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‘Parent empowerment’ bill has roots in Democratic, Republican circles
The Goldwater Institute looked to a group of community organizers and Democratic operatives for inspiration for its latest school choice idea.
The institute helped draft and is advocating for SB1204, which would allow parents of students attending failing schools to close down the school, convert it to a charter school or remove the principal.
Committee forms to push 1-cent sales tax extension
A coalition that has been working on a ballot measure since last summer to extend the 1-cent sales tax increase for education and other uses formed a campaign committee on Thursday and immediately put $50,000 into its war chest.
Capitol Quotes: Feb. 17, 2012
This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.
Potty mouth legislation ignores deeper problems
It's hard to believe the Arizona Legislature is spending its time on a bill to limit indecent speech by teachers. Of course, nearly everyone would agree teachers should not be foul or crass. But nearly no teachers are.
Ethnic studies embers still burn as bill aims to outlaw political speech in classrooms
Just when it seemed the conflict in Tucson Unified School District was nearly resolved, Sen. Lori Klein has sponsored a bill aimed at the teachers of the defunct Mexican American Studies program.
Bill requires all teaching tools to be approved
A state lawmaker has introduced a bill that bars teachers from using any books or materials in the classroom that are not pre-approved by the school district.
Bill to remove principals’ evaluations from public review draws fire
Advocates for government transparency are objecting to language in an education bill that would prevent the public from reviewing school principals’ performance appraisals. At present, whether the public has access to those performance appraisals depends largely on the policies of individual school districts. But HB 2823, authored by Rep. Doris Goodale, R-Kingman, would specifically exempt princ[...]
Lawmaker: Expand schools’ responsibilities against bullying
A Senate panel endorsed a bill Monday that would expand requirements for school districts when it comes to bullying, intimidation and other forms of harassment among students, including allowing policies to cover incidents that occur off campus.
Students rail against lawmaker’s proposal on financial aid, tuition
Grants covering tuition and fees as well as a work-study job that brings in $200 every other week allow Alisha Raccuia to pursue a psychology major and social justice minor at the University of Arizona.
Bill would raise high school dropout age
A state legislator wants to decrease the high school dropout rate by making sure students stay in school until they're 18 years old.
Teaching tablets
Given the popularity and practical uses for technology, you’d be hard-pressed to find a school district in Arizona that isn’t giving students a taste of 21st century education.
The spread of laptops, hand-held devices and smart phones in classrooms is driven by rapid expansion of technology itself and by the fact that it’s the world that kids live in today.
School tuition legislation could cost state up to $28.5M
The Senate on Jan. 19 approved a two-bill package that expands a program allowing a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to groups that give scholarships to private school students.
