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The problems with this are it:
What can we do?
Remember!
1. Draws attention away from the fact that Education is under
funded in AZ,
2. Sets up straw arguments about funding,
3. Tries to pit different groups of educators against each other,
4. DOES NOT include counselors, nurses, librarians and some support
staff as working with children,
5. It counts transportation, operations and maintenance, training,
technology, heating and cooling, testing costs, curriculum development
and food services as administrative costs.
You need to talk! Talk to your schools PTA, fellow teachers, your
friends and neighbors. Explain who is pushing this and what the
consequences could be. Explain that services (counselors, librarians,
bus transportation, programs) could be cut. Services now covered by
district employees may be privatize or out-sourced.
This is a gimmick being promoted by out-of-state interest groups who
want to privatize school services and replace public schools with
vouchers and private schools. It is a nice sounding proposal that unless
we educate the public will hurt children. Their aim is to divide the
education community and slide this past.
Inside This Issue...
Judge Sends Fines to ELL Students
Judge Sends Fines to ELL Students
AEA Taking a Stand - A Bi-partisan Solution for Our ELL Students
You Make a Difference - Time to "Get Personal"
Vouchers Dominate House Education Committee
House Education Committee Chair Mark Anderson filled his January 25 agenda with six private school
voucher bills. The House Education Committee passed one of the six bills, HB 2617 by a 6-4 vote.
House Education Committee members Lujan, Kirkpatrick, Garcia & O'Halleran voted against the bill.
The "Arizona Scholarships for Pupils with Disabilities Program" would provide any student with a
disability a voucher equal to the base support level of that particular student to attend a private
school. A similar voucher law in Florida has resulted in students attending private schools without
programs to meet the special needs of the students and fraudulent use of the funds by some private
schools. AEA opposes this voucher scheme because it diverts funding from our public schools into
private schools without accountability. The other five bills were not voted due to procedural rules.
Learn more about these bills on AEA Bill Summary page - HB 2181, HB 2182, HB 2184, HB 2613, HB 2652,
HB 2676. Stay tuned to help defeat these bills as they move through the process.
One AEA Bill Advances - Another is Defeated
The Senate Education Committee took up two bills initiated by AEA. SB 1214, sponsored by Senators
Mitchell & Aguirre and Representatives Lujan & Sinema passed by a 7 -1 vote. The only no vote was
cast by Lake Havasu Republican Senator Ron Gould. The bill closes a loophole in the teacher due process
law, which currently allows probationary teachers to be non-renewed without adequate notice.
Demonstrating the lack of respect many Legislators have for our Education Support Professionals, the
same committee defeated SB 1213, the ESP basic rights bill. This bill requires school boards to adopt
local policies that address the same set of rights state employees enjoy. AEA strongly supported the
bill and many Education Support Professionals contacted members of the committee asking for support.
Washington District Education Association President Mike Still who is a Facilities Manager in the
Washington School District testified in support of the bill. Despite this, the bill was defeated by
a 5-3 vote with Senators Hellon, Aguirre, and Mitchell providing the three supportive votes.
Other Bills
Are You a First Time Reader?
Many of our 6,000 subscribers participate as "cyber-lobbyists" by using a feature on the updates and
alerts that allow them to send an email to their legislator on key issues. Become a part of the AEA
Legislative Electronic Network. Keep informed on key legislative issues and help influence legislative
decisions. Contact your AR or E-board member to sign up.
AEA Taking a Stand
You Make a Difference - Time to "Get Personal"
Vouchers Dominate House Education Committee
One AEA Bill Advances - Another is DefeatedOther Bills
Federal Judge Raner Collins ruled in favor of a brief filed on behalf of Governor Napolitano by
Attorney General Terry Goddard Thursday. The judge ruled that the state must deposit the $500,000
per day fine for not adequately funding English language learner students into a special account for
future funding of ELL programs. The fine will be paid from the State's General Fund. Judge Collins
will rule Tuesday on how the funds will be distributed for ELL students.
