ESA program added almost 50,000 students in the past year, state reports
The state added nearly 12,000 students to the Empowerment Scholarship Account program in the last quarter, bringing total enrollment to 61,689 at the end of June and renewing debates about the costs and benefits of the program.
Million Dollar Teacher Project helps retain educators
Madrid Neighborhood School, a K-8 campus in Alhambra Elementary School District, is entering the school year with a 100% teacher retention rate.
Funding anxiety hits schools as Covid relief runs out
District and charter schools spent just about half of Covid relief allocation in FY2022, with the bulk of spent funds and planned spending for FY2023 going toward employing and maintaining staff, according to an updated report from the Arizona Auditor General’s Office.
Bill aids access to dual enrollment courses
A bill moving through the Legislature looks to improve access to dual enrollment courses for high school students in Arizona.
AEL faces uncertain future over legitimacy, longevity
The Legislature overrode the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) again this session, leading some to question its legitimacy and staying power.
New Arizona hotline sees few calls about race-based lessons
Only a handful of complaints out of hundreds of calls to a new state hotline for reporting race-based lessons have warranted investigation, Arizona's top education official said Friday.
Oppose HB2800, find real solutions to teacher pay
Please join us in urging our colleagues to vote NO on HB2800, and instead work together for bipartisan solutions with the governor and those of us listening to teachers and other education experts.
Arizona schools chief sets up critical race theory hotline
The Arizona Department of Education has launched a hotline for people to report classroom lessons that use critical race theory or emotional support curriculum, concepts that have been the target of conservative outrage in recent years.
Hobbs calls for more money for public schools, oversight for charters in first State of the State
Gov. Katie Hobbs is putting education at the top of her agenda for 2023. In her State of the State address on Monday afternoon, Democrat Hobbs said she wants to lift a spending cap that could kneecap public schools, increase funding for public education – specifically teacher pay – and improve oversight of non-district schools that receive public money.
Arizona leaders join others at White House for forum on federal funds
Arizona local, tribal and labor leaders were at the White House Friday to hear administration officials highlight the billions in recent federal funding that is coming to states for everything from roads to water to broadband.
Most AZ voters say elections fair, secure
The newest update to the Arizona Voters’ Agenda survey found Arizonans believe their elections are secure, and identified priorities as increasing housing affordability, addressing water shortages, reforming immigration policies and investing in critical infrastructure, transportation and education.
Here’s what you should know about ESAs
Arizona is again grappling with the issue of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts and whether voters should decide for themselves if taxpayer money can fund private and home schools for all K-12 students.