Land trust value drop highlights Ducey education plan risk
A nearly $200 million drop in the value of Arizona's permanent land trust in the past three months highlights the risks of Gov. Doug Ducey's plan to rely on high investment returns to power his school funding plan, state Treasurer Jeff DeWit said this week.
Advocate: Poor AzMERIT reading results reflect higher bar
Poor reading results from third-graders’ first round with the state’s new AzMERIT test aren’t bad news to one education advocate.
Educators reveal how they handle tough times in schools throughout the state
Torunn Randich flew halfway around the world just to attend a job fair for the Phoenix Union High School District. Now an 11th-grade English teacher at Carl Hayden High School, Randich, 38, was teaching in the United Arab Emirates at the time.
School groups call for special session on inflation funding
A throng of education groups urged Gov. Doug Ducey today to call a special session to use a budget surplus to settle a nearly $2 billion lawsuit over inflation funding for public schools.
Drive to recall Douglas officially begins
Foes of state schools chief Diane Douglas can now start gathering the more than 366,000 signatures – probably a lot more – that they will need to try to oust her from office.
The education dilemma: Failure of mediation leaves future of school financing in doubt
Negotiations to resolve the case over inflation funding for K-12 education came to an impasse on Aug. 25, sending the lawsuit back to court. And once again, critics are questioning the Legislature’s commitment to K-12 education funding.
Diane Douglas calls in police against chairman of state Board of Education
Police are now involved in the conflict between the State Board of Education and Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas, who is alleging board President Greg Miller grabbed her arm during a heated part of a meeting today.
Code Red for Arizona’s public schools
If K-12 education funding in Arizona were a patient brought into the trauma center, it would be a “code red” situation. K-12 education funding in Arizona is in dire straits. Arizona public school budgets have suffered deep cuts, so deep that teacher vacancies can’t be filled because both new and experienced education professionals choose not to work in Arizona.
MAKERSPACES: Libraries carve out areas for interactive learning focused on STEM skills
Makerspaces are areas where community members can gather and work individually or collaboratively to learn, invent or create. Most are specifically focused on the areas of science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM. The spaces offer access to equipment, technology and knowledge through workshops and classes.
South Phoenix charter school doesn’t let student demographics dictate expectations
The students of Phoenix Collegiate Academy are used to high expectations. “Our students come to school at 7:30. They’re late if they’re there at 7:31,” said Rachel Bennett Yanof, the charter school’s executive director.
School administrators scrambling, again, to hire teachers as school year looms
Arizona officials say there are at least 1,000 vacant teacher positions to fill, with just weeks left until the school year starts around the state.
Thank you, Head Start, for opening a window of opportunity
This summer marks Head Start’s 50th anniversary. As a proud Head Start graduate and an educator, I can speak first hand to the life-changing difference a quality early childhood education makes in a young life.