Clik here to view.
The AZ Legislature is Busy…How Will Education Fare?
Several bills on education have been introduced recently in the Arizona Legislature. Some will help support the majority of our students (almost 90% whom are enrolled in traditional public schools.)...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Parents shouldn’t have to choose, kids shouldn’t have to lose
The education reform movement loves to tout that parent’s right to choose is the “civil rights issue of our time.” They point to how charter and private schools, and the vouchers to fund them will...
View ArticleClik here to view.
A Moment of Reason in the Arizona Legislature – Voucher Expansion Bill Defeated
Somewhat unbelievable, but reason prevailed today in Arizona. Against all odds, the latest grand attempt to expand vouchers failed 31 to 27. HB2291, as amended, would have expanded eligibility for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
And the beat goes on…
Yesterday, the Arizona House Education Committee moved the state one step closer to fully privatized K-12 education with their passage of HB 2174 (empowerment scholarship accounts; grandchildren) on a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
From the K-12 Public Education War Front in Arizona
The war on public education has been waging for several years in Arizona, but this year has seen some especially heavy fighting. The attacks on public education by the first session of the 52nd...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Competition hurts money in the classroom
Corporate reformers of public education claim schools should operate more like businesses and although that mindset may bring some efficiencies, it can also result in less money in the classroom. One...
View ArticleClik here to view.
For the Public Good
Recent news that Arizona is tied for last in the nation for college completion rates and first in student loan default, just added fuel to the fire in the state’s education race to the bottom. But of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ed Feulner and your Heritage Foundation, me thinks thou protesteth too much…
Nothing like some conservative propaganda first thing in the morning to get a liberal’s blood flowing. Yesterday morning, my Google alert on Arizona public education sent me a commentary from “The...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Taxpayer dollars belong to all of us
It was very interesting to read of the Washington Supreme Court’s recent decision on charter schools. On September 4, 2015, the Court declared the state’s charter school law unconstitutional. As...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Bottom Five List – Discouraged but Hopeful
A recent article in The Atlantic magazine featured experts on K-12 education who offered their reasons for hope and despair with regard to education. It was an interesting read and prompted me to come...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Top Five – Discouraged but Hopeful
So hopefully you already read my Bottom Five – Discouraged but Hopeful, here’s the rest of the story. First, the rest of what gets me really discouraged: 5. The Legislature seems intent on killing the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Ducey on Education…What’s he really saying?
Governor Ducey’ State of the State address today at the AZ Legislature’s opening day was a fairly typical “state of” address. He talked about what he’s accomplished thus far and provided sound bites...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Part 2 – Why Ducey’s Promise to Lower Taxes is a Lie
In my previous post, I showed why Governor Ducey’s focus on tax reduction is a disastrous recipe for our state. Now let’s look at how those tax reductions we’ve been seeing aren’t really helping the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Accountability in Arizona…not so much
Two headlines in the AZ Star caught my attention this morning: “Plan adds state cash for private education” and “Veto-proof majority backs repeal of JTED cuts.” The first one is about Representative...
View ArticleClik here to view.
AZ again at bottom in “50 States Report”
The Network for Public Education (NPE), a public education advocacy group headed by the Nation’s preeminent public education expert and advocate, Diane Ravitch, released their “A 50 State Report Card”...
View ArticleClik here to view.
When is a charter school a bad idea?
Hint: the answer is not, “never.” It is a bad idea, according to education blogger Peter Green, “when charters disrupt and displace [district] public schools.” I would add that often, these district...
View ArticleClik here to view.
It’s Complicated
To my post on Blog for Arizona yesterday, former AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Huppenthal posted the following comment: “The 170,000 charter school students save taxpayers over 290...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Educated Workforce = State Prosperity
Okay. Let me get this right. Daniel Scarpinato, Press Aide to Governor Doug Ducey says Arizona schools are the 4th worst in the nation because school choice siphons taxpayer dollars out of community...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Just rearranging the deck chairs ain’t gonna cut it
Representing the AZSchools Now Coalition, Arizona’s 2016 Teacher of the Year Christine Marsh and I recently attended and spoke at a Classrooms First Initiative Council meeting in Phoenix. The Coalition...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Open Letter to Diane Douglas
Dear Diane, It is with great sadness I write you this letter. I say that because I just had my hopes dashed once again that people of different political ideology could actually trust each other to put...
View Article
