Arizona Education Network Holds Press Conference for the Release of Legislators' Voting Records ~ March 25, 2010

Video via the Arizona Guardian Ustream.

*Below you will find text from the press conference held at the Capitol on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 for the release of the 2009 Legislative Session Education Funding Voting Record, compiled by the Arizona Education Network.

Thank you for joining us today!

We are all parents with the ARIZONA EDUCATION NETWORK -- we are a group founded a year ago by parents from various school districts who were concerned about what was happening to Arizona school funding.

We are a non-partisan, independent, non-profit organization with no ties to any outside groups. We have a website where we regularly post analyses of education issues, as well as breaking news.

Recently, we decided to take a closer look at the voting records of our legislators on education funding issues during the 2009 legislative session. As you know, because of decisions made during that session, our schools experienced DEEP, DEEP CUTS.

And we weren't starting from a very healthy place to begin with -- considering we consistently rank at the bottom nationwide in per-student spending.

Our children this school year have experienced the effects of those cuts in the way of much larger class sizes, the loss of teachers at their schools, the elimination of librarians, counselors, art and music teachers, the lack of funding for basics such as books, computers, paper and even toilet paper.

What's on the horizon is even more bleak: All of those cuts will be continued, plus the loss of all-day kindergarten and funding for gifted programs are guaranteed. If PROP. 100 doesn't pass on May 18, our schools won't just be on a starvation diet, they will start losing limbs.

Many legislators, when they return home to their districts tout themselves as education supporters. No one likes to be seen as being against education. However, clearly these voting records prove that some legislators were willing to stick up for schoolchildren and others were not.

We think it's important for voters to see who supports education funding and who voted against public education funding 100 percent of the time in the last legislative session.

Forty of our ninety legislators -- almost half -- voted against public education funding 100 percent of the time.

When parents start to get mad at their principals, or their superintendents, or their school board members because of what's happening at their children's schools -- we want them to remember who really is to blame for the predicament we face.

And we want them to remember that when they go to vote in the August primaries and the November general elections.

We also want to remind Arizonans that it's not just our state's schoolchildren who are affected by these votes. These aren't just votes against children -- THEY ARE VOTES AGAINST EVERY SINGLE ARIZONAN.

Why?

A vote against education funding is a vote against businesses.

A vote against education funding is a vote against our military bases.

A vote against education funding is a vote against higher property values.

A vote against education funding is a vote in favor of more and more incarceration. (As we can see here today, that's a booming business in Arizona. [A private prison event was happening at the same time at the Capitol.])

Everyone knows that businesses are attracted and remain in states with strong education systems because they are guaranteed an educated workforce and good schools for their employees' children.

Everyone knows that our military bases have told the legislature that they will be at risk of closure during the next round of base closures if Arizona's education rankings don't rise.

Everyone knows that areas with strong schools have higher property values.

And everyone knows that if you don't educate, you incarcerate instead.

This particular legislature has been a disaster for our schoolchildren. It's pretty clear that the wheels are coming off the bus. What we want everyone to know is who unscrewed the lug nuts.

Tell Sen. Melvin: Felons & Lawbreakers have NO PLACE near our schools!

Stranger Danger: Felons & Convicts Coming to a School Near YOU! ~ Tim Derrig, Parent Advocate for Public Education

This week, we learned of the ultimate insult and attack on public education in Arizona. Senator Melvin from LD26 recently announced his intent to supplement everyday labor on school campuses and facilities with prison labor.

Yes, the Senator seems to think that this ‘proposed’ cost saving measure is an act that will be appreciated by his constituents as he attempts, yet again, to deny public schools of ANY expense that is borne by the state of Arizona.

The bottom line here is simple. Felons, convicts and individuals stripped of their rights as a result of their court ordered period of incarceration have NO PLACE mingling with (for any reason) our most precious resource, the children of Arizona.

We must all speak out loud on this one. Please consider contacting Senator Melvin directly and expressing your outrage. Tell him in no uncertain terms that felons and lawbreakers have NO PLACE near our schools.

• Legislative Office Phone: (602) 926-4326
• Email: amelvin@azleg.gov
• Legislative Office Fax: (602) 417-3259
• Letters/postcards can be mailed to Senator Melvin at:
  Arizona Senate Senate
  1700 W. Washington
  Room 303
  Phoenix, AZ 85007

The Arizona Education Network's Recent Legislative Update ~ March 15, 2010

Special Seventh Session Budget Surprises

The Legislature's Seventh Special Session is a lesson in semantics for Arizona families. It seems that lawmakers are trumpeting the restoration of half-day Kindergarten. While some argued that a cut is a cut - not a restoration, there were not enough votes to save the $218 million appropriation to the full-day kinder program.

