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Fiscal hole gets deeper as school inflation case goes on
After efforts to reach a settlement in the K-12 inflation funding lawsuit faltered this month, both sides in the case see it going all the way to the Arizona Supreme Court. But as the case drags on, the fiscal risks mount for the state.
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.
Governor’s plan is one step in a long staircase toward better Arizona education
For years, education has taken a back seat to other issues during election season. However, since the 2014 election, education has become the top concern for voters in our state.
State officials say district-sponsored charter schools have no reason to worry
Several district-sponsored charter schools were in a panic about the possibility that because lawmakers omitted a line in the state budget, they could be on the hook to repay the state millions of dollars of funding from previous years.
Educators say legislative budget error could cost district charter schools millions
When lawmakers approved the state budget in March, they accidentally left out one key part. Because of the omission, several longstanding district-sponsored charter schools – public schools that have reorganized as charter schools to capture more state funding – will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in back payments.
Land Department lawsuit to be dismissed
The Attorney General’s Office and the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest have jointly agreed to dismiss a lawsuit over a self-funding proposal for the Land Department after the state agreed to preserve the group’s ability to re-file the lawsuit after next year’s election.
Dept. of Ed: State won’t lose federal funds over Common Core changes
A top official at the Arizona Department of Education said the state can make changes to Common Core without jeopardizing hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding, thanks to an agreement it reached with a national group that helped craft the K-12 academic standards.
Time to stop stalling a national conversation about transportation
In Congress, members of both parties are trying to figure out how to fix the nation’s transportation funding problem. What they need to remember, though, is that funding is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the problems with our transportation system.
New legislation not needed for achievement district, Ninth Floor says
Now that the budget includes $24 million for Gov. Doug Ducey’s Arizona Public School Achievement District plan, the Ninth Floor said no additional legislation is needed for the governor to put his marquee education plan into action.
Triple threat: Hospitals could go to ballot if doomsday scenario plays out
The fiscal year 2016 budget may only the beginning of a year of bad news for Arizona hospitals, which could face a doomsday scenario depending on the outcome of two big lawsuits.
Regents chairman calling for lawsuit over university cuts
Saying the Arizona Constitution is being ignored, the chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents said Tuesday his colleagues should sue the Legislature if they do not come forward with more funds for the university system.
Tax cuts, credits deprive state of crucial money for children
We are gravely concerned for the well-being of this state. The Legislature has been guilty of depleting the state’s general fund — not by overspending but rather by draining the life blood from the budget.