Yesterday's action capped a week of dramatic politics at the State Capitol.
The Arizona Education Association remains steadfast in support of the Legislature working through
bi-partisan negotiations to resolve the ELL issue and send the Governor and ELL bill she can sign
that adequately funds English language learners.
The Legislature's own cost study estimated adequate funding to support programs, smaller class sizes,
teacher training, and materials for these students requires about $200 million in additional funding
per year. Up until now, the Legislature has sent the Governor bills ranging from $25 million to $39
million additional dollars. Much of that money will be tied up in State Department of Education
overhead. And, the last two bills vetoed by the Governor include corporate and individual tuition
tax credits that would divert more additional money to private schools than public schools.
The Leadership of the Republican Majority in the Legislature appears to be losing touch with its
constituents in an effort to force a narrow ideological political agenda - vouchers and tuition tax
credits - ahead of a strong and adequate public education system. The public understands that these
private schools will have no accountability for providing ELL programs to ELL students or how the
tax credit revenue is spent. And, the public knows Arizona ranks 50th in the nation in public school
expenditures per student. The vast majority of Arizona voters are willing to raise their taxes if
they know the money will go to our public school classrooms. Of course, considering the $1 billion
state budget surplus, providing adequate ELL funding is well within reach without any tax increase.
Subscribers to the AEA Legislative Update do make a difference. Last Friday, AEA President John
Wright received a call from several key supporters of English language learners describing how
difficult it would be for the Governor to veto an ELL bill that the Legislature was sure to send her
on Monday. The callers said that the AEA grassroots network would be the only group that could prevent
her from allowing the bill to become law. AEA had more confidence in our Governor than the callers,
but knew what a difficult position she faced.
Advocates for vouchers and tuition tax credits for private schools who oppose adequate funding for
public education had just attacked the Governor with a statewide automated phone call accusing her
of lying and not caring about inner city public school students. It was clear that the Republican
Leadership had lined up the votes to pass a flawed ELL bill and send it to her just 24 hours before
$500,000 court fines would take effect if she did not sign it or let it go into effect without her
signature.
Beginning last Friday, the AEA Grassroots Network - you and thousands like you - began acting. Over
1,000 emails were sent to Legislators. The Governor received hundreds of messages asking her to veto
the ELL bills and many hundreds more thanking her once she did.
In addition, grassroots supporters of a great public school for every Arizona child began to get
personal. A number of personal phone calls were made to legislators by teachers, education support
professionals, and parents.
On Wednesday, January 25, the AEA Phoenix Metro GrassRoots Education Advocates Team visited the
Capitol in person to meet with their legislators, attend Education Committee meetings, provide a
visible presence at news conferences held by the Governor and the Majority Leadership, and watch
from the gallery of the House as Speaker Weiers announced the second veto of the Republican Leaderships
flawed ELL bill.
Your continued emails correspondence makes a difference. Please keep sending emails when asked. And,
watch for a special opportunity to "GET PERSONAL" through the AEA GrassRoots Education Advocate Team
in you region of the state. You will receive a special invitation to participate next week.
There are other bills being considered. Several other key education bills are under consideration.
As key bills are scheduled for hearings, AEA will post bill summaries and other useful information
on our Legislative Action Center Web Page. The Bills are categorized as (1) Bills AEA Initiates, (2)
Bills AEA Supports (3) Bills AEA Opposes, and (4) Bills AEA is just monitoring. Click here to view
our bill tracking feature in our Legislative Action Center. Save it as a favorite on your web browser.
The AEA Government Relations Team publishes a weekly update each Friday during the Legislative Session
and as needed throughout the year. Each update includes the latest on legislative issues that affect
teachers, education support professionals, parents, and our public schools. In addition, special
alerts are published from time to time.