Lawmakers in both the House and the Senate spent more than nine hours in committee on Tuesday, March 9, engaged in heated debate in between hearing public testimony. The elimination of state programs such as KidsCare, a healthcare program for children whose families are well-below poverty level, and the near elimination of the Department of Juvenile Corrections, are but two examples of the impact of this bill to programs vital for children and public safety.

Adding insult to injury was the surprise addition of a $98 million appropriation from the state's general fund to the Department of Corrections for an additional 6,000 "beds". That's 2,000 private prisons beds at approximately $20,000 each for a total of $40 million and 4,000 new state prisons beds at approximately $14,500 each for a total of $58 million. Note that the private prison bed price is $5,500 more per bed than the state prison price per bed.

According the Arizona Republic, the Senate is expected to finish voting on two remaining bills, bringing the Seventh Special Session to a close. After which, the entire package of $1.1 billion in state program cuts will be transmitted to Governor Brewer for her signature


To read more go to House & Senate Appropriations Committees Begin Work on Seventh Special Session Bills **UPDATED**


So let's look at the budget options:

Behind Door #1: Cuts IF Proposition 100 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.
• Basic funding level for education cut back to the 2005-06 funding levels

Behind Door #2: Cuts to expect IN ADDITION to those listed above IF Proposition 100 DOES NOT PASS:

If the Prop. 100 does not pass, additional state budget cuts starting in July could total $900 million. These include:

• An additional $400 million in cuts coming from K-12 schools.
• $100 million from universities and community colleges.
• Funding levels of K-12 could be cut to 2000-2001 funding levels. This will push our state back a full decade in funding.

For more information, see Prop. 100 - Your Questions Answered.


The Arizona Education Network Enjoyed Meeting Education Supporters at the Tucson Festival of Books

Arizona Education Network at the Tucson Festival of Books

Arizona Education Network handed out thousands of Prop 100 flyers, bookmarks and postcards at the Tucson Festival of Books. We were able to register new voters and sign many up for early voting from home. For those who signed up for our newsletter - welcome!

News Under the Radar


New National Curriculum Standards May Be Heading To Arizona

The new Common Core Standards, created by a panel of members of the National Governor's Association and the state Superintendents of Education, was released this week for public comment. The standards were crafted to provide rigorous, uniform education benchmarks among the states, replacing individual state standards of varying levels. The Common Core Standards project is a state-led initiative; not a federal initiative. Arizona was an early supporter of the development of these new Common Core Standards and touted its commitment to adopt the standards in their application for the Race to the Top grant. Click here for the full article.

Overrides Win in Majority of State

Fifteen district overrides passed while nine failed in the March 9th elections. The number of override campaigns, in addition to the victories for many districts where overrides had previously failed, shows communities are mobilizing to protect their public school programs, teachers, and class sizes. Click here for details.

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

Mike Reagan: "[T]he greatest security risks facing our nation -- our failing education system."

A commentary written by Mike Reagan, elder son of the late President Reagan, was published March 12, 2010 by the East Valley Tribune.  Titled, "U.S. security in peril by failing schools", Reagan discusses the risk of a failing education system and our country's security. 

"Across the board, the benefits from a well-educated population are tangible and undeniable, and yet nearly three out of 10 American students now fail to graduate from high school.

Looking at the results coming out of our current education system, I cannot help but be deeply alarmed."

Reagan references in his comments testimony given by Andreas Schleicher, Directorate for Education for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to Congress last week.

Quoting Schleicher, Reagan writes:

"'Among OECD countries, only New Zealand, Spain, Turkey and Mexico now have lower high school completion rates than the U.S.'" 

"He went on to say that, 'If the U.S. would raise the performance of schools by a similar amount, that could translate into a long-term economic value of over $40 trillion.'

The personal and economic benefits from a strong education system are clear. Moreover, in a global market, American students must compete in an increasingly educated, productive world. The moment we can no longer keep up, we will have surrendered our national prosperity and security."

[snip]

Reagan concludes with the following call:

"Our children's future, our country's future, must never be a political pawn in the government's all-too-familiar gambit for more control. We must equip our schools, our teachers and our children with all the resources they need to lead academically the way we know we can, the way we have done in the past. We must equip local school districts not only with financial resources but with an investment of trust and authority, so that our schools can focus on the business of education, not bureaucracy."

Emphasis added.

Read Mike Reagan's commentary as published by the East Valley Tribune by clicking here.


To read a related post on the testimony as given by Andreas Schleicher, the new Common Core Standards, as well as related news articles, visit the Arizona Education Network's article The National Governors Association Releases Common Core Standards; Arizona Early Supporter.

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.