AEN's Recent Legislative Update ~ March 8, 2010

Budget Special Session Starts Today: The Writing is on the Wall for Public Education in Arizona

The Arizona Legislature meets today to consider an alternative budget if voters do not pass Prop. 100 - the temporary 1 % sales tax referendum - in a special election on May 18. For more information, see Prop. 100 - Your Questions Answered .

Cuts to K-12 education since the beginning of the 2009 fiscal year total $424 million, which means our schools have already been cut to the bone. Many Arizona schools are dealing with the loss of teachers; increased class sizes; cuts to extra-curricular activities and athletics; and the loss of P.E., music, librarians, counselors, books and even paper.

If the Sales Tax Passes

Even if the sales tax passes, there will still be further cuts to K-12 education, based on the budget being considered by the Legislature. These include:

• The loss of funding for all-day Kindergarten; gifted programs, summer school, after-school programs and preschool programs.
• Reduced funding for the second consecutive year for basics such as textbooks, computers and equipment for students. 
• Suspension of funding for school building maintenance and repair for the fourth year in a row.

The Alternative Budget

If the Prop. 100 does not pass, additional state budget cuts starting in July could total $900 million, including an additional $400 million in cuts coming from K-12 schools and $100 million from universities and community colleges. For more, see the Arizona Daily Star, Ariz. lawmakers to consider budget-balancing plan.


Are Arizona Legislators Following Their Oath?

With cuts to education this deep, it is questionable whether legislators are following their oath to uphold Arizona's Constitution, which calls for the "development and improvement" of public education.

The Arizona Constitution ensures the funding of public education:

Aricle 11, Section 10 states that the "legislature shall make such appropriations, to be met by taxation, as shall insure the proper maintenance of all state educational institutions, and shall make such special appropriations as shall provide for their development and improvement."

Arizona Auditor General Report on Classroom Spending 2009: A Closer Look

AEN has analyzed the recently released Auditor General's Report on Arizona Classroom Spending for 2009. Classroom spending has become a "hot potato" issue because of the restrictive definition of "classroom spending". While classroom teachers, instructional supplies, and aides are included in the classroom spending figures, positions such as librarians, counselors, and nurses are not. Also the inclusion of Proposition 301 money for teachers is disputed.

The Auditor General's Report leaves out two important factors - cuts by the Legislature to K-12 education funding and a precipitous fall in the Proposition 301 sales tax funds available for the Classroom Site Fund (CSF) To read more click here.


News Under the Radar

House Rejects Private School Tax-Credits Income Limits; Drops Attempts to Increase Dollar Amount

The House rejected an effort to put income limits on the private school tax-credit program, refusing to establish a "means test" or income requirement for those applying for private school scholarships paid for by the tax-credit program. The private school tax-credit program, which was established to create choice for those with limited means, starts to run the risk of looking like, as Representative Steve Farley called it, "welfare for the rich". Click here for the full article.

Arizona Doesn't Make Race to the Top Cut

The Department of Education announced on March 4, 2010 that Arizona was not chosen for the first phase of the federal Race to the Top grant, resulting in the loss federal funds to benefit Arizona public education. Click here for details.


Four steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote, Vote, Vote, Vote!

1. Vote YES if your district is holding an override or bond election on Tuesday, March 9th (tomorrow).
2. Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18th.
3. Vote for pro-education candidates in the Primary Election, Tuesday, August 24th.
4. Vote for pro-education candidates in the General Election, Tuesday, November 2nd.

Helpful Links:

AEN Voter Guide

Find your Legislator


Take care,
Melissa, Ann-Eve, MaryLee and your AEN team


PS. Check us out at:

• http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/

• Follow us on Twitter, AZEducationNet

• Join us on Facebook!

AEN is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that exists to provide factual information and advocacy for public education.

Flowing Wells Parent Finds D.C. Special Interest Group Lobbying Neighbors to Vote against School District Override

"Passion and Purpose"

I recently marked my first anniversary as a Parent Advocate for Public Education. For 12 months, I have operated with passion and purpose in my unwavering support of Public Education in Arizona. I am the father of three young boys who attend an elementary school within the Flowing Wells school district in NW Tucson.

