Dear Parents,
I know many of you have been eagerly awaiting more information about the ESA program, especially with the new legislation that passed this summer and signed into law. As shared at Curriculum Night, we were advised to sit tight and wait to see what happens after September 24th as the opposition to this new legislation has until then to gather enough signatures to halt the new legislation and place it on an upcoming ballot. If enough signatures are obtained, there will most likely be legal maneuvering to determine how a referendum will appear on a particular ballot (either this November or in 2024).
The Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools Office and the Arizona Catholic Conference have teamed up to provide a short webinar to help families understand the new universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. A group of experts on ESA and Arizona tuition tax credits ("STOs") has been assembled to review what an ESA is, what the new ESA legislation entails, cautionary notes about the new legislation, and several areas of consideration when choosing to accept an ESA versus an STO scholarship.
We pray that this webinar is helpful to families considering the universal ESA program. Once the September 24 deadline passes and we know if the new ESA legislation takes effect, SJB and the Catholic Schools Office will provide additional helpful information to families.
Joyful Blessings,
Jamie Bescak, M.Ed., Principal