims to enhance transparency and accountability in the ESA Program by providing comprehensive data on its operations and participants.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 15-2406