EDUCATION
WELCOME TO IMAGINE BUCKEYE!
At Imagine Buckeye, we are proud to serve our students and families with a commitment to academic excellence and character development. Rooted in our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Open-Mindedness, and Honesty, everything we do—both in and out of the classroom—is designed to help our students grow into well-rounded, confident learners.
Top left: Kylee Ruark demonstrates how to knead donut dough on June 16, 2026, in Old Town Buckeye. Bottom left: Kylee Ruark gathers hot donuts a student crafted. Right: Students roll fashion donuts together and ice cooked donut dough.
ESA also paid for hands-on cooking classes, where her son learned to take volumetric measurements and use kitchen equipment, she said. Her older son began thriving, too. Passionate about cars, he enrolled in automotive classes, which weren’t available in public schools. “He inherited a truck from a family member,” Meredith said. “Now he drives it to work, maintaining it himself.” The ESA program has faced backlash, especially over reports of misuse. Merideth claims those were just a few rotten eggs in the dough. “What we agreed to when we signed up for it is that we have to reconcile our accounts,” she said. “We have to turn in receipts for everything that we buy, and we have to provide curriculum for what we buy.” Accountability is strict — receipts, curricula and reconciliations ensure every dollar supports learning, according to Meredith. However, she worries that proposed caps and restrictions could harm families who rely on the program. Despite that, she says it opened doors public schools never did. Her boys explored gardening, hatched chicks in an incubator, joined 4H, and dug deep into interests schools only skimmed. Said Meredith: “There are plenty of autistic children, and ESA provides the ability for these kids to have those special needs met instead of waiting a whole year or months even to get that accommodation met in a public school.”
ESA AND ITS CONTROVERSY EXPLAINED Arizona’s Education Savings Account program — once a niche initiative for students with disabilities — has ballooned into an $800 million system serving more than 70,000 students statewide. Supporters call it a breakthrough in school choice because of: DIRECT FUNDING TO FAMILIES. The ESA program provides taxpayer-funded scholarships — roughly
CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION. ESAs empower parents to tailor their child’s education, especially students who struggle in traditional settings. FLEXIBILITY. Unlike traditional vouchers limited to tuition, ESA funds can be used for a wide range of educational expenses, including online courses, special-needs therapy and homeschool materials, giving families unprecedented control. Critics call it an unregu- lated mess because of: ONGOING INVESTIGATION. Arizona’s attorney general is investigating whether ESA funds were illegally spent on luxury items or services unrelated to education. State auditors found instances of parents attempting to use funds for TVs, yoga classes and ski trips.
LACK OF OVERSIGHT. Parents aren’t required to demonstrate academic progress. Purchases are self-directed, and the Arizona Department of Education has struggled to track and enforce appropriate spending. Public school impact. The program’s explosive growth has siphoned money from public schools. Many ESA recipients were never enrolled in public schools to begin with, raising equity concerns. PROPOSED PROTECTIONS. A Republican-backed effort would lock ESA funding into the state constitution via Proposition 123 — a move opponents say could shield the program from future reforms and limit public school funding flexibility. At publication time, the proposition was holding up the entire state budget in the legislature.
Middle School Athletics Program – NEW THIS YEAR!
Our vibrant 21st Century After School Program offers students exciting ways to explore beyond the standard curriculum, including: • STEM-based LEGO Clubs • Sports clubs like soccer and cheer • Reading and math skill building • Opportunities for creative expression • Student Council • Yearbook
$7,000 per student — directly to families
We believe education thrives through connection, which is why we proudly partner with families and the community. Through engaging holiday events, meaningful family partnerships, and local collaborations, Imagine Buckeye remains a welcoming place for every Firebird to grow, learn, and soar.
from state tax revenues redirected from public K-12 education spending. UNIVERSAL
Click here to enroll NOW!
Offering Pre-k - 8th
ELIGIBILITY. After a 2022 expansion, all
2400 247th Avenue (623) 250-4570
Arizona students are now eligible, making it the most accessible school-choice program in the nation.
School Days/Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-3pm
InBuckeye.com | July 2025
July 2025 | InBuckeye.com
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