Despite what you have been told or what you have heard, public education is alive and well in Arizona. My three boys are in good hands with a team of career educators second to none. Four hundred and fifty little boys and girls are welcomed with open arms each and every day to our school.
Despite increased class size, despite less resource and despite reduced salaries this year, it is business as usual across the Flowing Wells School District. Our educators are maintaining a strong presence and effort for all of our children.

In support of their stand, I was all too quick and ready to join the citizen committee for the current override initiative. On March 9th, we will be asking voters across the district to dig deep and affirm their support of public education. Over the last sixty days, at the side of our committee president, Wendy Effing, we have stood in front of groups large and small. Along the way, we have spoken to hundreds of respectful ears. With passion and purpose, we have given freely of our time to to continue our advocacy of public education and more specifically our support of this all important override.

Just when you think that you are making a little progress, the opposition rears its' ugly head. This week, we were made aware of an uneducated and vastly uninformed statement from Americans For Prosperity. From his perch in Maricopa County, Tom Jenney issued an all call to his supporters to NOT support our override. I am pained that someone 150 miles away has literally declared war on our effort to support our children and their education. I believe it is safe to say that Tom has never been in any of our classrooms, never met any of our staff, much less, set foot within any part of our school district. Best is, this same letter was also posted for our neighbors and friends in Marana and Sahuarita. I find it curious that Tom is so well versed on the inside track of public education in Pima County.

Nonetheless, our advocacy continues. Parents statewide represent an extremely large and potent pool of voters. We will continue to educate and inform folks about what is at stake for the public education of our children. We will spread our message for our children each day with passion and purpose.

Tim Derrig
Flowing Wells Unified School District
Unwavering and unrelenting advocate for public education

Goldwater Institute's New "Word of the Day" Drives Arizona in an Intellectually Dishonest Direction

"Stop This Train!"By Philip Keuter, A public school teacher at Magee Middle School

A trainload of bad information is barreling down the track and needs to be stopped. Darcy Olsen, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute, was all over the media yesterday, March 4th, propounding preposterous propositions that some state legislators are unwisely accepting as accurate and useful. First, 104.1 FM talk radio, then 1330 AM, and then Arizona Illustrated with Bill Buckmaster on PBS. Same assertions, all day long, in a well-orchestrated media blitz. This train needs to be stopped; it’s going the wrong way for Arizona.

Three times I heard Darcy Olsen repeat the same preposterous claim - that there is a 1-to-1 ratio between teachers and bureaucrats in Arizona's school districts, and that's one of the reasons our students are “struggling so much to keep up with students in other states."

This is incredibly misleading and intellectually dishonest. First, “bureaucrats” is a very loaded word, with myriad negative connotations. But what’s insidiously dishonest is her implied assertion that bus drivers, custodians, attendance secretaries, food service and maintenance workers are dreaded bureaucrats who waste public money - like they sit around desks pushing paper for no real purpose or no real benefit at great expense. This “wasted” money spent on “bureaucrats” is keeping our students far behind students in other states? So the solution is to cut this wasted funding?

A plethora of other equally preposterous assertions were made during this media blitz. For example, Darcy Olsen said education funding has gone up in Arizona 20% since year 2000 without any gains or improvement in test scores. She said Florida spends same amount and their scores improved because of certain innovations. She said charter schools accomplish same results as public schools for 75% as much money, and more. A quick fact check shows how misleading and intellectually dishonest a majority of her assertions are. For example, we spend more on education in Arizona since 2000 because our population grew by 26.7%, not because we spent money on decreased class sizes or more advanced math classes. A couple minutes on Google shows Florida spends almost $2,000 more per pupil than we do on education, and it’s quite easy to learn that charter schools do not perform as well as she advertises. Even worse, an analysis by the Arizona Education Network of classroom instruction statistics recently published by the Auditor General reveals that, contrary to the picture Darcy Olsen wants us to buy into, Arizona spends less on administration (9%) than the national average (10.8%), and district schools spend about 8% more in the classroom and a whopping 12% less on administration than charter schools do.

