Our director on Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program:
07-13-2023 | Yellow Sheet Report
News Notes & Gossip: Talk about bad timing
One parent, Tonya Reiner, testified to the State Board of Education in February and claimed she had debit cards with more than $1,500 in trapped funds. ESA director Christine Accurso reached out to Reiner in an email at the time and wrote, “I believe it is better you take your concerns to the authorities,” rather than go through the department’s investigator.
05-08-2023 | Arizona Capitol Times
Arizona lawmakers propose increase in base education funding
Tonya Reiner, longtime ESA parent with two students with disabilities and leader with the Arizona Coalition of Parents for Equal Student Access, said she fears the impact universal spending could have. “I worry that the administration will continue to favor ESA students who attend private schools and fund them over students with disabilities,” Reiner said. “What happens when there’s not enough money for everyone? Will the students with special needs suffer even more under current ESA leadership?”
10-05-2011 | Citizen Impact
Arizona scholarship program faces lawsuit
Tonya Reiner’s two sons attend private schools in Prescott through the program. Both have autism, and Reiner said their needs were not being met in the local public-school district. Now, her 8- and 9-year-olds are thriving, and Reiner is worried she won’t be able to continue sending her sons to the schools if the program is struck down. “They’re now in a placement that meets their needs and has a trained staff to meet their needs,” said Reiner, who receives $20,000 for each child through the program. “This provides parents the opportunities to make the choice that will be beneficial to their child and their child’s needs.”