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Chamber chief faces firestorm for calling teachers’ union ‘crybabies’
The head of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce waded into a storm of criticism after calling the teachers’ union “crybabies” for asking for pay raises.
Bill advances that could jeopardize more than $200 million in desegregation funds
At a time when Gov. Doug Ducey boasted more than $100 million in new investments for education in his budget plan, a Senate panel advanced a bill that could put roughly double that amount of school funding in jeopardy.
Education advocates say Ducey’s teacher retention plan won’t cut it
According to a study by the National Education Association, the average salary for an Arizona teacher in 2016 was $45,477, lower than all but four other states
Seeing is Bee-lieving in Pendergast Elementary schools
My leadership motto is, “All decisions will be made in the best interests of students.” On my signature is a bee.
For Arizona’s children, the clock is ticking for funding schools
Some education advocates, like myself, feel a strong sense of urgency. After all, each year that a child can’t read creates lasting impacts for them, their family, and ultimately, the state’s economy. We constantly hear that clock ticking.
Universities support Ducey’s $1 billion bonding plan
The Arizona Board of Regents voted unanimously on January 20 to support Gov. Doug Ducey’s bonding plan to raise $1 billion for the universities using $30 million in transaction privilege tax revenues, plus a matching amount, as collateral.
Private school data show schools are ready to offer more opportunities
President Donald Trump’s nomination of Betsy DeVos for U.S. Secretary of Education elevated the profile of parents that choose how and where their child learns. Prior to her appointment, Ms. DeVos was the chairman of one of the nation’s most active organizations that supported quality learning options for students, the American Federation for Children.
Republican lawmakers aim to create separate state university governing boards
Saying the Board of Regents is “out of control” in its spending, two Republican representatives want to blow up the system and give each university its own governing board.
Ask your school board, not me
AZ Schools Now, the coalition of education groups that asked Ducey on Monday for a four percent across-the-board pay raise for teachers, is likely out of luck.
Lack of cash to run computers could cost state federal funding
The state Department of Education is warning that schools may not get their $5 billion in federal and state aid next school year unless the governor and legislature come up with more cash to run the computers that figure out who gets what.
Arizona’s public education is not failing; students are making outstanding progress
As we begin a new year and a new legislative session, we brace for the same tired talking points deployed in order to denigrate Arizona’s education system, portraying our public schools as failing and deplorable. I can no longer let this false narrative go unchallenged. I will say this plainly – Arizona’s K-12 public education is not failing. In fact, Arizona is leading the nation.
The state can’t raid the land trust again, right?
The $17 million in School Facilities Board funding that Ducey included in his executive budget plan won’t hold off a long-planned lawsuit over dollars for K-12 building maintenance and renewal.
