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Arizona law on third-grade reading mandate goes live
Even as many districts and individual schools have ramped up their instruction, this year's implementation of a 2010 state law may mean an estimated 1,500 Arizona third-graders will be denied promotions to fourth grade for not meeting required reading levels
Different points of view
New lawmakers could change dynamics of Senate
Two new lawmakers arrived at the Legislature this summer to fill vacancies in the Arizona Senate, potentially altering the dynamics of a chamber that left the Capitol bitterly divided on the issue of Medicaid expansion.
Brewer ditches ‘Common Core’ moniker for new standards
Hoping to douse a political firestorm that has sprung up in some conservative circles, Gov. Jan Brewer ordered state employees Friday to begin calling the state’s learning standards by a different name.
The Drama of Common Core
New set of school standards searches for success
Topock, an Arizona town on the far western edge of the state, doesn’t even have a stoplight. But its school district has scrambled to prepare for the new standards and get the Internet capacity and computers necessary for the 2015 debut of the accompanying test.
Biggs gives Crandall an early boot from Arizona State Senate
Rich Crandall's Arizona state Senate seat was declared vacant by Senate President Andy Biggs on Aug. 22, days after Crandall notified Biggs that his resignation won’t take effect until midnight on Aug. 31. Biggs cited a portion of Arizona law that declares a legislative office can be deemed vacant now that Crandall is no longer a resident of the district.
Brewer, 3 others cited by school superintendents for public education support
Gov. Jan Brewer, two state lawmakers and a long-time education advocate were honored Aug. 6 by the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents for their efforts on behalf of K-12 public education.
In basement with tornado warning, Crandall starts new job in Wyoming
The Mesa Republican announced this week he’ll resign from office on Aug. 16, but he’s already got one foot out the door. Crandall began working as the director of the Wyoming Department of Education on Aug. 5.
63 percent of Arizona public schools earn ‘A’ or ‘B’
About 63 percent of public schools around Arizona earned letter grades of "A'' or "B'' in the latest results of students' academic improvement and performance.
Costs soar for new Common Core achievement test
The cost per student for the new test to measure progress under Common Core is nearly 50 per cent more than the AIMS test, causing sticker shock among some lawmakers and advocates for the learning standards.
Moratorium leads to near-record number of Brewer vetoes
The bill moratorium that rankled lawmakers as Gov. Jan Brewer started applying pressure to pass her Medicaid expansion plan helped push her to a near-record number of vetoes in 2013.
Brewer vetoed 26 bills this year, the second highest total of her career, behind the 29 she rejected in 2011.
Crandall named head of Wyoming Department of Education
Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead has named Arizona Sen. Rich Crandall the new head of the state’s Department of Education, the governor announced Wednesday afternoon.
Brewer follows through on threat, vetoes bills
Gov. Jan Brewer wasn’t kidding around when she told the Legislature to stop sending her bills.
