Today, Gov. Doug Ducey signed the state budget, which includes significant investment in support for all public schools, including Arizona’s innovative charter schools, access to computer science instruction, early literacy and competitive pay for teachers. The fiscal year 2018-19 education budget re-establishes a strong education funding foundation for all schools in Arizona.
“Governor Doug Ducey, President Steve Yarbrough, Speaker J.D. Mesnard and the Arizona Legislature have taken significant steps toward improving outcomes for all students from pre-K through graduation. Prioritizing key investments, such as early literacy programs and courses that prepare students entering the workforce with the skills needed in today’s job market, set Arizona’s students on a path to success in the classroom and beyond.”
Patricia Levesque, ExcelinEd CEO
Highlights of the budget include:
- $100 million in new per-pupil funding for district and public charter school capital and operations expenses, the first installment of a five-year commitment to restore $371 million in recession-era formula cuts.
- $4 million to fund early literacy programs, including all-day kindergarten, preschool, reading interventions, reading coaches, longer K-3 school days or a longer school year.
- $1 million to fund a Computer Science Pilot Program that offers opportunities for high-quality, rigorous training for new computer science teachers in public schools that do not currently offer computer science instruction.
- Maintains $38 million in results-based funding, providing high-performing schools with added resources to replicate and expand their success, with an emphasis on high-poverty schools.
Solution Areas:
College & Career Pathways, Early Literacy, Education Funding, Private Education Choice
Topics:
Charter Schools