Some in the state legislature are using her ideas to craft legislation, like Russell Pearce and his new bill SCR 1008. She got a free pass during her media blitz yesterday, but legislators need to fact check her information and critically examine the underlying philosophical beliefs. Besides working to dismantle much of state government, Darcy Olsen is endeavoring to turn our public education system into a competitive free-market where charter schools compete with one another for students and dollars. Trouble is, in competitive markets, businesses keep their trade secrets and compete to put the other guy out of business. Rather than a competition, public education should be a collaboration where trade secrets and good ideas are shared and put to the best use by the largest group possible.


Let’s turn this train around and work on ideas that serve the public interest.


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For more information on how much Arizona is spending compared to the national average, visit AEN's recent analysis of the 2009 Auditor General's Report.

AEN's Recent Legislative Update ~ March 1, 2010

Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered

The Arizona Legislature is asking voters to temporarily raise the sales tax by 1%, until May 31, 2013. To see the transmitted bill, click here. The election will take place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. The following is information that will explain the proposition's potential impact.

What are the specifics of Proposition 100?

Proposition 100 proposes a 1% increase in the Arizona state sales tax. Two-thirds of the revenues generated would fund education and the other one-third would fund health and human services and public safety. The sales tax would automatically repeal on May 31, 2013.

Will it really repeal automatically?

Yes, it will 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.

What happens to education funding if Proposition 100 does not pass?

If the temporary 1% sales tax does not pass, as much as one-quarter of all public education funding could be cut! This could mean 1.5 to 2 of out of every 10 teacher positions may be eliminated.

Will there be additional cuts to public schools even if Prop 100 passes?

YES. Even if Proposition 100 passes the revenue raised is not enough to close the budget gap. Additional cuts to education proposed includes:

• Reduction of state funding per-student from current levels to FY2005-06 funding levels.
• Elimination of state funding for Gifted Programs, Teacher Training, Adult Education and GED, and the Early Education Block Grant.
• The elimination of the Full-Day Kindergarten funding rate ($218 million)
• Reduced funding for Charter Schools ($10 million)
• No funding for regular School Building and Maintenance. Only $5 million for emergency maintenance state-wide.
• Reduction of support for Community Colleges and Universities to FY 2005-06 levels. Per-pupil support would drop for universities from $9,480 to $7,100 per student.

What can you do?

• Register to VOTE and apply to receive a permanent early ballot. Click here for links to your county board of elections.
• The last day to register to vote is April 19, 2010. Early voting begins on April 22, 2010; the last day to request an early ballot is May 7, 2010. 
• Talk to your family, friends and neighbors about Proposition 100 and its importance to the economic future of Arizona. 
• Print out this one page handout : What You Need to Know About Proposition 100-The Temporary 1% Sales Tax, pdf. 
• Stay informed: Sign up for our newsletter

To read the entire article click:

Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered


Arizona Education Network Pro Argument for Proposition 100

AEN submitted a pro statement in support of the passage of Proposition 100 - The temporary sales tax. To read the statement, click here.


Tell Us Your Stories: How are education cuts affecting you?

The Legislature has already cut Arizona public education funding with more cuts expected. We want to know how these cuts are affecting your student, their classroom and your school. Send us your stories, your videos, your view and we will post it on a new section of our web site. We will also be featuring individual stories in our newsletter. We want to hear your voice! Click here to send us your story.

To read stories submitted to AEN, click here.


Take care,

Ann-Eve, MaryLee and your AEN team


PS. Check us out at:

• http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/

• Follow us on Twitter, AZEducationNet.

• Join us on Facebook!

AEN is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that exists to provide factual information and advocacy for public education.

Your View: The Impact of Public Education Cuts

In our February 19, 2010 newsletter and on our website, we've solicited your stories on how cuts to public education funding are affecting you. Here you'll find some of the responses we've received.

These cuts are real and they are impacting classrooms around our state--in K-12 public schools and our community colleges and universities. Now is the time to have an open and frank conversation about the consequences of being at the bottom for public education spending.

Your voice matters. We encourage you to share your experiences. Send your story, photos, or videos to info@arizonaeducationnetwork.com.  

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Cuts to Education Leave School Computers Vulnerable, Students without Support during Loss of Teacher

School cuts have hurt our elementary school.

