Sign up for our Email Newsletter For Email Newsletters you can trust . . . FACTS ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION FUNDING IN ARIZONA It’s the 2010 voting season! Steer clear of the misinformation campaigns. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with some quick facts on public education funding prior to the November 2 general election. . . [...]
Arizona voters will face tough decisions in the voting booth for the general election this November 2, 2010. AEN would like to make sure voters have all the facts on Proposition 302. The bill passed by the legislature in the 2010 seventh special session by a vote of 48 to 41 refers Proposition 302 to the ballot on November 2. If passed, Proposition 302 will repeal the Arizona Early Childhood and Development Initiative, commonly known as First Things First. The First Things First program is financed by a 2006 voter-approved tax on tobacco to provide funding for early childhood health and development and parenting programs for Arizona families.
.
Of concern is the ballot language itself. The language on the ballot for Prop. 302 is an exercise in double-talk where “yes” means “no”, and “no” means “yes”.
.
A “yes” vote would not only sweep funds set aside for First Things First–thereby terminating the program and it’s services–it would also redirect future tobacco tax revenue to the state’s general fund to be used at the discretion of the legislature. A “no” vote saves First Things First, preserving the voter-approved program that has been a vital first step in developing a healthy educational foundation for Arizona’s infants and toddlers.
All candidates running for the state Senate or House of Representatives in the 2010 primary were asked to complete our survey on issues surrounding public education in Arizona. The survey consists of 12 multiple-choice questions. A comment section follows each section allowing candidates the opportunity to clarify or elaborate upon their answers. Per our protocol, candidates were emailed the survey on on June 22 and sent two reminder emails prior to the July 16 deadline. If a candidate did not submit a survey, it is noted by their name.
The Joint Legislative Budget Council (JLBC) released an analysis of budget cuts to the state general fund operating budget over the last four fiscal years (2008-2011). According to the report, Arizona has faced four consecutive years with a budget shortfall. Over the last four years, Arizona’s K-12 public schools have seen a $883.9 million reduction in funding. Similarly, funding for the state’s community colleges has been cut by $53.5 million and the universities by $232.5 million.
The spring 2010 Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) scores were released Thursday by the Arizona Department of Education.
Public school funding is derived using several complex equations, and in this piece the Arizona Education Network helps break it down in a Question and Answer format for charter public schools.
Public school funding is devised by several complex equations, and in this piece the Arizona Education Network helps break it down in a Question and Answer format for traditional public schools.
. . In order to show the direct impact of potential cuts to school districts if Proposition 100 fails, Governor Brewer’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting recently released a report that provides a district-by-district estimate of the impact of legislative budget cuts on Arizona school districts for the 2010-11 school year (FY 2011). The report shows [...]
The Arizona Education Network has compiled a summary of all legislators’ voting records pertaining to their support of public education at all levels (K-University) during the 2009 Regular and Special Sessions.
While many Arizonans are familiar with the impact of their local Governing or School Board, they are unfamiliar with the influence of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The officeholder is a major force in decisions made about public education in the state of Arizona. The Superintendent of Public Instruction influences policy in the legislature, is responsible for the implementation of education legislation and is in charge of the Department of Education and its interactions with school districts. Further, the Superintendent of Public Instruction commands the bully pulpit on education issues and has a great deal of influence on the direction the state takes regarding educational issues like school funding.
In another blow to fiscal responsibility in AZ, four bills have successfully passed out of the House Ways and Means Committee in recent weeks, which would expand the private school tax-credit program if adopted. Three of these bills would increase private school tax-credit contributions allowing an approximate loss of $60 million to Arizona’s general fund, and would require nearly 8,000 students to transfer from a public school to a private school in order for these programs to be, at best, budget neutral.
Arizona Education Network takes a closer look at the private school tax credit program and its history in order to understand the evolution of the program, the issues that have been raised and the potential changes in the future.
Education Week has recently released its annual Report Card on American public education, and it shows mixed results for Arizona.
The Arizona Republic reported that private school tuition tax credits that are earmarked for individual students may be in violation of federal law.
A bi-partisan task force met in the House today for a second hearing covering investigations of School Tuition Organizations (STOs) and reform of the private-school tax credit program.
On Wednesday 10/21/09, the full 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed its April 2009 decision that the Arizona School Tuition Organizations Program for private schools is unconstittutional.
The Arizona Republic and the East Valley Tribune have each published their respective analysis on private school tax credits, school tuition organizations (STOs), how they are meeting the spirit or intent of the tax credit legislation, transparency of programs and costs, and the players/organizations involved.
Public Education & The AZ Constitution–It’s Indisputable!
Why did some Arizona Legislators sign a “No Tax Pledge” that puts them in direct conflict with the Arizona Constitution they are sworn to uphold?
Arizona’s public school standing in the educational world has been slipping over the last decade, to the point where it has now reached a crisis point in funding, ideology and prioritizing. It needs to be stated and reiterated that public education was vital to our Arizona founders, who recognized the integral relationship between a strong public education system and the viability of Arizona as a state.
The following article is a rebuttal of sorts to information that has been disbursed by not only the president of the senate, but some legislators and special interest groups. It contains information on pupil funding, teacher salary, school rankings and other subjects that need truthful clarity.
Personal and Corporate Tax Credits & STOs: What they are and how they work.
Recent Articles related to School Tax Organizations in Arizona and Legislative Conflict-of-Interest
Glen Kerslake of DM-50, Lawrence Portouw of Ft. Huachuca-50 and Steve Yamamori of Fighter County Partnership write a letter to Governor Jan Brewer highlighting the possible ramifications to the military installations in Arizona if the education cuts the legislature is proposing pass.