The AEA Board of Directors recently adopted the 2006 AEA Legislative Agenda. The agenda
focuses on improving the education profession and supporting adequate funding for public
education. Some key highlights include supporting the continued phase-in of full day
Kindergarten, providing basic rights for education support professionals, fighting
privatization of the teaching profession, supporting a teaching professional standards
board, and employment rights to education support professionals. The 2006 legislative
session will address many education issues such as adequate funding for English Language
Learners, public school employee compensation, and AIMS.
ELL Battle Continues
Conserving Arizona's Future Initiative Gaining Support
Election Victories in Virginia, New Jersey, and California
Proposition 74, to extend teachers’ probationary periods from two to five years, Proposition
75, to require annual written permission of each member of a public employee union before
any money can be spent for political purposes, including fighting negative ballot proposals,
and Proposition 76, giving the governor unilateral power to cut the budget up to three times
after it is passed by the legislature – effectively destroying the guarantees of school
funding set previously in Proposition 98.
The AEA assigned Tom Kennedy, an AEA Organizational Consultant in our Mesa office to assist
in the California election effort, exemplifying our united strength as part of the National
Education Association. Congratulations Tom, your work was rewarded.
Are You a First Time Reader?
Many of our 6,000 subscribers participate as "cyber-lobbyists" by using a feature on the
updates and alerts that allow them to send an email to their legislator on key issues.
Become a part of the AEA Legislative Electronic Network. Keep informed on key legislative
issues and help influence legislative decisions.
Contact Doug Kilgore
Math Scores Are Up: The proportion of Arizona public school 4th graders who scored at the highest
two levels in mathematics in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) nearly doubled
between 1992 and 2003. National Center for Education Statistics. Nation's Report Card: Mathematics
Highlights 2003. November 2003.
SAT Scores Are Rising: More Arizona students are getting high scores on their SAT college entrance
examinations. The proportion of graduating seniors getting high scores on the Verbal SAT has increased
by 19% since 2001; the proportion of graduating seniors getting high scores on the Math SAT has
increased by 24% since 1994. (A high score is defined as 600 or above). College Board. 2004 SAT National and State Reports. Data published on College Board Online Web
site. (Similar data exist for earlier years.)
Public School Students Outperform Private School Students on AP Exams: In Arizona, public school
students score higher than private school students on their AP exams in calculus. College Board.
2004 AP National and State Summary Report Tables.
Even More Good News
More Teachers Nationally Certified: The number of Arizona teachers being honored with certification
from the prestigious National Board of Professional Teaching Standards has increased more than tripled
since 2000. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. State-by-State Listing. November 2004.
Computers Highly Available: There is one computer available for instruction for every 3.9 public school
students in Arizona. Market Data Retrieval. Technology in Education 2004.
Widespread Internet Access: Almost all of the public schools in Arizona (97%) have internet access.
Market Data Retrieval. Technology in Education 2004.
Schools Are Safe: No schools in Arizona were identified as "persistently dangerous" under the new
"No Child Left Behind" law. Education Week. Quality Counts 2005: State of the States.
Yet Challenges Remain
The Largest Class Sizes in the Nation: With an average of 25 students per class, Arizona has the
largest average elementary school class size in the nation. Education Week. Quality Counts 2005:
State of the States.
Public School Revenue Raised Is Among the Worst In Nation: Arizona ranks near the bottom of all
states--44th out of 50--in the per pupil revenue raised for public education. Education State
Rankings 2004-2005: Pre K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004.
Public School Spending Has Declined: Public education spending per pupil has declined in Arizona.
Since 2001, per pupil spending in constant dollars has declined 9%. Education State Rankings
2004-2005: Pre K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004. and National Center for Education Statistics. Digest
of Education Statistics 2003. December 2004.
Public School Spending Is Among the Worst in Nation: Arizona ranks near the bottom of all states--49th
of 50 states--in per pupil spending on public education. Education State Rankings 2004-2005: Pre K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004.
Public School Spending Is the Worst in the Nation: Arizona ranks as the absolute worst in the country
in the total taxable resources spent on public education. Education spending by the State of Arizona
and its localities amounts to just 2.1% of its gross state product. National Center for Education
Statistics. Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary
and Secondary Education: School Year 2001-2002. June 2004. and Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Gross State Product Data. (Raw data available on the Web).
