Desert Messenger

August 16, 2023 www.DesertMessenger.com 9 FREE CLASSIFIEDS Desert Messenger News offers FREE Classifi ed Ads! HERE'S THE SMALL PRINT: Items for sale under $500. Private Party Only. One ad per month. Yard/Garage/Craft Sales, Wanted, Give-a-ways, Free, Lost & Found, etc. (non-commercial) For more information, contact Rain at 928-916-4235 or Email: Editor@DesertMessenger.com SEASONAL MARKETS Open Daily 9-5 October thru March Main & Central Corner Marketplace Hi Ali Swap Meet Tyson Wells Market Centre Vendors on Main Street SHOWS Open Daily 9-5 Desert Gardens Int'l Gem Show January 1-February 29, 2024 Prospector's Panorama January 1-February 29, 2024 Tyson Wells Rock & Gem Show January 5-14, 2024 58 th Annual QIA Pow Wow Gem & Mineral Show January 17-21, 2024 Tyson Wells Sell-A-Rama January 19-28, 2024 Quartzsite Sports, Vacation & RV Show (Big Tent) January 20-28, 2024 Tyson Wells Arts & Crafts Show February 2-11, 2024 Gold, Treasure & Craft Show @ QIA February 9-11, 2024 PLAN AHEAD FOR QUARTZSITE SHOWS! January 1-February 29, 2024 SAVE THE DATES! 2023-2024 DesertMessenger.com AG warns parents of ESA scams Attorney General Mayes Provides Information About Rights Forfeited Leaving the Public School System and Warns Parents of Possible Scams from ESA Vendors PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes warned Arizona families to be aware of the rights they give up when leaving the public school sys- tem with Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) funds. Families should also watch out for any ESA vendors and schools that may not intend to keep promises about their children's education. With the universal expansion of ESAs and the new school year beginning, families should be aware that when they accept ESA funds and leave the public school system, they give up rights un- der the federal statute that guarantees children with disabilities a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and the federal statute that provides parents with the right to access their children's educational records (the Family Edu- cational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA). "Families should not be denied admission or kicked out of private schools because of a child's disabilities," said Attorney General Mayes. "To make matters worse, private schools often refuse to share the educational records behind those decisions. Because FAPE and FERPA don't ap- ply to private schools, families have no recourse under federal law. It's important for Arizona families to be aware of the rights they give up when they leave the public school system." If using ESA funds for private school or school- ing at home is the preferred educational choice, families should make sure they choose reputable schools and vendors. Even still, families should know that when they accept an ESA, they lose pro- tections from discrimination related to a child's learning abilities, religion and sexual orientation. Under A.R.S. § 15-2404, a school that accepts ESA funds "shall not be required to alter its creed, practices, admissions policy or curricu- lum." Since many private schools have admis- sions policies or practices that would be illegal at a public school, it is important that families know this before giving up their right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education. Despite the many rights given up by accepting an ESA, Arizona families are still protected by Arizona's robust consumer protection laws and anti-discrimination laws. So, if an ESA vendor or private school makes promises related to your child, their admissions policy, or their cur- riculum, they will be held to those promises. "As a mom, I know how important a child's edu- cation is and I know that, as parents, we all want what is best for our children," said Attorney General Mayes. "I want families to know that if vendors or private schools take advantage of this, the Attorney General's Offi ce will investigate to the fullest extent of our authority." If you believe you have been the victim of fraud by an ESA vendor or private school, fi le a con- sumer complaint by visiting www.azag.gov/ consumer. If you need a complaint form sent to you, contact the Attorney General's Offi ce in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431. If you believe you or your child has been discrimi- nated against by an ESA vendor or private school based on disability, race, color, religion, sex (in- cluding sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, or ancestry, contact the Civil Rights Division of the Attorney General's Offi ce by visiting www.azag.gov/civil-rights. Transfer station hours Quartzsite Transfer Station is now on SUMMER hours thru September Now open Sunday thru Tuesday 6am to 1pm. (When temperatures reach over 110 de- grees, they will close early.) For more info call the Main landfi ll 928-916- 1253 or Main offi ce at 928-854-9152. The transfer station is located north of Town, just off Hwy. 95, near the Sewer Treatment Plant.

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