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Chuck Essigs

Public education advocates rally at the Arizona Capitol on March, 28, 2018, to demand higher teacher pay, among other improvements to public school funding. (Photo by Katie Campbell/Arizona Capitol Times)
Apr 14, 2018

Missing details of Ducey pay plan leave teachers skeptical

Lack of details of where the money is coming from and what the governor's plan does not include has Arizona educators panning his offer of a big hike in teacher pay.

Teachers celebrate after West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice and Senate Republicans announced they reached a tentative deal to end a statewide teachers' strike by giving them 5 percent raises in Charleston, W.Va., Tuesday, March 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Robert Ray)
Mar 12, 2018

The Breakdown, Episode 10: Pardon me

Pardon the noise - the soothing sounds of Capitol traffic are back this week, but so are our reporters with the latest.

Mar 9, 2018

Bill to force schools to sell buildings to charters sparks debate

The will of taxpayers is being evoked by both sides in the debate over a bill that would require school districts to sell property to charter or private schools when they are the highest bidders.

Gov. Doug Ducey (Photo by Katie Campbell/Arizona Capitol Times)
Jan 19, 2018

Ducey courts school districts with more K-12 money

Looking for a scapegoat a year ago, Gov. Doug Ducey accused school officials for the woes of the Arizona teacher, whose average salary is among the lowest in the nation. Nearly a year later, the governor sounds like a changed man.

Jan 12, 2018

Ducey budget proposal makes public school teacher pay raises permanent

One year after claiming local school officials can’t be trusted, Gov. Doug Ducey now has faith that state monies are going to pay teachers higher salaries.

Nov 1, 2017

New school funding error found, no solution in place

According to a letter sent to school districts and charter schools on Tuesday, the department under-allocated $15.2 million in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, funding. Department spokesman Stefan Swiat said a 2015 audit by the Office of Special Education Programs also found that $14.3 million was over-allocated, affecting about 400 charters and districts.

First grade teacher Irene Hammerquist explains a fall-themed class project to students at Bales Elementary School. Some of her students have special needs, so she has learned to approach learning in a variety of ways, like using crafts to help them learn spelling words. (Photo by Katie Campbell/Arizona Capitol Times)
Oct 6, 2017

Schools cover tab for lawmakers’ failure to fund special education

Arizona lawmakers have not adjusted the additional dollars allocated for students with special needs in at least a decade, and public schools have been left to make up the difference.

Gov. Doug Ducey
Aug 7, 2017

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.

Jul 31, 2017

Split widens between business and education communities

After working together to pump $3.5 billion over a decade into the public education system, the business and education communities find themselves once more at odds following the latest actions at the Arizona Legislature.

Teachers rallied at the Arizona Capitol on May 2, 2017, after Rep. John Allen said teachers got second jobs to increase their lifestyle and buy boats. Teachers chanted that they wanted a 4 percent raise from the state. (Photo by Rachel Leingang, Arizona Capitol Times)
Jul 3, 2017

Public schools opt for teacher bonuses instead of pay increases

School officials say they won’t count on ongoing funding to boost teacher pay until they see it. So instead of increasing teachers’ base salaries, some schools are preparing to make a lump sum payment to teachers in the amount of 1 percent of their salaries.

Mar 31, 2017

Unsettled strife over Prop. 123 clouds future of education funding

It’s hard to set a course for the future of public education in Arizona when school officials and lawmakers are still feuding about the past.

Dec 5, 2016

Push on for boosting education dollars

Various interest groups and Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas are making known their education spending priorities.

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