Student/Teacher Ratio Is Getting Worse: The number of students for every teacher is getting larger
in Arizona and, as a result, students are getting less individual attention. The number of students
per public school teacher has increased by 9% since 1988. Education State Rankings 2004-2005: Pre
K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004. and National Center for Education Statistics. Digest
of Education Statistics 2003. December 2004.
Student/Teacher Ratio Is Among the Highest in the Nation: Arizona ranks near the bottom (46 of 50)
in the number of students for each teacher. Education State Rankings 2004-2005: Pre K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004.
Elementary Schools Are Too Large: With an average of 491 students per school, Arizona is the 11th
largest state in the nation in the average size of its elementary schools. Education State Rankings 2004-2005: Pre K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004.
Elementary Schools Are Too Large: The average size of a Arizona elementary school is 12% higher than
the national average. Education State Rankings 2004-2005: Pre K-12 Education in the 50 United States. (Morgan Quitno
Press: Lawrence, KS). September, 2004.
Schools Need Major Repairs: Sixty-four percent (64%) of Arizona's schools have at least one inadequate
building feature (e.g., roofs, plumbing, electric wiring), and 69% have at least one unsatisfactory
environmental condition (e.g., poor air quality, poor heating, too much noise). American Society of
Civil Engineers. 2005 Report Card for America's Infrastructure.
Parents Need to Be More Involved: Parents in Arizona need to be more involved in their children's
education. In Arizona, 55% of 8th grade students are in schools where a lack of parental involvement
is reported to be a problem. Education Week. Quality Counts 2005: State of the States.
NEA Articles on the web
Student Success
Special Education and the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
On October 31, the Flores/English Language Learner case was heard in US District Court.
Previously, Federal Judge Collins gave the Legislature until the end of the 2005 Legislative
Session to comply with the Flores Consent Decree, a requirement to fix and fund education
programs for English Language Learners due to a violation of federal law that guarantees
equal opportunities in education.
The Governor vetoed an inadequate ELL Bill at the end of the 2005 Legislative session. In
June, the Governor unveiled a proposal to deal with the issue and asked the Legislature to
consider it. AEA supports the Governor's Proposal. The attorney for the plaintiffs in the
Flores case, Tim Hogan, then filed a motion to seek sanctions against the State of Arizona
until the State complied with the consent decree. Judge Collins took the case under advisement
and is expected to rule in December. Read about the Governor's Proposal, the History of the
Flores-v-Arizona Case, and a News Story.
Conservation groups, educators, and civic leaders are joining the campaign to conserve open
space, manage growth, and protect school funding. New organizations are signing on in support
of Conserving Arizona's Future each week and hundreds of volunteers are collecting signatures
to place the measure on the 2006 general election ballot. This week, the Arizona School
Administrators, Inc. voted to endorse the initiative and the signature total passed 75,000.
On Tuesday education celebrated victories in three very important elections in Virginia,
New Jersey, and California. In the Virginia gubernatorial race, the Virginia Education
Association recommended the current Lieutenant Governor, Democrat Tim Kaine. Kaine won. In
the New Jersey gubernatorial race, the New Jersey Education Association recommended Senator
Jon Corzine who also won. In California, the California Teachers Association opposed three
ballot measures pushed by Governor Schwarzenegger that all failed:
The AEA Government Relations Team publishes a weekly update each Friday during the Legislative
Session and as needed throughout the year. Each update includes the latest on legislative
issues that affect teachers, education support professionals, parents, and our public schools.
In addition, special alerts are published from time to time.
Math Scores Are Up: The proportion of Arizona public school 8th graders who scored at the highest
two levels in mathematics in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) increased by
62% between 1990 and 2003. National Center for Education Statistics. Nation's Report Card: Mathematics
Highlights 2003. November 2003.
To view this article on the web, click here
NEA
To view this article on the web, click here
SPED