4 Ways to Champion Choice
The Arizona Tuition Tax Credit program isn’t about which education system is superior. It’s about empowering parents to have choices, regardless of income, as it relates to where their child learns best. Each child will thrive in a different educational environment (public, charter or private), but parents should have the ability to choose which one will be most effective for their son or daughter. So how can you be a part of the movement? Here are four fool-proof ways to champion school choice: (1) Make a tax credit contribution. Give online, and your contribution will qualify for a 100% dollar-for-dollar tax credit against your AZ state income tax obligation. (2) Stay informed about school choice. Check out websites like Arizona School Choice, Arizona School Tuition Organization Association and Arizona Department of Revenue for the latest on school choice initiatives. (3) Thank your local leadership for their support. The governor’s office, state legislators, school boards, places of worship and corporate donors all have a hand in making school choice possible. Be sure to let those in your community know you care. (4) Share your story! Contact us online or by email to let us how your family benefits from school choice tax credits.
APRIL 30, 2013 — Last Day to Submit 2012-2013 Scholarship Applications
Monday, April 30, 2013 is the final date in which to complete and file your 2012-2013 scholarship application. The 2013-2014 application will be available in March 2013! Please call us at 480-699-8911 if we can provide you with any further information.
PLUS (Private Learning Uplifting Students) TAX CREDIT DONATIONS
With the passing of Senate Bill 1047, Arizona taxpayers will have the opportunity in 2012 to donate an additional $500 for single individuals and $1,000 for married couples under the guidelines of the “New” PLUS Tax Credit program. Scholarships provided from donations that claim the additional (PLUS) credit are restricted to benefitting students that fit into specific categories that encourage school choice: STUDENTS THAT BENEFIT FROM “PLUS” DONATIONS: A. Students that attended a governmental primary or secondary school as a full-time student or attended a preschool program that offers services to students with disabilities for at least 90 days of the prior fiscal year and transferred from a governmental primary or secondary school to a qualified private school. B. Enroll in a qualified school in a Kindergarten program. C. Is the dependent of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is stationed in this state pursuant to military orders. D. Received an educational scholarship or tuition grant under paragraph A, B or C above, and the children continue to attend a qualified school(s) in a subsequent year(s). • The FIRST $503 donated to a School Tuition Organization (or $1,006 for married Arizona taxpayers filing jointly) must be claimed on Form 323 before the second (PLUS) credit can be claimed. • The second donation of $500 for single taxpayers or $1,000 for married Arizona taxpayers filing jointly is eligible for an additional state tax credit and requires completing Form 348 to claim the credit. No credit can be claimed on a Form 348 until the maximum credit is claimed on the Form 323. • Donors will need to disclose on the Donation Form the tax year(s) they intend to claim the credit(s). A special meeting of the Arizona Student Tuition Organizations and the Department of Revenue is scheduled for the first week of May 2012 to finalize the process and procedures that support the new PLUS program. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO PROCESS THE NEW “PLUS” DONATIONS ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 1, 2012
Supreme Court Upholds Arizona Tuition Tax Credit Program!
Arizona school children and their parents won a major victory in the United States Supreme Court today. In a 5-4 decision, the court upheld Arizona’s Scholarship Tax Credit Program that enables thousands of families to send their children to the school of their choice.
The program allows Arizonans to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donations to School Tuition Organizations (STO), which then allocate scholarships to deserving students. The more than 50 nonprofit STOs in Arizona award scholarships annually to about 27,000 students. Continue reading
Qualification Process & Monthly Distributions
Did you know that the AZ Tuition Tax Credit Law was recently amended?
Recent changes to the law, while positive, have mandated new operational requirements for School Tuition Organizations like APESF to ensure the integrity of this vital program and proper stewardship of public funds. Among these changes is a requirement that all School Tuition Organizations must consider financial need as part of their application review and scholarship award process. Donor recommendations are still permitted but cannot be the only basis for scholarship awards. Continue reading
U.S. Supreme Court likely to vindicate legality of Arizona school choice program
School choice is back before the U.S. Supreme Court today with Garriott v. Winn, a lawsuit that involves a challenge to Arizona’s 13-year-old scholarship tax credit program. The program funds more than 27,000 scholarships for students to attend private schools. The state authorizes an income tax credit of up to $500 for individual contributions, and $1,000 for married couples, to privately operated School Tuition Organizations. In turn, these organizations award scholarships to cover private-school tuitions. Continue reading
You’re Invited: The Faces of School Choice Press Conference
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
1:30 PM
Arizona House Lawn
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, AZ
Tomorrow: Advocates Defend School Choice Before the U.S. Supreme Court
Washington, D.C. (November 2, 2010) – School choice will again take center stage in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, November 3, at 10 AM EDT as the constitutionality of a scholarship tax credit program in Arizona is argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. Continue reading
New Study Shows Arizona Tax Credits Serve Low- and Moderate-Income Families
Click here to read the article at the Institute for Justice. Continue reading
