Hobbs offers grants with canceled-contract money
Gov. Katie Hobbs is opening applications for nearly $200 million in federal Covid money that was part of now-canceled contracts signed by then-Gov. Doug Ducey just before Hobbs took office in January.
‘It’s hard to focus’: Schools say American kids are hungry
Schools in Arizona and around the country say kids are hungry — just as pandemic-era benefit programs have lapsed. There is growing concern about the effects on kids' ability to learn.
Report: over half school districts in state spent less in classroom instruction
More than half the school districts in Arizona spent a smaller percentage of their dollars in classroom instruction in the last school year than the year before, according to a new report.
Report: teacher recruitment and retention crisis continues
Arizona’s teacher recruitment and retention crisis stretched into a seventh year, according to the most recent survey data from the Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association.
Freshman lawmaker who worked for Ducey pushes teacher pay raise
A freshman Republican lawmaker who helped shepherd former Gov. Doug Ducey's effort to raise teacher pay to end a 2018 statewide teacher strike is working to boost educator salaries by another $10,000 a year.
Senate Republicans target ‘drag story hour,’ other drag performances
Republicans in the Arizona Senate are targeting "drag story hour'' and other drag performances that have drawn the ire of conservatives, with the sponsor of a proposal banning certain shows before children or in government buildings calling it a case of "good versus evil.''
NFL Green brings Arizona community together, helps schools
The National Football League’s environmental program, NFL Green, has left a lasting impact in the Phoenix area in the lead-up to this year’s Super Bowl, including providing books and other needed supplies to cash-strapped schools in Arizona.
Governor targets results-based funding for schools
Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs proposed the end of results-based funding in her budget, effectively untying additional per-pupil funding from achievement determined by the school letter grade system.
Building the future: Trade occupations encouraged as demand for skilled labor grows
The need for skilled people willing to get their hands dirty is growing across the country. But will there be enough craftspeople to meet that demand? The Arizona Commerce Authority estimates that by 2030, the number of people employed in construction and manufacturing jobs in the state is expected to rise 30% and more than 20%, respectively.
Hobbs appears poised to side with school districts in legal fight
Incoming Gov. Katie Hobbs appears ready to side with school districts in their legal fight with the state and legislative leaders over whether they were illegally denied money for years they need to maintain classrooms and build new schools. And that could affect the outcome of a trial set to begin next month -- and the more than $6 billion they say they have been shorted so far.
It’s time to address school spending limit
We should not wait any longer – the Legislature must take up the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) as soon as possible to ensure our schools have budget certainty.
Report: Schools struggle to fill range of jobs in classroom and beyond
There are many skills a school principal may need on a regular basis but vacuuming and bus driving were probably not in the curriculum at teacher’s college.