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Support remains unclear for school finance deal
The Arizona Capitol today turned into a beehive of activity, as Republican and Democratic legislators were briefed about the details of a proposed plan to settle a five-year lawsuit over education funding.
Education officials say $3.5 billion finance deal would stabilize school funding
Reaching a deal that provides a portion of court-ordered funds meets schools’ desire to stabilize and sustain funding, according to a statement released by the Arizona School Boards Association, a plaintiff in the case.
In symbolic gesture, state school board votes against Common Core
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas got a symbolic victory today when she convinced her fellow Board of Education members to vote to cut ties with Common Core.
APS won’t give up right to spend on Corp Comm elections
Arizona Public Service’s CEO said the company won’t give up its rights to spend on Corporation Commission elections despite a request from two commissioners to “voluntarily refrain” from electioneering.
GOP lawmakers eye tax reform in 2016
J.D. Mesnard is hoping that 2016 will be the year when he achieves an elusive goal of flattening out Arizona’s income tax rates.
Education funding deal reached, special session likely
Lawmakers have been summoned to the Capitol Monday and Tuesday to be briefed on a deal on K-12 funding in advance of a special session later in the week.
Cleaning house: DES director fires 72 for being ‘bullies,’ but did he go too far?
Department of Economic Security Director Tim Jeffries has canned 168 employees since he was appointed department head in February, a pace of more than four firings a week. A spokeswoman for the agency could not say how many of those former employees were considered bullies and liars as well.
Ducey planning revisions to land trust plan for education
Gov. Doug Ducey is planning revisions to his plan to boost K-12 school funding with the state land trust, including one that would address the fiscal cliff the plan leaves at the end of its first five years.
Experts search for broad compromise to end Arizona school financing chaos
As a consensus, begrudgingly accepted even by conservative leaders, emerges that the state needs to put more money into public schools, some wonder if the time is ripe for a “grand bargain.”
Corp Comm seeks money to raise investigators’ pay
The Arizona Corporation Commission wants to bump up pay for its securities investigators, which the agency says it continues to lose to other departments that pay better.
Judicial panel will interview nine for Supreme Court vacancy
The Commission on Appellate Court Appointments will interview nine of the 12 applicants for the Arizona Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Rebecca White Berch’s retirement, which will be Gov. Doug Ducey’s first appointment to the state’s highest court.
Why is Arizona’s K-12 funding so low? ATRA report offers explanations
The influential Arizona Tax Research Association penned a study that attempted to provide context for why Arizona consistently ranks among the worst states when it comes to spending on K-12 education.
