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Save Our Schools Arizona
Weekly Education Report

56th Legislature, 1st General Session
Volume 5, Issue 13 • Week of April 3, 2023

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$10K Teacher Raises? Where’s the 💰?

With all this talk of (desperately needed) teacher pay raises that will cost the state $700 million a year, we have to ask the obvious question: where is the money? 

The difficult truth: Our state has no money. 

Why? Decades of tax cuts and 8 years of former Gov. Ducey’s failed policies have pushed our state to the brink of financial starvation. Per capita, Arizona has less than half of Florida and Tennessee’s budgets.

Two years ago, Ducey and Republican lawmakers passed the largest tax cut in Arizona history into law. Save Our Schools Arizona warned, “This dangerous and permanent tax cut will impact our state for many years to come” — making it all but impossible to fund our state’s many priorities, including public education. And now, here we are. Rather than tackling this problem head-on and looking for additional sources of revenue, Republican lawmakers are sticking their heads in the sand with even more ruinous revenue cuts like SCR1035, which would mandate permanent and ongoing yearly cuts of $250 million and up. 

🔥 As Rep. Athena Salman pointed out this week when asked how Arizona can afford teacher salaries: “If we repeal the universal expansion of school vouchers and repeal inequitable funding programs such as results-based funding, then we can afford enough ongoing revenue to implement this.” 🔥Our legislature can’t even cover the costs of the bloated boondoggles they’ve already created. Universal ESA vouchers are spiraling out of control at $200 million more than expected per year (and growing). Horrifyingly, Republicans are even talking about dipping into the state’s rainy day fund — meant to keep the lights on in an emergency — to pay for their irresponsible and ideologically driven  projects. 

As we cautioned in our op-ed last week, “Tax cuts subtracting from the general fund keep a competitively funded public education system forever out of reach.” It has become abundantly clear that undoing the damage former Gov. Ducey has inflicted on our state will take years, even decades of work, from a new majority — and from lawmakers who can muster enough boldness to tackle this crisis head-on. 

This week marks the last week of regular committee hearings. Only the Appropriations and Rules Committees will hear bills this week, batting cleanup from a protracted and brutal 11-plus weeks of hearing bills that will earn a swift veto. 

And with that, budget season begins, within a Republican-driven fog of secrecy driven by toxic partisanship that excludes nearly half the legislature. It’ll be hard enough to reach agreement, given our closely split and bitterly divided government. Stay tuned on social media for all the details.

Use our one-click email tool to tell lawmakers you want Arizona to focus on real education needs, not bloated boondoggles: bit.ly/prioritizepubliced

Bills in Committee

7

SB1001, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), would ban teachers from using a student’s chosen pronouns without written parental permission. Trans youth are twice as likely to consider suicide as their peers; affirming care, which may include using a person’s chosen pronouns, lowers suicide risk. The bill continues the recent Republican theme of pushing manufactured, divisive culture-war issues for political profit. Education advocates say the bill further politicizes teachers, which will deepen Arizona’s ongoing teacher retention crisis. Passed Senate Education Committee on party lines. Gov. Hobbs has promised to veto this bill if it reaches her desk. The Legislature’s nonpartisan rules attorneys have told them the bill is unconstitutional. Scheduled for House Appropriations Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.

7

HB2538, sponsored by Beverly Pingerelli (R-28), would allow district and charter schools to offer live, remote instructional courses for students in grades 9-12 in exchange for a portion of school funding. ADE would pay the district or charter an incentive bonus of $500 for each remote student who passes the course. Offering bonuses for passing grades monetizes learning and leads to cherry-picking of students and other forms of inequity. Scheduled for Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE. 

7

HB2705, sponsored by Leo Biasiucci (R-30), would create an optional school safety training pilot program for district and charter schools, and appropriate $10 million from the general fund to run it. The legislation is intended to bring to Arizona the FASTER Saves Lives program, an “intensive training for school teachers and staff that qualifies them to carry concealed in schools.” Besides that obvious concern, opponents point out that Arizona’s public schools already offer similar training each year. Scheduled for Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday (previously held). OPPOSE.

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Bills in Committee

7

SB1001, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), would ban teachers from using a student’s chosen pronouns without written parental permission. Trans youth are twice as likely to consider suicide as their peers; affirming care, which may include using a person’s chosen pronouns, lowers suicide risk. The bill continues the recent Republican theme of pushing manufactured, divisive culture-war issues for political profit. Education advocates say the bill further politicizes teachers, which will deepen Arizona’s ongoing teacher retention crisis. Passed Senate Education Committee on party lines. Gov. Hobbs has promised to veto this bill if it reaches her desk. The Legislature’s nonpartisan rules attorneys have told them the bill is unconstitutional. Scheduled for House Appropriations Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.

