Answers about Arizona's new universal school voucher bill

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona lawmakers pushed through a major expansion Thursday of the state's private school voucher program that was quickly signed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey.

Under the programs, parents receive money from the state that they can spend on tuition at private, religious and charter schools.

Under the voucher program, the state will give that money to parents to spend on private school tuition, home schooling or tutoring costs, textbooks, testing and other education needs.

Arizona's program, known as the Empowerment Scholarship Account, began in 2011 and only applied to disabled students, but other groups, including those in failing schools, living on Indian reservations and foster children, were added over time.

Twenty-seven states have some sort of similar program allowing parents to pay for public schools with direct or indirect state funds, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Democratic opponents point out that GOP Senate President Steve Yarbrough profits from school choice through a school tax credit program he runs and a major House backer, Rep. Eddie Farnsworth, runs a chain of private charter schools.