State Room Arizona 016: AZ Treasurer Kimberly Yee | School Choice & the Race for Superintendent

As you described it, Arizona has been a pioneer state.

The leader in the country related to school choice.

I'm a native to Arizona.

I was in high school when the charter school enabling legislation was passed, when open enrollment was established, which it's just crazy to think that there was a time that you couldn't pick a school outside your district.

But that, I mean, 30 years is a longer time.

But even then, it's like, in the grand scheme of things, isn't that long that you had that situation.

But I remember even when charters were starting up, they were the punchline to jokes.

I mean, that was because it was a cultural thing.

It's like, what are these charters, what are you even talking about? Right.

And in a period of about 10 years, it went from them being punchline to jokes to them being some of the top performing schools, not just here in Arizona, but in the country.

And now, I mean, you look at it, it's just now it's become part of the culture.

School choice is part of the culture.

And it's great to hear and great to know that you were part of all of that.

I have been.

And that's why we have to protect it, because I have been part of truly the foundation of what school choice has been created to become as that model in the country.

And when you see the other side try to break it down, I mean, even charter schools after 30 years, the other side wants to start putting more regulations on them.

Why? Because it's their competition.

And that is something that is really concerning given that charter schools have this record of great success academically and have been a model of giving that parent a new alternative to how their child best, you know, learns.

When we see ESAs and potential headlines, that's sort of where charter schools were back in the earliest days.

And I always say, you know, there are some road bumps, you know, along the way, but that's always the case when you start a brand new innovative model.

And it is something that we need to focus very carefully on because this election season is going to be critical because the narrative has been based on false information.

And we have to allow the voters in Arizona to see 100,000 families have chosen to use this wonderful education model for their child.

And it's education freedom, and we have to protect that freedom.

Yeah, and exactly what you described where you did these new choice options.

First up, enrollment charges.

As you described it, Arizona has been a pioneer state.

The leader in the country related to school choice.

I'm a native to Arizona.

I was in high school when the charter school enabling legislation was passed, when open enrollment was established, which it's just crazy to think that there was a time that you couldn't pick a school outside your district.

But that, I mean, 30 years is a longer time.

But even then, it's like, in the grand scheme of things, isn't that long that you had that situation.

But I remember even when charters were starting up, they were the punchline to jokes.

I mean, that was because it was a cultural thing.

It's like, what are these charters, what are you even talking about? Right.

And in a period of about 10 years, it went from them being punchline to jokes to them being some of the top performing schools, not just here in Arizona, but in the country.

And now, I mean, you look at it, it's just now it's become part of the culture.

School choice is part of the culture.

And it's great to hear and great to know that you were part of all of that.

I have been.

And that's why we have to protect it, because I have been part of truly the foundation of what school choice has been created to become as that model in the country.

And when you see the other side try to break it down, I mean, even charter schools after 30 years, the other side wants to start putting more regulations on them.

Why? Because it's their competition.

And that is something that is really concerning given that charter schools have this record of great success academically and have been a model of giving that parent a new alternative to how their child best, you know, learns.

When we see ESAs and potential headlines, that's sort of where charter schools were back in the earliest days.

And I always say, you know, there are some road bumps, you know, along the way, but that's always the case when you start a brand new innovative model.

And it is something that we need to focus very carefully on because this election season is going to be critical because the narrative has been based on false information.

And we have to allow the voters in Arizona to see 100,000 families have chosen to use this wonderful education model for their child.

And it's education freedom, and we have to protect that freedom.

Yeah, and exactly what you described where you did these new choice options.

First up, enrollment charges.