First, we lost our computer tech person. Recently, the computers were infected by a virus. Over a dozen computers cannot be used due the virus, and our computer lab has been shut down while we wait for help to be sent out to our school.

Second, a former teacher recently passed away. We don't have a school counselor any more. A counselor from another school came to our school for one day. Many of the children are still upset, but we don't have a counselor on-site; so if the kids want to talk to a counselor about their grief/feelings, there is no counselor on-site.

Terry, Tucson Unified School District

Fourth Grade Classrooms at 35 in Paradise Valley

Thank you for the opportunity to describe how the Arizona education cuts are affecting our children.

My son is in 4th grade in the Paradise Valley School District. At the end of the 2008-2009 school year, there were three 4th grade classes for the 2009-2010 school year, but one week before school started, it was decided that there were not enough children to warrant three classes. There are now two classes with thirty-five students each. This has been a huge concern for many of the parents, but no real solutions have been provided by the school's administration. The teachers are doing the best that they can, but it is difficult to spend quality time with any of the students.

I attended the latest PTSO meeting at our school and at this point, the same situation will be occurring in the 2010-2011 school year. Why is this acceptable? Why does the State of Arizona think so poorly of our children that we are number forty-nine in student spending? These children are the doctors, police officers and teachers of the future. When is someone going to get that?

Thank you for thinking of our kids. They deserve better.

Kelly M., Paradise Valley Parent

Flowing Wells Teacher: Sixty-three Percent Jump in Students and Work; $2000 Drop in Pay

I am a third grade teacher in the Flowing Wells School District. Although the district as a whole does its best to maintain reasonable class sizes, the tax cuts of last year hit us hard. At our school we lost 4 certified positions this year, which resulted in higher class sizes. Last year, my third grade class had 19 students. This year, my class has 31 STUDENTS. That's a 63% increase. My classroom is packed with desks--it's hard to find a way to seat the students effectively and comfortably. If I get even one more student this year, I will have no textbooks for him/her. Supplies are--well, in short supply. If it were not for the generosity of parents and other donors like the Tucson Jewish Federation, I would have run out of paper and other necessary supplies long ago.

And, although I did not get into teaching for the money, it is worth mentioning that I am making $2000 less this year than last because of the decrease in 301 monies. I am also working much more. 63% more students means 63% more papers to grade, and more time spent inputting grades into the computer, conferencing with parents, and planning and preparing for lessons. I am working 10 hour days and then going home and grading papers. I am exhausted and frustrated, and worried about the kids. I know it is going to get worse, and our kids deserve better. 

Middle School Parents: Larger Class Sizes with Less Support Staff, Supervision Having Negative Impact on Student Learning

We're seeing larger class sizes and in our middle school this equates to less support staff, less supervision, more difficulties in the classroom, which impacts their learning. The kids of middle school age are in great need of help I'm finding. They are at a time where testing their limits and and trying to figure out their own selves. The larger class sizes induces more interruptions, less help for kids who need it, and when teachers need to step out of the room for a minute- no supervision and kids act out and sometimes do obscene things with out the teachers in there. Therefore the focus becomes dicipline rather than learning. I'm exasperated by the things we hear from our kids and other parents who's children share their experiences. I want our kids to be in a safe learning environment!!!!!
Keven & Anna M.

AEN's Recent Legislative Update ~ February 19, 2009

Arizona Legislature Punts Decision on Funding for Education, Vital Services to Voters

On Tuesday, May 18, 2010 voters will decide whether to approve a temporary one-cent sales tax in a special election (the sales tax would repeal automatically on July 1, 2013). The revenue, generated over three years, would be apportioned between education and other vital services; two thirds of the proceeds would go toward education and the other third would fund health and human services and public safety.

The Legislature could have chosen to increase revenues rather than put this to voters, but in Arizona a two-thirds majority is required to raise any tax and the votes aren't there, thanks to the 31 legislators who have signed an oath to Washington special interest lobbyist Grover Norquist, promising to never raise taxes in Arizona - no matter what the situation.

Arizona Education Network is involved in a state wide discussion to support passage of the temporary sales tax to fund education. We will update you as soon as we know more.

