Arizona

Funding priorities

Arizona's Governor and Legislature are currently under pressure to improve education across Arizona. Catalyzed by the Red For Ed movement, the Legislature sought to improve Arizona's educational inequity in the 53^rd Second Regular Session of 2018, allocating approximately $644 million for teacher salary increases through 2020. While this change appears to mitigate some of the disparity, the reconciliation increases base level funding in FY2019 by $276.80 per-pupil.¹ These incremental increases continue to demonstrate Arizona's unwillingness to comprehensively reduce funding disparity. Arizona's 51^st Legislature 1st Regular Session of 2019 adjourned on May 28, 2019, and outlined an educational budget that, once again, inertly addresses Arizona's educational disparity.

Pressing state issues

HB 2749/SB 1551 increases per-pupil base funding levels in FY 2020 to $4,150.43.² This reflects a $190.36 increase from FY2019. The legislature included provisions for cessation of district additional assistance (DAA)/ charter additional assistance (CAA) shortages spanning back to 2009. From FY2009 to FY2018 Arizona cut $352,442,700 in DAA funding and $18,656,000 in CAA funding. HB 2749/ SB 1551 reduces the total state DAA liability from $193,102,400 to $128,734,900, and CAA liability from $10,221,600 to $6,814,400. Arizona also attempted to address the English learners (EL) of the state.

HCR 2026, an Arizona voter referendum, repeals structured English immersion (SEI) programs.³ SB 1014 requires districts to submit to the State Board of Education research based models of SEI that account for a school's size, location, grade-levels, and percentage of students who are ELs and require annual assessment of students for approval.⁴ SB 1014 reduces SEI from four hours per day to two hours per day, but continues to allow for segregation. Accordingly, the state of Arizona continues to implement its 11.5% multiplier for ELs. Without additional funding, ELs may continue to struggle in the public education system regardless of programmatic decentralization.

HB 2187 addresses recessionary austerity rollover and appropriates $630,727,700 from the state general fund to the department of education in FY2021.⁵ Rollover is currently $930 million. SB 1080/SCR 1001/HB 2563 allows voters to increase the education sales tax rate to one penny, from its current 0.6 cents. SCR 1001 increases the distribution from 0.6 cent to 1 cent, SB 1080 and HB 2563 changes the distribution structure with 75% appropriated directly to K-12 education, 20% appropriated to the three major universities, and 5% appropriated to the community colleges.⁶ The intent of the legislation is to raise about $400 million more annually for Arizona K-12 schools and higher education.

Higher education

Arizona's FY2020 budget includes $35 million in one-time General Fund support for university operating and capital improvements, and $9.4 million in funding to offset premium surcharges in order to allow for tuition dollars to be spent in other University areas. The appropriations are as follows:

• • Arizona State University: $4.6 million

• • Northern Arizona University: $91,500

• • University of Arizona: $4.7 million

Changes to funding formula for p-12 education

The state's school funding formula has not significantly changed for FY2020. There is a 4.8% base level adjustement, as well as minimal increases in transportation funds from $2.64 to $2.69 if traveling 0.5 miles or less, from $2.16 to $2.20 if travelling 0.5 to 1 mile, and finally from $2.64 to $2.69 if travelling more than 1 mile. There is also an increase in classroom site funds of approximately $434 per pupil for FY2020.

Forces diverting funds from p-12 traditional public school districts

Arizona continues its support of charter schools and several bills were introduced in the legislature to strengthen chartering and privatization. SB 1118 appropriates $630,900 and eight full-time equivalent positions from Arizona's general fund to the state board for charter schools for personal services and employee-related expenditures; HB 2022 and SB 1320 empowerment scholarship account (ESA) program oversight to the office of the...