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Analysis shows state could face big deficit in wake of school inflation ruling
A state budget analysis shows that Friday’s decision on school inflationary funding by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Katherine Cooper could send the state into a severe fiscal jam at a time when revenue collections are falling short of expectations.
Barbara Robey remembered as ‘giant’ in public education
She was barely 5-feet, 2-inches tall, but Barbara Robey was considered giant in public education. Robey, who died June 10 at the age of 79, was well-known and respected at the Capitol where she lobbied on behalf of the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA), a role she filled for 17 years.
Lobbyist: ‘Education didn’t take a step back’
The fighting went on for months, but in the end an alliance of public school advocates and business community leaders won the main battles over education in this year’s legislative session.
Schools chief increases voucher payments, lawsuit likely
Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal decided today that all students in a program that provides taxpayer dollars for private education will be funded at higher levels than traditional public school kids.
Passage of empowerment scholarship bill raises new questions
The funding level for students in a program that provides public money for private schools is in question after lawmakers gutted a controversial portion of a Senate bill that passed April 24.
Millions remain unspent in school choice program
Parents with empowerment scholarship accounts have amassed roughly $2.5 million of unspent public money over three years, causing public school officials to question the program’s accountability.
Senate president moves to cut money for district charter schools
A threat from Arizona’s Senate president to make sweeping changes to how district-sponsored charter schools are funded came closer to reality March 25 and threatened the passage of a budget in the House.
State fares poorly in federal report on disparities in nation’s schools
Arizona’s public schools do not fare well when it comes to access to experienced and certified teachers or to advanced math and science classes, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Senate panel moves budget forward, but questions go unanswered
The Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee advanced a $9.13 billion budget package fiscal 2014-2015 on Tuesday afternoon, with all votes breaking on party lines as the chamber’s Republican majority took charge.
House panel votes down empowerment scholarship bill
Amid warnings of a potential lawsuit, the House Education Committee on Monday killed a bill designed to ensure funding for all students in the state empowerment scholarship account program.
Broadband fee proposed for public schools
No one disputes that broadband is significantly lacking for Arizona’s remote schools, but the battle this legislative session is going to be who pays for it.
School freeze – Educators push for delay in test repercussions
Arizona public schools would get a one-year freeze on consequences from a new high-stakes learning test under legislation the state Department of Education plans to offer during the next session.
