Taxpayer-funded school vouchers used for Disneyland trips and international travel, public records obtained by 12News show

PHOENIX — Spending documents obtained through a public records lawsuit reveal that Arizona taxpayer-funded education vouchers have paid for travel across the United States — and even around the world.

RELATED: At least $7.2 million in taxpayer funds spent on LEGO sets through Arizona’s school voucher program, records show

Documents reviewed by 12News Investigates show that money from Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program has been used for expenses tied to trips in 44 states and 13 other countries since 2022, the year Arizona launched the nation’s first universal school choice program available to all families regardless of income.

The records suggest that taxpayer-funded education dollars have been used for everything from Disneyland visits to international sightseeing tours.

For many children, a trip to Disneyland is a dream vacation.

But the newly released public records raise a key question: Should taxpayers be paying for it?

Data reviewed by 12News Investigates shows that at least $21,000 was spent on Disney parks, Disney stores, and Disney’s streaming service by more than 100 ESA accounts since 2022.

Disneyland is just one example.

Ivy League researchers analyzing the data say ESA-funded travel appears to extend far beyond California.

“There’s a lot of travel to New York City. There’s a lot of travel to Washington, D.C., plenty of events going on in England. There’s travel to Jordan to see Petra,” said Jennifer Jennings, a Princeton University professor who studies school choice and analyzed the spending records for 12News.

In 2023, Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne publicly rejected claims that ESA funds were being used for vacations.

In a press release at the time, Horne said purchases such as trips to Disney parks, cruises, food items, or personal vacations were not approved ESA expenses.

“They continue to say outlandish purchases such as trips to Disney parks, personal vacations, food items, ocean cruises and the like are being approved as ESA expenses when they are not,” Horne said.

However, after 12News sued both Horne’s office and the Arizona Treasurer to obtain more than 5 million public ESA spending records, the receipts were eventually released — and the data tells a different story.

Last year, 12News Investigates reported that a pro-voucher organization was advising parents how to use ESA funds during family trips.

Jenny Clark, leader of the pro-voucher group Love Your School and others, in a previously recorded presentation, told parents that if they were going to San Diego, the San Diego Zoo is covered by ESA funds. 

Clark could not be reached for comment for this story.

The records also show that hundreds of ESA parents were reimbursed for travel expenses while visiting destinations around the world with their children.

A previous 12News analysis found families participating in the ESA program are more likely to live in higher-income ZIP codes.

Jennings says the spending could fuel criticism of the program.

“People generally don’t like paying for things that are both luxury goods and that they themselves can’t afford,” she said.

She added that the records raise troubling questions about how taxpayer funds are being used.

“Honestly, it’s shameful. I don’t know what else to say. These funds are being treated as a kind of a nice windfall,” Jennings said.

Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who is running against Horne for state superintendent, declined an interview request.

In a statement, she said her office does not oversee ESA spending.

“This office does not oversee or supervise ESA spending,” Yee said. “As the state’s chief financial officer, safeguarding taxpayer dollars is my highest priority. Fraud is never acceptable, and any suspected or confirmed cases must be fully investigated by Superintendent Horne and the Arizona Department of Education.”

Horne’s office defended how the program is being managed.

“The department is operating the ESA program in accordance with state law,” a statement from the Arizona Department of Education said. “There is a process to review and audit purchases. When an unallowable expense of any type is determined, the account is suspended. Action can be taken to recover funds or refer the matter to law enforcement.”

According to the department, more than $1.2 million has been recovered through enforcement actions so far.

Last month, 12News Investigates reported that parents had misspent at least $10 million in ESA funds, including some cases where parents paid themselves using the education accounts.

Officials say certain field trip destinations — such as museums, SeaWorld, or the San Diego Zoo — may be allowed educational expenses under ESA rules.

However, the records obtained by 12News also show thousands of dollars spent on airfare and luxury resorts, which are not allowed.

The documents became public only after nearly a year of legal battles between 12News and Horne and Yee’s offices. Both Horne and Yee have refused to disclose how much they have spent on outside legal fees in their effort to stop 12News from obtaining the public records.

So far, the Arizona Department of Education has not provided any updated figures as to how many ESA accounts have been frozen or suspended as a result of questionable spending.

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