7

HB2538, sponsored by Beverly Pingerelli (R-28), would allow district and charter schools to offer live, remote instructional courses for students in grades 9-12 in exchange for a portion of school funding. ADE would pay the district or charter an incentive bonus of $500 for each remote student who passes the course. Offering bonuses for passing grades monetizes learning and leads to cherry-picking of students and other forms of inequity. Scheduled for Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE. 

7

HB2705, sponsored by Leo Biasiucci (R-30), would create an optional school safety training pilot program for district and charter schools, and appropriate $10 million from the general fund to run it. The legislation is intended to bring to Arizona the FASTER Saves Lives program, an “intensive training for school teachers and staff that qualifies them to carry concealed in schools.” Besides that obvious concern, opponents point out that Arizona’s public schools already offer similar training each year. Scheduled for Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday (previously held). OPPOSE.

Bills in Rules Committees

The goal is likely for these bills to receive a floor vote this week, so after you use RTS, contact your senator for Senate bills, your representatives for House bills.

Remember, the Rules committees don’t take public testimony and won’t read your comments.

SB1040, sponsored by John Kavanagh (R-3), would ban trans kids from using the school bathrooms, changing facilities and “sleeping quarters” that align with their gender identities. It would create a situation where trans kids couldn’t use any facilities at all without undue scrutiny of their bodies, calling that a “reasonable accommodation.” Anyone who “encounters” a trans person in a bathroom could file suit against public schools. A federal court found that these policies violate the US Constitution and Title IX, so in addition to being monstrously cruel, this would open Arizona to a host of lawsuits at taxpayer expense. Kavanagh also introduced the bill last year, but it did not receive a hearing. As with other divisive, manufactured culture-war bills, we expect Gov. Hobbs to veto this if it makes it to her desk. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.

SB1138, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban banks that do business in Arizona from “discriminating” based on political affiliation or social or environmental values. If the measure passes, most banks would not be able to work with any Arizona counties. Fourteen of Arizona’s 15 county treasurers (10 of whom are Republicans) oppose the bill; as the Coconino County treasurer says, “How are teachers going to get payroll if I don’t have a bank I can work with?” One recent study says such efforts could cost Arizona millions. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.

SB1323, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would put Arizona public school teachers (but not teachers at ESA-funded private schools) behind bars for up to two years if they so much as recommend a book to students that lawmakers consider too “sexually explicit.” This builds on last year’s ban, which has already essentially frozen the teaching of books like “The Color Purple,” “The Canterbury Tales” and “Atlas Shrugged,” preventing Arizona’s students from getting a well-rounded education. State law already makes it a felony to show pornography to children. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.

SB1559, sponsored by Steve Kaiser (R-2), would exempt from state taxes all of the first-year profits for a corporation in its first year of business, half the profits in its second year, and a quarter in its third year. It would also waive all fees. Arizona already gives away far more in tax loopholes and carve-outs than it spends in its state budget every year, while most corporations in Arizona pay only the minimum tax of $50. The bill’s fiscal note observes “a lack of detailed business income data” and estimates the cost at an “understated” $34.3 million in FY2025. State revenues are already forecast to crater over the next two years, impacting obligations to fund public education and other essential services; this is no time to further cut taxes. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.

SB1694, sponsored by Jake Hoffman (R-15), would ban the state, including public schools, from requiring “diversity, equity, and inclusion programs” for its employees, spending public funds on such programs, or setting policies to influence the composition of its workforce on the basis of race, sex, or color. Any employee required to participate would be authorized to sue. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a philosophy designed to harness the differences, talents and unique qualities of all individuals. Of course, this bill does not impose any requirements on taxpayer-funded private schools receiving ESA vouchers. Paradoxically, the sponsor says his bill is what MLK would have wanted. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.

HB2291, sponsored by David Cook (R-7), is now subject to a striker that would continue the Arizona Schools for the Deaf & Blind (ASDB) for another 5 years. The school, which has educated students with auditory and visual issues since Arizona’s statehood in 1912, would have to close by July 1 if the bill does not pass. The delay on reauthorization, usually a clean and seamless process, has fueled suspicions of a more nefarious agenda. Earlier this session, Justine Wadsack (R-17) attempted to force ASDB to offer services to any child with a disability, forcing numerous staffing and programmatic changes and increasing ASDB’s annual operating costs. The school received a clean audit last year as part of its review; we urge lawmakers to continue ASDB for its full 8-year term so it can continue to help these children with unique needs as Arizona’s Constitution requires. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. SUPPORT.

Actions!

Use Request to Speak on these bills before Monday at 9AM:

RTS April 3

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This week, the State Board of Education once again heard testimony from angry parents regarding Supt. Horne’s mismanagement of the ESA voucher program. Parents and board members continue pointing out that the universal program seems designed to fail – and some expressed concerns that the program is being changed to only benefit kids in private religious schools. As one parent put it: “The new school choice is… ‘let’s get these kids in private schools… let’s privatize schools.’” The ESA voucher program is now expected to cost the state $300 million this year — ten times higher than initial projections. 

