The Breakdown, Episode 11: Where do we even begin?
Last week, the Capitol was abuzz with everything from talk of criminal justice reform to how to fund Arizona's public education system - and that's just the beginning.
Legislature passes education sales-tax extension
Arizona lawmakers voted to extend a sales tax that helps fund public education, ensuring that more than $600 million in state revenues earmarked for schools will continue for another two decades.
Ducey’s school-safety plan disliked on bipartisan level
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey may want bipartisan support for his plan to address school safety in the wake of another mass shooting, but he’s instead facing bipartisan opposition.
New proposed tax cuts abound as need for K-12 funds persists
Gov. Doug Ducey won't promise to veto new tax cuts even as he says the state is putting as much money as it can into public education.
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.
District spent on desegregation without programs in place
The Roosevelt Elementary School District levied and spent $13.5 million earmarked for desegregation activities, but without operating any specific programs for that purpose.
Senate president ready to pull key provision from tax credit bill
Senate President Steve Yarbrough threatened to strip a key provision out of a bill that would severely reduce the annual growth of a tax credit for private school scholarships.
Real public education crisis is leadership, not funding
Educational excellence cannot be achieved if we continue to allow our elected leaders to legislate by litigation and ballot measures rather than assuming the responsibility of making the difficult and just decisions that benefit the majority of Arizona’s students.
Alliance works to boost education levels beyond high school
I hope to continue Achieve60AZ’s forward momentum by developing new strategic partnerships and expanding our statewide reach. We cannot accomplish this goal alone — it will require the help of parents, teachers, administrators, business owners, community leaders, and legislators to help us increase educational attainment.
Surrogate parents for students with special needs lacking statewide
More volunteers are being sought to advocate for students with special education needs who have no one in their lives to see that those needs are being met.
Yarbrough bill to curb STO tax credits called ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’
A Republican proposal to end the dramatic annual growth of tax credits for private school scholarships also expands access to those scholarships in ways that makes public school advocates wary.
New group pushes upbeat image of Arizona’s education system
A new nonprofit backed by business groups is running ads on television and online to put a positive spin on the state of Arizona’s education.