Arizona State lawmakers are calling on Governor Doug Ducey to withhold funding from school districts that defy the prohibition against mask mandates. The lawmakers want the governor to make vouchers available to families within any school district that is non-compliant with state law.
From Tucson Unified School District in southern Arizona to Flagstaff Unified School District in northern Arizona, school leaders are instituting mask mandates in violation of the prohibition approved by the Legislature, and signed into law by the governor in May.
Technically the prohibition does not go into effect until September 29, but some argue that the law included a retroactive clause that district’s should abide by.
Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham, House Majority Whip Leo Biasiucci along with Representatives Brenda Barton, Judy Burges, Joseph Chaplik, John Fillmore, Shawnna Bolick, Mark Finchem, Jake Hoffman, Steve Kaiser, Quang Nguyen, Becky Nutt, Jacqueline Parker, Beverly Pingerelli, Bret Roberts, and Justin Wilmeth joined Senate Majority Whip Sonny Borrelli, and Senators Nancy Barto, Sine Kerr, David Livingston, J.D. Mesnard, Warren Petersen, Wendy Rogers, Kelly Townsend, and Michelle Ugenti-Rita in making the request of the governor:
1. Withhold the federal funding currently under the Governor’s management from any school district that is non-compliant with state law.
2. Authorize temporary Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) for all students trapped within any school district that is non-compliant with state law.
3. Send a notice to all families within the boundaries of a school district that is non-compliant with state law empowering them with the following information:
a. The retroactive June 30, 2021 effective date of the law prohibiting mask mandates.
b. The availability of the newly authorized temporary Empower Scholarship Accounts (item #2 above) and how to take advantage of them.
c. The abundance of school choice options afforded to them by state law including, but not limited to, public school open enrollment, public school out of boundary enrollment, public charter school enrollment, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, micro-schools, learning pods, STO scholarships, online curriculum, and home school opportunities.
4. Initiate legal action against any school district that is non-compliant with state law.
The lawmakers call the district’s’ decision implement mandates “a blatant disregard for the State of Arizona’s authority,” and an affront to the very core of our state and nation’s form of government. A resounding message must be delivered to any local government or subdivision of the state considering defying state law—lawlessness will not be tolerated.”