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Ducey blocks cash from schools mandating masks
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday upped the pressure on the growing number of public-school districts defying a state ban on mask mandates as they try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Bill gives citizens right to sue schools, cities over elections
Saying state and county prosecutors may balk, a House panel voted Tuesday to let anyone file suit to claim that public dollars are being used to influence elections.
Bill introduced to set same procurement standards for district, charter schools
A Republican lawmaker wants school districts held to the same procurement standards as Arizona charter schools, but most charters aren’t held to any procurement standard at all.
Plan in place to fix millions in misallocated school funds
Nine months after the Arizona Department of Education notified schools it had misallocated millions in funding for special education programs, the federal government has approved a plan to correct the error.
School districts, lawmakers clash over teacher pay
Arizona lawmakers, roundly criticized this year over poorly funded public schools, want to make one thing clear: They’re not the ones responsible for giving teachers raises.
Emails reveal ties between construction firms, school officials
Emails obtained by the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting from four school districts show the depth of the relationships construction company executives have cultivated with school district administrators.
Budget includes property tax increase for some school districts
Homeowners in more than a dozen Arizona school districts will pay additional property taxes if GOP lawmakers approve a maneuver in Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget deal.
Teacher strike reaches third day as libertarian group threatens lawsuit
The teacher strike enters its third day today as educators remain dissatisfied with the pay hike proposal by Gov. Doug Ducey and many schools remain closed despite threats by the Goldwater Institute to sue.
Real public education crisis is leadership, not funding
Educational excellence cannot be achieved if we continue to allow our elected leaders to legislate by litigation and ballot measures rather than assuming the responsibility of making the difficult and just decisions that benefit the majority of Arizona’s students.
New school funding error found, no solution in place
According to a letter sent to school districts and charter schools on Tuesday, the department under-allocated $15.2 million in Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, funding. Department spokesman Stefan Swiat said a 2015 audit by the Office of Special Education Programs also found that $14.3 million was over-allocated, affecting about 400 charters and districts.
Ducey’s proposal will help only a few schools launch full-day kindergarten
An Arizona Capitol Times analysis shows that under the governor’s plan, full-day kindergarten expansion is going to be more limited than he has envisioned.
Senate panel approves major expansion of school choice program
The 4-3 vote by the Senate Education Committee followed hours of testimony from individuals who already get what lawmakers call “empowerment scholarship accounts” detailing how they have helped their children. Eligible groups range from children with special needs to those on reservations and those who attend schools rated D or F.
