The state of Arizona became the first state in the nation to make access to great education accessible for all. No longer would most students be constrained to their local public school if that school did not fit their needs. It was Governor Doug Ducey (2015-2023) whose leadership was instrumental in creating the most expansive education scholarship program in the nation, at that time. In his honor, STOP for Arizona Education Awards totalling $2 million were given to six outstanding Arizona education providers to expand access so that families would have additional innovative choices using Empowerment Scholarships. “Governor Ducey has set a new standard for the entire nation. We created this award to honor his and all of Arizona’s efforts to expand access to exceptional education opportunities for students. While we initially pledged $500,000 for the Ducey Prize and $100,000 for each of the five other STOP for Arizona Awards, we were so excited by the plans we read that we decided to double it, to accelerate the work of these stellar educators and innovators,” said Janine Yass, the Prize’s visionary.

Congratulations to these outstanding education providers who made a commitment to expanding their work to more families to be able to use the state’s pioneering Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for their students