Legislative Newsletter April 6, 2010

Arizona Education Network Find Out What Happens in Your School District if Prop. 100 Fails Tuesday, April 6, 2010

What Happens In Your School District If Prop 100 Fails: Contingent Cuts to Arizona School Districts Do you know how your school district will be affected if Prop. 100 - the temporary one percent sales tax - passes or fails? Now you can find out. In order to show the direct impact of potential cuts to school districts if Prop. 100 fails, Governor Brewer's Office recently released a report that provides a district-by-district estimate of the impact of legislative budget cuts on Arizona school districts for the 2010-11 school year. The report shows both the cuts that will occur if Prop. 100 passes and the estimates of additional cuts for each school district if Prop. 100 fails on May 18. If Prop. 100 fails, traditional public schools can expect a total funding cut of $748,775,148. Public charter schools can expect a $63,663,047 total funding cut. To find out how your school district or public charter may be impacted, click here. Related articles: Proposition 100: The TEMPORARY 1% Sales Tax Increase - Your Questions Answered!

_________________________ May 18, 2010 Special Election for Proposition 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Proposition 100 Facts Without the temporary sales tax, as much as one-quarter of all public education funding could be cut. This could mean 1.5 to 2 out of every 10 teacher positions may be eliminated. Proposition 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety. The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Last Day to Register to Vote April 19, 2010 Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Learn More -- Find a Budget and/or Prop. 100 Forum near YOU! The Arizona Education Network and other parent organizations are sponsoring or speaking at several upcoming public forums about the state of education funding and the local impact of Prop. 100. Please take a moment to find a forum near you! If you do not see a forum in your community and would like our help to organize one, please send us an email at outreach@arizonaeducationnetwork.com. If you would like AEN to list your school and/or organization's budget and/or Prop. 100 forum on our next newsletter and our website, please email the information to jen@arizonaeducationnetwork.com. Arizona Education Network Forums in the Amphitheater School District Tuesday, April 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Ironwood Ridge High School 2475 West Naranja Drive Oro Valley, AZ Map available here. Wednesday April 7, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Amphitheater High School, Auditorium 125 West Yavapai Tucson, AZ Map Available here. Higley Community Event for Prop. 100 Tuesday, April 6, 7 p.m. Higley Center for the Performing Arts 4132 East Pecos Road Gilbert, AZ 85295 Map available here. KUAT-TV Televised Forum on Prop. 100 Sunday, April 11, 6:30 p.m. Stevie Eller Dance Theatre University of Arizona campus (on the UA Mall, just west of Campbell) The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson & the Catalina Methodist Church Committee on Church, Society and Mission Prop. 100 Forum Tuesday, April 13, 7 p.m. Catalina Methodist Church, in the Fellowship Hall 2700 East Speedway Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85716 Map available here. Arizona Education Network Forum in the Flowing Wells Unified School District Thursday, April 15, 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. Flowing Wells High School, Auditorium 3725 North Flowing Wells Road Tucson, AZ 85705 Map available here. Impact of the Arizona Budget on Public Education: Kyrene Elementary, Tempe Elementary & Tempe Union High School Districts, sponsored by the Parent Network Tuesday, April 20, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. Compadre High School 500 West Guadalupe Road Tempe, AZ 85283 Map available here. Arizona Education Network Community Forum to discuss the impact of Prop. 100 on public education, universities, police, fire and public health Thursday, April 22, details TBA

_________________________ Are you interested in becoming a member of your school board? The Arizona School Board Association is sponsoring two informational webinars, covering what it takes to run for and serve on an Arizona school board. Saturday, April 17, 10 - 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 12, 6 - 7 p.m. To reserve your virtual seat for this informative event, visit www.azsba.org and click the "Running for School Board Webinar" link. Serving on a school board is one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs you'll ever undertake. If you're considering a run for your school board, you want to take advantage of this opportunity! _________________________

The Arizona Education Network Needs YOUR Help! Last week, we sent out a fundraising appeal to help us pay for upcoming outreach events and operating expenses. Since then, we've received over $1,500. Thank you to all who contributed to this generous start! We still have a way to go to reach our goal of $25,000. If you haven't already, please consider making a donation online by clicking here, or you can make a check payable to The Arizona Education Network and mail it to: The Arizona Education Network 4729 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 All contributions are greatly appreciated. If you have already contributed, thank you! Because we are a 501 (c)(4) non-profit organization, contributions are not tax-deductible.

Will you help us reach our goal? Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

_________________________ Interested in having the Arizona Education Network speak at your school or community group? Email us at outreach@arizonaeducationnetwork.com for information and dates. _________________________

Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18th. Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24th. Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2nd. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator