Arizona Education Network

In the great debate over Arizona’s economy and education reform, a necessary program is often overlooked–adult education and GED (General Education Diploma) Testing. . In 2010, Governor Brewer signed a budget that eliminated the $4.5 million appropriation for Adult Education and GED Testing.  When Arizona eliminated this GED funding, it also lost $11 million in matching funds  Continue Reading >

Part I: Traditional Public School Finance & Equalization Funding Part II: Charter School Finance & Equalization Funding . . Q and A on Public School Finance and Equalization: Part I . What does it mean when I hear that Arizona is an equalized funding state? The Arizona state constitution calls for the legislature to “enact  Continue Reading >

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.

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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”.
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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.

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.

The Arizona Legislature is asking voters to temporarily raise the sales tax by 1%, until May 31, 2013. The election will take place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The following is information that will explain the proposition’s potential impact.

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.

In this update we will cover two recent questions from AEN subscribers regarding Arizona spending statistics… How does our state compare and how much are we spending on education?

Personal and Corporate Tax Credits & STOs: What they are and how they work.

A new report has been released by the Arizona Auditor General “Arizona Public School Districts’ Dollars Spent in the Classroom Fiscal Year 2008.”