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Once again, Arizona voters showed overwhelming support for local public schools in the 2024 election. School boards across the state saw many pro-public education candidates sail to victory, with 61 of SOSAZ’s endorsed #PublicSchoolProud candidates winning their non-partisan races. The candidates endorsed by anti-public school groups like Moms for Liberty and Turning Point were largely rejected.
What’s more, Arizona voters passed 73% of local school bond and override funding measures, choosing to tax themselves locally to fund their neighborhood schools and augment student learning and safety. In other words, nearly three-fourths of voters chose to support their local schools out of their own pockets, even during a presidential election that centered on high costs of goods and services.
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As polling shows, Arizonans truly do love our public schools. According to the Center for the Future of Arizona, 79% of Arizona voters across party lines say they support increasing K-12 funding. A stunning 96% agreed that “every school should have the resources necessary to deliver quality education that prepares every child for the future, no matter their skin color, background, or zip code.”
Indeed, year after year, Arizonans proudly declare they support teacher pay raises and increased school funding to ensure higher quality learning and more extracurriculars and community services. Arizonans know our local schools are the centers of our communities, with food pantries, holiday concerts, Friday night lights, basketball tournaments, art contests, adult classes, after-school care, pre-K services, gardens and so, so much more.
Sadly, voters don’t always connect the dots around which legislative candidates support public schools or how devastating Arizona’s $1 billion yearly voucher drain is on our public schools. They may not connect that both vouchers and a chronic lack of funding from the legislative majority are forcing school closures, cuts to teacher and staff positions, and cancellation of popular programs. The reality is, 0% of Arizona schools have the resources necessary to deliver quality education that prepares every child for the future.
The incoming legislature has received a strong mandate from Arizona voters: fund our local public schools, stop the partisan attacks on education and put students first.
This means that, starting opening day of the Arizona State Legislature on Jan. 13, lawmakers should prioritize and protect public education. By renewing voter-approved Prop 123, lawmakers can preserve $300 million in yearly funding. By lifting the AEL school spending cap, schools will be able to spend $1.3 billion allocated to them by the legislature and they won’t have to shut down in April. By restoring the opportunity weight after it was slashed last year to pay for out-of-control vouchers, students in the lowest-income areas across the state will benefit from over $60 million in critically needed academic supports. This can all be accomplished if the members of the legislature work together in a bipartisan way to support students.
It’s time for the Arizona legislature to get serious about funding our public schools, the centers of our communities. It’s time to stop playing political games with education — or every single one of us will pay the price now and long into the future. The voters have spoken: it’s time to support, protect and fund our schools.