Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

It’s hard to argue the budget doesn’t focus on education when much of the new spending focuses on K-12 or university education initiatives. The fiscal year 2018 budget adds $163 million above inflation funding to schools.

Arizona State University rhetoric professor Dawn Penich-Thacker started teaching when she was just 5 years old. She would sit around her family’s dining room table, preparing her parents for the United States citizenship exam with flashcards and quizzes.

Three current and former teachers of the year lashed out Monday at lawmakers for failing to properly fund schools -- and salaries -- but were more forgiving of local school boards who actually set their pay.

Arizona schools won't be forced to use some of their annual inflation aid for teacher raises.

A new public-education advocacy group seeking a referendum on a recently passed voucher law has plenty of confidence, but it is sorely lacking the sort of high-dollar support needed to fight until the end.

A pay raise for K-12 teachers included in the state’s $9.8 billion spending plan may only be a bonus, education groups warned.

Lawmakers could face a lawsuit from the universities if the proposal to permit them to issue bonds of up to $1 billion falls flat, the head of the Arizona Board of Regents hinted.

Granted, it is the offseason, but a quick glance around the Gate 2 underpass at Arizona Stadium shows the need for upgrades. If it weren’t for the concession stands, gate numbers and a sign warning occupants of bats, pedestrians might forget they’re under a massive, 89-year-old stadium.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas is advocating for a permanent extension and expansion of Proposition 301, a sales tax to fund public education that expires after 2020.

Gov. Doug Ducey is defending controversial legislation he sought - and is expected to sign -which would allow more people without formal teacher training to lead a public school classroom.