Across the Nation

Bills in Motion

Any of the bills marked “ready for floor” could be brought up for a vote with less than one day’s notice. Bills that are “ready for rules” first require caucus meetings, which usually happen once weekly, before being brought to a vote.


Key: ⚠️= veto-proof bill, ⏱️= time is running out, 📥= on Gov. Hobbs’ desk, ☠️= dead

The Good News Section: bills that are dead in their current form

  • ⚠️☠️SCR1002, Kern (R-27), would have asked voters to require a supermajority vote on constitutional amendments. Used as a striker vehicle to advance a ban on “top-two” or “instant runoff” voting. 
  • ⚠️☠️SCR1025, Wadsack (R-17), would have asked voters to insert the “parents’ bill of rights” into the state Constitution as a far-right political bludgeon against public schools. Does not apply to private schools receiving taxpayer funds via ESA vouchers. Never heard in House Health Committee.
  • ☠️HB2533, Gillette (R-30), would have required public schools to post a list of every single item teachers use or discuss with students. Doesn’t apply to taxpayer-funded private schools taking ESA vouchers. Held in Senate Education Committee, Wednesday 3/29. 
  • ☠️SB1700, Wadsack (R-17), is a broadly written book ban that takes aim at “gender fluidity” and “gender pronouns,” and would introduce an inaccurate, weaponized definition of “grooming” into statute. Assigned to House Education Committee, never heard. 
  • ☠️SB1704, Wadsack (R-17), would have made it an “unlawful discriminatory practice” for public schools to ask for kids’ shot records. Vaccination rates in Arizona are dropping and measles is making a comeback; it’s dangerous to children. Scheduled for House Health Committee, Monday 3/27, but held, never heard. 
  • ☠️HB2546, Jones (R-17), would have forced any school district with at least 35,000 students to call an election to decide whether to split the district into two or more. This could lead to educational gerrymandering. Assigned to Senate Education Committee, never heard. 
  • ☠️HB2800, Gress (R-4), would fund raises for some district and charter teachers, and tie them to curriculum posting bill HB2533. The lack of flexibility means any spending cuts would force teacher layoffs (and larger class sizes). Never received a House floor vote (only debate). 
  • ⚠️☠️HCR2038, Livingston (R-28), would ask voters to amend the state Constitution to automatically extend the previous year’s state budget if lawmakers don’t pass one in time. This would remove the only structural motivation lawmakers have to work together. Never heard on the House floor (twice scheduled and retained). However, duplicate bill SCR1034, Mesnard (R-13), is still alive. 

The Bad News Section: Bills in motion that deserved so much more

  • ☠️SB1674, Epstein (D-12), would require a cost study of Arizona online instruction to make sure students are learning and taxpayer dollars are properly spent. Never heard in Senate Rules Committee. SUPPORT.
  • ☠️SB1675, Epstein (D-12), would make menstrual hygiene products available free of charge in public district and charter schools that serve students in grades 6-12. Never heard in Senate Rules Committee. SUPPORT.
  • ☠️SB1706, Marsh (D-4), creates reporting that requires the ADE to release more information about who is using ESA vouchers and how taxpayer funds are being spent. Never heard in Senate Rules Committee. SUPPORT.

❓So what’s still alive? 

Ballot Referrals:

    • ⚠️SCR1015, Mesnard (R-13), would ask voters to require ballot measures to collect signatures from a percentage of voters in each of Arizona’s 30 legislative districts: 10% for initiatives and 15% for a constitutional amendment. Awaits House Rules Committee, then the floor (and the ballot). OPPOSE.
  • ⚠️SCR1024, Wadsack (R-17), asks voters to enshrine racism in the state Constitution. This would negatively impact student learning, teacher retention and teacher recruitment. Awaits House Rules Committee, then the floor (and the ballot). OPPOSE.
  • ⚠️SCR1034, Mesnard (R-13), would ask voters to amend the state Constitution to automatically extend the previous year’s state budget if lawmakers don’t pass one in time. This would remove the only structural motivation lawmakers have to work together. SCR1034 awaits House Rules Committee, then the floor (and the ballot). See duplicate bill HCR2038, Livingston (R-28). OPPOSE.
  • ⚠️SCR1035, Mesnard (R-13), would mandate automatic 50% income tax cuts if Arizona has a surplus. These are permanent cuts to the state general fund – and desperately needed dollars that could be used to bring funding for K-12 schools out of the bottom 5 nationally. Awaits House Rules Committee, then the floor (and the ballot). OPPOSE.

