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Confusion abounds over Ducey’s public-school performance pay plan
Gov. Doug Ducey’s signature results-based funding plan for excelling schools still has districts questioning when they will receive money and how exactly it must be spent.
Recruiting public school teachers in Arizona a tough sell
Arizona State University’s Morrison Institute for Public Policy released a report in May showing more teachers are leaving the field or retiring early, citing low pay, increased workload, lack of support from administration and a lack of passion for the profession.
Charter group: Excluding advanced math 8th graders skews test results
The exclusion of nearly 20 percent of eighth graders from the state’s public schools achievement test drove down math results in 2016, according to the Arizona Charter Schools Association.
Group hopes to stop school voucher expansion before it takes effect
When Arizona students return to school in August, a new law could make the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts available to all 1.1 million of them. Unless a grassroots group of opponents has its way.
After signing ESA bill, Ducey vows no more school voucher expansion measures for now
Gov. Doug Ducey today said lifting an enrollment cap that will be imposed as a school voucher program expands is “not even a consideration.” At least not at this time.
Douglas wants more than Ducey’s funding assurances for unfinished IT work
Ducey’s assurance isn’t enough, said Douglas’s spokesman, Stefan Swiat. The department wants the governor’s office and the Arizona Legislature to publicly spell out how much exactly they will set aside for the IT needs, he said.
Teachers become scapegoat for Arizona’s failure to invest in students
Over the past year, growing media and policy has focused on Arizona's “teacher shortage.” Contrary to popular perception, Arizona does not have a shortage of teachers – at least not by the numbers. Our state has approximately 75,000 people holding active teacher certifications, but only 61,000 are choosing to remain in the teaching profession, according to an Arizona Department of Education [...]
Arizona awarded $24 million to boost charter schools
The Arizona Department of Education will use a federal grant to support new and expanding charter schools.
Judge won’t reconsider ruling in Diane Douglas case
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Patricia Starr will not rescind her ruling that state schools chief Diane Douglas acted illegally in trying to control the actions of the Board of Education.
Cap Times Q&A: Leah Landrum Taylor – Karaoke, taekwondo and no more politics
After 16 years in the Legislature, Leah Landrum Taylor is enjoying her time away from elected office just fine. She has zero plans to throw her hat back into the ring – she’s having too much fun doing karaoke and watching her three kids grow up.
Department of Education opens reading improvement program web portal
Arizona schools can file their reports on how they intend to improve their students’ reading skills despite the fight between the education board and state schools chief Diane Douglas – at least for the time being.
Reading improvement web site on hold over feud between schools chief and ed board
State education officials are using the spat with the Board of Education in refusing to set up a web site so schools can submit legally required plans to show how they plan to improve reading skills.
