Save Our Schools Arizona

Weekly Education Report

55th Legislature, 2nd General Session

Volume 4, Issue 15 • Week of April 25, 2022

$5.3 billion on the table means it’s time to invest in kids

On Thursday, the stacked Arizona Supreme Court tossed citizen’s referendum Proposition 307 from the November ballot, denying Arizona voters the ability to reject Ducey’s massive tax cuts for the elite. These cuts will now be enacted, stripping upwards of $1 billion in critically needed funding from Arizona schools and students each year. SOSAZ remains fully opposed to any plan to provide kickbacks to the wealthy while Arizona schools are funded last in the nation. 

What’s to be done about it? Knock doors, call voters, and do the work to elect pro-public education candidates to change the balance of power. Join us and special guest Senator Christine Marsh this Sunday night at 6 PM to learn more.

A small bright spot: SB1211, which would have forced teachers to post every single teaching tool they use every minute of the day (worksheets, articles, videos, websites, games, and more), failed its floor vote in the House, with Rep. Joel John (R-4) joining all Democrats to vote it down. The sponsor moved to reconsider the bill at a future date, but John is unlikely to change his mind, meaning this measure is likely dead.

Budget negotiations: Last week, House Republican leadership attempted to advance another "skinny budget." This continuation of last year's baseline spending would have left Arizona's current $5.3 million surplus unspent while Arizona families and schools desperately need support. Unsurprisingly, the measure failed, with Republican Reps. Michelle Udall (R-25) and Jake Hoffman (R-12) joining all Democrats to vote it down, for polar-opposite reasons. Udall wanted more spending, while Hoffman wanted a guarantee of no more spending.

At first glance, this represents further evidence of the deep schisms in our legislature, making it easy for jaded insiders to dismiss the task before lawmakers as simply impossible. However, the mood at the legislature is perceptibly tilted toward recognizing the need for investments in our public schools and communities. Rep. Joanne Osborne (R-13) voted yes to "continue the budget conversation," but spoke pointedly about the need for more state funding in a variety of areas, including public education. Those demanding no further spending on anything are outliers.

Legislative leadership must grow into this situation and admit that circumstances have changed. They can no longer ignore the very real needs of Arizona public schools and communities, nor can they continue negotiating with only Republicans. Our legislature has 90 members, not 47 — the time has come for majority leadership to admit they will not get every single thing they want this year (including private school ESA voucher expansion), and bring everyone to the table in order to govern.  

We, the public, also face very real decisions. We have an extremist legislature, an executive branch taking its orders from special interests, and a co-opted judicial branch. There's only one solution: to create real change in November. SOSAZ is already working to ensure that voters elect pro-public education candidates up and down the ballot — donate HERE to support our deep voter outreach efforts across the state.

Arizona deserves real representation that does not enrich itself at the expense of schools, students and families. And, despite the naysaying of the jaded political elite, this is possible. After all, we are SOSAZ. We've done the impossible before. Why should this year be any different?

🌟  Use our one-click email tool to tell lawmakers NO to their incessant attacks on public education

🌟  Join our statewide volunteer call this Sunday night for next steps and to learn how you can get involved

Many of these could be brought up for a vote with less than one day's notice.

Attacks on schools, school boards, districts:

• SB1269 (Udall, R-25) is a last-minute move to rig the school funding formula to increase the disparity between wealthy and impoverished schools. Early estimates say roughly half of school districts in Arizona would lose money. Passed House Appropriations Committee, 3/28. Awaits House Rules Committee, then the floor.

Voucher expansions:

• SB1657, Boyer (R-20), is a near-universal ESA voucher expansion that pulls money directly from the Classroom Site Fund (created by voters to fund public schools) and diverts it to unaccountable private schools. Awaits House Rules Committee.
• HB2278, Livingston (R-22), expands School Tuition Organization (STO) vouchers and allows STO voucher companies to collude to give students multiple vouchers. Awaits Senate Rules Committee, then the floor.

Attacks on teachers & curriculum:

• SB1211, Barto (R-15), would require public schools to post a list of every single item teachers use or discuss with students within days of instruction. The burden this places on already overworked and underpaid Arizona teachers cannot be overstated. ☠️ FAILED ☠️ House floor, 4/18, with Joel John (R-4) joining all Democrats to vote no.
• SB1412, Udall (R-25), would ban teaching controversial topics in schools and drive further distrust of educators. Teachers could be disciplined up to losing their license, and school districts would face penalties of up to $5,000. Awaits House floor and final passage.
• HB2161, Kaiser (R-15), requires district and charter schools to give parents access to all written or electronic records, including immunization information and psychological records. Scheduled for a final House vote, Monday, then heads to the governor's desk.
• HB2439, Pingerelli (R-21), would require school boards to approve every single library book a school purchases, and to make a list available for public review for 60 days. The bill also mandates parent access to schools' library catalog and student checkout records, a direct violation of student privacy. ☑️ Passed both chambers. Awaits a conference committee (a 6-member group to iron out minor changes), then the governor's desk.
• HB2495, Hoffman (R-12), would ban students from using “sexually explicit” material in public school, even "classical literature" (which is not defined) or books for college credit without written parental consent. The bill ignores modern literature, art and history, and will drown families in permission slips. Awaits Senate floor and final passage.
• HCR2001, Kaiser (R-15), asks voters to amend the state constitution to include the "Stop Critical Race Theory and Racial Discrimination in Schools and Other Public Institutions Act." Awaits Senate Rules Committee, then the floor.

Watering down teaching:

• SB1159, Gray (R-21), would allow anyone who completes any teacher prep program to receive a Standard Teaching Certificate, and expands "subject matter expert" teaching to grades as young as kindergarten. This furthers the misconception that anyone can teach, and that it is not necessary to be trained in curriculum, classroom management or instruction. Awaits House floor and final passage.

Your voice matters! A simple phone call or email to your lawmaker asking them to prioritize funding for schools and responsible policies for education goes a long way. Make it clear that you expect well-funded and well-resourced schools where educators feel supported and students feel safe. 

For Arizona to move forward and thrive, we need these critical discussions! Find your legislative district here. Email and phone info is here for your representatives and here for your senator. Please reach out and make your voice heard.

Here are some other easy actions you can take:

• Sign up for a Community Action Team: East Valley, West Valley, Metro Phoenix, Northern Arizona,  and Southern Arizona! Your local coordinators will help you with using Request to Speak and contacting your lawmakers.
• Request an SOSAZ Education Roadshow presentation HERE
• Sign up to automatically receive the SOSAZ Legislative Weekly Report HERE 
• Get your #PublicSchoolProud shirt and mask HERE. Our 2022 Legislative Special is $20 to cover costs and shipping. Wear Public School Proud gear to show your dedication to well-funded public education in Arizona!