Attacks on Teachers & Curriculum:

  • SB1001, Kavanagh (R-3), would ban teachers from using a student’s chosen pronouns without written parental permission. This manufactured, divisive culture-war bill further politicizes teachers and will deepen Arizona’s ongoing teacher retention crisis. Doesn’t apply to taxpayer-funded private schools taking ESA vouchers. Scheduled for House Appropriations Committee, Monday. OPPOSE.
  • SB1040, Kavanagh (R-3), would ban trans kids from using the school bathrooms, changing facilities and “sleeping quarters” that align with their gender identities, further politicizing teachers. Doesn’t apply to taxpayer-funded private schools taking ESA vouchers. Scheduled for House Rules Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
  • SB1323, Hoffman (R-15), would make it a felony for any public school employee to violate last year’s ban on referring students to or using any so-called “sexually explicit” material, which includes commonly taught literature and even the Bible. Doesn’t apply to taxpayer-funded private schools taking ESA vouchers. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • HB2523, Parker (R-10), would require every K-12 student to recite the Pledge of Allegiance daily at district and charter schools. Doesn’t apply to taxpayer-funded private schools taking ESA vouchers. Passed the full House 2/21 on partisan lines, with Republicans in support. Awaits Senate Rules Committee. OPPOSE. 
  • HB2786, Heap (R-10), would require school boards to notify parents of recommended or funded “training opportunities” for staff. Part of the hunt for nonexistent “critical race theory” in schools. Doesn’t apply to taxpayer-funded private schools taking ESA vouchers. Awaits Senate Rules Committee. OPPOSE.

Voucher Expansions:

  • SB1243, Mesnard (R-13), would bolster profit for STO vouchers by rolling them into a single category and increasing the maximum contribution amount. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE. 
  • HB2014, Livingston (R-28), would more than triple over 3 years the amount Arizona spends on a specific type of STO voucher. Awaits Senate Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • HB2504, Parker (R-10), would expand STO vouchers to students in foster care. Public schools serve the vast majority of foster youth, who are already eligible for ESA vouchers. Awaits Senate Rules Committee. OPPOSE.

Attacks on Schools, School Boards, Districts:

  • SB1026, Kavanagh (R-3), threatens school funding by banning “drag shows” for people under 18. Violators would lose state funds for 3 years. Broad enough to include school plays and pep rallies. Awaits House COW. OPPOSE. 
  • SB1331, Shamp (R-29), would allow parents to carry guns on school property with a valid concealed weapons permit, violating federal law. Passed the full Senate 2/21 on partisan lines, with Republicans in support. Awaits a House floor vote. OPPOSE.
  • SB1410, Wadsack (R-17), is now subject to a striker that would require public school boards (but not charter schools or ESA-funded voucher schools) to establish the equivalent of Supt. Horne’s “teacher snitch line” for parents to report purported violations of their rights. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • SB1599, Mesnard (R-13), would fine school districts that don’t post teacher salary information as already required by law up to $5,000 per day. Awaits a House floor vote; scheduled 3/20, but retained. OPPOSE. 
  • SB1694, Hoffman (R-15), would ban the state, including public schools, from requiring “diversity, equity, and inclusion programs” for its employees. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • SB1696, Hoffman (R-15), broadly doubles down on a ban on district and charter schools exposing minors to “sexually explicit materials.” Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • HB2539, Pingerelli (R-28), would force the State Board of Education to implement a “public awareness program” to prop up school choice in Arizona, including free, mandatory publicity for taxpayer-funded ESA vouchers. Awaits a Senate floor vote. OPPOSE.

Resources & Accountability:

    • SB1281, Shamp (R-29), gives state income tax rebates of $200 individual, $400 joint, to anyone who filed a return in 2022. This would drain $936 million from the state General Fund, which would mean massive cuts to K-12 education. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • SB1255, Kern (R-27), would restrict Arizona agency rulemaking and substitute the legislative process instead. This would kneecap the state’s ability to regulate unaccountable, wasteful spending, such as with universal ESA vouchers. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • SB1559, Kaiser (R-2), is a state tax cut for corporations. This would drain money from the state General Fund, which would mean cuts to K-12 education. Awaits House Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • SB1577, Mesnard (R-13), would mandate automatic 50% income tax cuts if Arizona has a surplus. These are permanent cuts to the state general fund – and desperately needed dollars that could be used to bring funding for K-12 schools out of the bottom 5 nationally. Awaits House Rules Committee, then the floor. OPPOSE.
  • HB2003, Livingston (R-28), would slash corporate income taxes nearly in half by 2025. Arizona’s tax giveaways already far outpace the entire state budget. Awaits Senate Rules Committee. OPPOSE.
  • HB2538, Pingerelli (R-28), would allow live, remote instruction for grades 9-12, with bonuses for passing grades. This would monetize learning, leading to cherry-picking of students and other forms of inequity. Scheduled for Senate Appropriations Committee, Tuesday. OPPOSE.
  •  

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