To learn more see:
Arizona legislature punts decision on funding for education, vital services to voters

AZ Legislature Called into Sixth Special Session **Updated 2/12/10**

Public Education, The AZ Constitution & The No Tax Pledge!

In Budget Deficit, Legislators Want to Send Money to Private Schools

In another blow to fiscal responsibility, the House Ways and Means Committee voted to expand the private school tax credit program, tripling the amount of tax dollars that can be diverted from the general fund to private schools (HB 2664).

Already, $55 million a year is diverted from the general fund to support private schools.

The new limits would be $3,000 for a married couple, instead of $1,000, and $1,500 for an individual, up from $500. Remember that the public school tax credit limit is $400 per couple and $200 for an individual.

Legislators were supposed to be addressing the concerns raised by two separate newspaper investigations in 2009 that found numerous problems with Arizona's private school tax credit program, Rigged Privilege: An Investigation into Arizona's Private School Tuition and The Tuition Tax Credit: Tuition-aid benefits wealthy families, raises worry.

The House Ways and Means Committee also voted to extend the deadline for submitting tax credits to private schools to April 15 from the current Dec. 31 deadline. The tax-credit legislation now moves on to the full House.

To learn more see:
Legislators propose private schools tax credit increases while Governor proposes cutting funding to GED funding

Arizona's Private School Tuition Tax-Credit Program: How We Got Here and Where are We Going?

Researcher: Tax credits cost state millions


Tell Us Your Stories: How are education cuts affecting you?

The Legislature has already cut Arizona public education funding with more cuts expected. We want to know how these cuts are affecting your student, their classroom and your school. Send us your stories, your videos, your view and we will post it on a new section of our website. We will also be featuring individual stories in our newsletter. We want to hear your voice! Click here to send us your story


Take Action NOW!

• Call, write or email members of the House and tell them to vote against legislation expanding the private school tax credit program, go to: Legislator Contacts
• Write a letter to the editor and make your opinion known about state funding of education and/or the proposed expansion of the private school tax credit program.
     o Write a letter to the Arizona Daily Star
     o Write a letter to the Arizona Republic
• Forward this email to five friends, relatives, neighbors or colleagues and ask them to sign up to receive these updates. Education supporters can make a difference, but we must stay informed and take action.


Take care,
Ann-Eve, Melissa, MaryLee and your AEN team

PS. Check us out at:
• http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/
• Follow us on Twitter, AZEducationNet
• Join us on Facebook!

AEN is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that exists to provide factual information and advocacy for public education.

Op Ed: Arizona Excels at School Choice; Fails in School Investment

Arizona Excels at School Choice; Fails in School Investment

Arizona enters the new decade as the national leader in school choice. Arizona parents can choose to open-enroll their children in the public school that best meets their needs, choose among almost 500 charter schools or even receive a tax credit funded scholarship to offset some of the cost of private school. Arizona parents have more choice than parents in any other state.

Unfortunately, while Arizona legislators have given parents more control over their children’s education, they have failed to keep up with other states’ investment in education. Arizona ranks at the bottom in per pupil spending for public education and 90% of Arizona parents have chosen traditional public education and charter public schools.

Why is investment in traditional and charter public schools important? In order to have a strong economy Arizona needs an educated work force to attract industry to the state. If business cannot find workers qualified for the positions available they will not come to Arizona. Moreover, if educated workers are not available businesses will leave Arizona. Arizona citizens want smart government that will enact policies that will help create broad prosperity throughout the state and education is the cornerstone to building a stronger Arizona economy. Investing in public education is investing in the economic future of Arizona.

As the legislature convenes for the new session, Arizona faces serious financial issues. Arizonans should be watching for action in the legislature that reflects Arizona values and priorities. New tax-credit proposals that diminish the general fund in a time of record deficits should be labeled fiscally irresponsible. Investment in public education should be employed to fire-up the economic engine of Arizona and help grow us out of our fiscal Grand Canyon. Investment in public education has been the greatest economic driver in the history of the United States. Now is the time for Arizona to re-invest in public education!

MaryLee Moulton
Board Member, Arizona Education Network
e-mail MaryLee Moulton at marylee@arizonaeducationnetrwork.com