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Fund early childhood programs by taxing non-tobacco products
Bold actions like the ones in these bills are essential. There was a strong show of support on Feb. 17 as hundreds of early childhood supporters gathered at the state Capitol for Early Childhood Day, with many having personal meetings with legislators.
AG’s ruling highlights need for affordable child care
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes recently acknowledged the real-world challenges faced by political candidates with families when she issued a legal opinion establishing child care as a permissible campaign expense. […]
Hobbs takes action that’s expected to lead to increased childcare subsidies
Calling it a matter of economic development, Gov. Katie Hobbs took the first steps Wednesday in what is expected to be a move to increase childcare subsidies in Arizona.
Solutions needed to address early learning crisis
A single early education issue is costing Arizona $1.8 billion per year, threatening our state’s economic recovery and potentially putting thousands of kids at risk for educational failure: the ongoing childcare crisis.
First Things First officials impress auditors, who conclude agency is well run
The Arizona Auditor General’s Office found a well-run agency that coordinates with other government entities and that’s planning for a future in which tobacco tax revenues, the main source of income that funds the more than $100 million in grants for child development programs issued annually by First Things First, are on the decline.
Arizona earns praise for teacher training database, despite pay concerns
Arizona won praise in a recent report for its program linking preschool teachers with training and scholarships, even as the report said low wages for those teachers could make such systems an exercise in futility.
Basha to head early childhood health and education board
The board overseeing Arizona's early childhood development program has chosen the woman who championed the 2006 voter initiative creating the agency as board chair.
Borrelli hoping for better luck on First Things First sweep
Rep. Sonny Borrelli is hoping to circumvent an obstructive committee chairman with a new plan to sweep funding for an early childhood development program.
Borrelli’s bluster hides truth about bill: bad education policy
I was disappointed to see Mr. (Sonny) Borrelli misrepresenting information about First Things First as a means of getting support for his latest bill to sweep the early childhood education funds, allegedly to help K-12 schools remediate kids not reading well in first and second grade.
First Things First money should be given to public schools
In 2006, Arizona voters passed a cigarette tax based on the promise of funding early childhood development programs through a newly created organization named “First Things First.” Taxpayers have become the victim of this promise, which was a great idea that has been misshapen and lost its way and original mission.
Biggs succeeds in getting audit of First Things First
Rebuffed in his efforts to sweep dollars from First Things First as a part of K-12 funding plans, Senate President Andy Biggs will still get an audit of the early […]
Biggs calls for First Things First audit after agency opposes sweep
Just one day after the First Things First board formally opposed legislative leadership’s plan to sweep some of its funding for K-12 education, Senate President Andy Biggs called for an audit of the early childhood development and health program.
