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Brielle Kennington never imagined enrolling her children in a private school.
Raised by public educators, she believed deeply in the public system. And like many families, she tried to make it work.

Public school. Charter schools. Prenda. Online learning during COVID.

Each time, she hoped the next option would be the right fit.

Each time, her children struggled — emotionally and academically.

All three had 504 plans. Brielle found herself constantly advocating for basic accommodations. Meetings, emails, follow-ups. Exhaustion. Resistance. Little progress.

Meanwhile, the impact at home was growing.

Her children came home drained. Emotionally explosive. Their self-esteem at an all-time low. The family was spending significant time and money on occupational therapy, tutoring, counseling, and extra support — just trying to offset the damage from negative school experiences.

“It felt like I was losing my children.”

At one point, they were considering moving cities altogether, hoping a larger community might offer better educational options. Then they found Flagstaff Christian School.

They were hesitant, private school had never been part of the plan. Through Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program though, it became possible. The change has been remarkable.

Today, her children no longer have 504 plans. They don’t need them. Their teachers meet their needs proactively — without negotiation. They are known. Challenged. Encouraged.

Their confidence has soared. They wake up excited to go to school. They are thriving academically, socially, and emotionally.

ESA didn’t just change where her children attend school. It changed how they experience learning.

Brielle now works full-time. Her husband takes on additional side work to cover the remaining tuition costs not covered by ESA. They sacrifice because they’ve seen what the right environment can do.

Without ESA, they could not afford to keep their three children enrolled.

“It makes me sick to think that we would need to choose which child would not get to attend the school that has facilitated their immense growth and happiness.”

For this dual-income, first-generation Christian school family, ESA isn’t political. It’s personal. It’s about three children who were struggling — and are now flourishing.

When efforts are made to limit ESAs or restrict educational freedom, families like Brielle’s are the ones who face impossible choices. School choice is not theoretical. It is about real children — and the opportunity to help them thrive.

Angela Hamby and her husband are a dual-income family living in Northern Arizona.

When both parents needed to return to work, homeschooling was no longer sustainable. They enrolled their daughter in a Montessori school nearly 30 miles from their small town, hoping it would be a good fit.

It wasn’t.

Over time, they began to realize the school’s emphasis and curriculum did not align with their family’s religious convictions. A required sex education program conflicted with their beliefs, and when they requested to review the materials, the process felt unnecessarily difficult and discouraging.

Although they were permitted to opt their daughter out, she was the only student not participating. She was required to sit alone in a separate room while 30 classmates attended the session.

For a teenage girl, that isolation was deeply uncomfortable.

There were also classroom comments about political figures that the family felt crossed the line from education into opinion. Taken together, the environment no longer felt healthy or supportive.

Angela and her husband weren’t looking for something elite or exclusive.

They were simply looking for a school that reinforced the values they teach at home.

Through Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, they were able to enroll their daughter at Flagstaff Christian School — a smaller, faith-centered school that proved to be a dramatically better fit.

The difference has been significant.

With approximately 120 students combined in the middle and high school, the smaller environment provides meaningful one-on-one instruction. Teachers know their students personally. Mentorship is intentional. Structure is clear.

She even completed 12 college credits before entering her senior year.

After briefly experiencing the size and pace of a local district high school, she felt overwhelmed. That confirmed what her parents already sensed — a smaller, structured setting was better for her learning style and personal growth.

ESA made that possible.

Living in Northern Arizona comes with financial realities, including higher housing costs. Without ESA funding, attending a local Christian school would not be financially feasible for their dual-income household.

Today, Angela describes their school as a source of hope and stability during the challenging teenage years. They volunteer regularly because they value the opportunity so deeply.

If ESA funding were no longer available, they would return to homeschooling rather than enroll in public school.

For this family, ESA is not about preference.

It is about fit.
It is about values.
It is about choosing the right environment for their daughter to grow and thrive.

When efforts are made to limit ESAs or restrict educational freedom, families like Angela’s are the ones who feel the impact.

School choice is not theoretical.

It is personal.
It is about real children.

And it gives parents the ability to choose the educational path that best meets their child’s needs — regardless of income or zip code.

Angela Butler has spent 23 years as a public educator.

She believes in education. She believes in teachers. She believes in students.

But when her own son became the target of extreme bullying, everything changed.

In the final nine weeks at his previous school, he attended only six days. The bullying was so severe that he no longer felt safe walking into the building. The emotional toll was devastating. Angela watched her son spiral into depression and suicidal thoughts.

“He was suicidal and emotionally unable to continue in that environment.”

As a mother, and as an educator, she was heartbroken.

Private education was not financially possible for their hardworking, dual-income family. Without options, they were facing a future of either returning him to an unsafe situation or attempting homeschooling simply to protect his mental health.

Then came the opportunity to use an ESA scholarship.

Through Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, Angela was able to enroll her son at Grace Fellowship Academy – a Christian school that not only offered safety and structure but reinforced the faith and values their family teaches at home.

For the Butler family, that alignment mattered deeply.

The change was immediate.

This year, he has missed only four days of school. He is thriving academically. He is emotionally healthy. He feels safe. And he is growing in an environment that supports the values his family holds dear.

“ESA saved my son, and has brought our boy back to us.”

For Angela’s family, ESA wasn’t about preference.
It wasn’t about luxury. It wasn’t about politics.

It was about survival.

Without ESA, her son would likely have been homeschooled because she does not believe he would be emotionally capable of going back to his previous environment. Something that would have severely impacted their dual-income household.

School choice is not theoretical.

It is personal. It is about real children.

It gives parents the freedom to protect their children and the ability to choose an environment aligned with their values.

And sometimes, it quite literally saves a life.