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Arizona bills on teacher conduct advance in Senate
Arizona teachers may find themselves under greater scrutiny if the Legislature continues to advance bills barring educators from partisan instruction, using unapproved course materials or using language in the classroom that violates Federal Communication Commission standards.
‘Parent empowerment’ bill barely passes Senate
A bill that would allow parents to shut down a failing school, fire its principal or turn it into a charter school narrowly won passage in the Senate today. The legislation applies to schools that receive a “D” or “F” under the state’s new grading system.
Bill seeks state backing for business loans
Proponents of a bill that would use state tax credits to encourage lenders to open their wallets for small businesses say they can help struggling entrepreneurs get access to much needed capital without invoking the most dreaded phrase in the debate over government incentives — “picking winners and losers.”
‘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.
Capitol Quotes: Feb. 17, 2012
This week's most outstanding quips, jibes and utterances.
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.
No cussing in class for teachers, lawmaker says
A teacher's role may be to expand a student's vocabulary, but one Arizona lawmaker wants to make sure that doesn't include four-letter words.
Senate advancing measure to nullify federal laws
A handful of senators have revived a proposal to allow Arizona to ignore federal laws, setting up more potential showdowns between the state and the Obama administration.
Redistricting commission repeal clears committee
A proposed referral that would ask voters whether they wanted to eliminate the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission took its first step toward the November ballot Wednesday.
If you can’t beat them… Lawmakers shopping around for friendlier districts
If you can’t beat them, pack up and move to a new district.
That’s the lesson that a handful of legislators are taking with them as they prepare to run in the new districts drawn by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.
Year in Review: Most quotable quotes of 2011
January “Though I have nothing against our current system of succession for the secretary of state to become governor, I can tell you from experience that there’s nothing like an... […]
Year in Review: ‘Say what?’ moments: Outrageous, engaging and head-scratching comments from 2011
Politicians sometimes say the ‘darndest’ things, and 2011 didn’t disappoint. Whether deliberate or inadvertent, some comments by Arizona’s lawmakers outraged, inflamed or simply stoked people’s imaginations. Here are some comments and moments that left many scratching their heads, hopping mad or laughing out loud. If they proved anything, it’s this: The state Capitol can be a [...]
