Save Our Schools Arizona
Weekly Education Report
56th Legislature, 2nd General Session
Volume 6, Issue 37• Week of September 22, 2024
Click here to jump to a section!
$360 Million in Unspent Voucher Funds
A shocking new study by Arizona’s Grand Canyon Institute (GCI), a nonpartisan research organization, shows hundreds of millions of unspent dollars accumulating in ESA voucher accounts — as Arizona’s public school students are going without, and Arizona’s public school funding is ranked 50th in the nation, AGAIN.
That’s right: with $1 in every $10 of Arizona’s K-12 state dollars going to ESA vouchers, $360 million of that funding is just sitting in accounts, unused by students. And lest you think that money will be returned to the state general fund, think again. There’s no mechanism in state law to require that. Instead, the funding can be rolled over for years and can be used by families on college tuition and expenses — while Arizona’s 1.1 million public school students are left high and dry. Talk about a two-tiered system for the haves and the have-nots 😡
“Teachers are stampeding for the exits and classrooms are packed wall to wall and absolutely nobody should be surprised. The Republican-run Arizona Legislature for years has been devising new and creative ways to siphon money from public schools. Over the last decade, our leaders gradually have expanded the ESAs originally intended for children with disabilities until finally in 2022, they created a universal voucher program, open to all children. This, in the name of ‘choice.’
… Parents are gaming the system, claiming their kids have disabilities to get higher ESA payouts then banking the money for college, as the law allows them to do.It’s a great scam. Lest you think the Legislature will take immediate action to reclaim that money, as it would any other fund that sat there unused, schedule yourself for a mental health evaluation. Our leaders set up state law specifically to allow this. They set up the law to be as loosey and goosey as could be, and the result: $360 million just sitting there while public school teachers dig into their own meager pockets to buy supplies.
— Laurie Roberts, in her newest op-ed taking down the ESA voucher scam
Why is there so much unused funding when private schools are raising tuition? When Arizona expanded vouchers universally, they expanded the $7000 coupon to home-educated students. And just about anyone will tell you it doesn’t cost $7000 per child to homeschool a child — so it can be really hard to figure out how to use all of that funding (hence the taxpayer-funded espresso machines, waterpark admissions, kayaks, luxury car driving lessons, golf clubs, and fancy ski trips… to name a few examples).
Send it back: In the report, GCI urges the state legislature to sweep these accounts and return the funds to the general fund (as would happen with unused public dollars in any other publicly funded program, including public schools). This would provide much needed funding for K-12 teacher pay raises and educational supports, and could also return $115 million swept from opioid settlement dollars.
Step up to help flip the legislature to one that supports public schools and will rein in this off-the-rails voucher program!
See the “Take Action” section for ways to plug in, or go to sosarizona.org/upcomingevents.
K-12 Spotlight
Once again, a national study has ranked the states for public education funding and resources — and once again, Arizona ranks at the bottom of the barrel.
As Laurie Roberts said in her column, “Congratulations to the Arizona Legislature. After decades of neglect and outright contempt, our leaders have finally achieved their goal. When it comes to public education, we’re No. 51!”
However, lest anyone think that Arizona teachers or schools are in any way to blame, it’s important to note that despite ranking second to last in the nation for per-pupil funding, Arizona punches above its weight for student performance, coming in at 40th. What’s more, Arizona students perform at the national average on the NAEP (National Assessment of Educational Progress).
Instead, the study found that Arizona ranks 50th in the nation for the amount of funding and resources provided to public schools. According to the US Census Bureau, the national average per-pupil funding is $15,633 — but Arizona lags behind, only investing $10,315 per pupil. That means every Arizona student receives more than $5,000 less than their national peers per year (a $5.5 billion yearly deficit).
Funding matters. Arizona has the highest student-to-teacher ratio in the nation, which, paired with low teacher pay, directly contributes to the massive teacher retention crisis in our state. It is abundantly clear that a chronic lack of state funding for public education directly correlates with student performance — it is no coincidence that the states with the lowest academic performance in the nation also have the lowest levels of funding. Our Arizona teachers are already doing more with less every year; imagine the heights our students could soar to with the fully funded schools they deserve.
Arizona voters have a choice this November: to maintain our 50th-in-the-nation K-12 funding status quo by electing the same leaders who woefully fund our public schools, or to vote for pro-public education lawmakers who will truly invest in our teachers and students.
🔥 As Laurie Roberts said, “You want a Legislature that devotes less energy to figuring new and creative ways to divert public money to private and religious schools? One that will instead work on ways to improve the public schools the vast majority of Arizona’s children attend? Did I mention there’s an election coming up in just seven weeks?”
Candidate Corner
We are continuing to spotlight some amazing #PublicSchoolProud candidates running for the state legislature and school boards across the state!
Find all of our endorsed legislative and school board candidates, as well as Bond and Override information, at: sosarizona.org/vote4publiced/
Our tour of Arizona continues as we take the Interstate 10 West (or is it South?) to Pinal County and Legislative District 16! While the area is traditionally more conservative, Keith Seaman ran a successful single-shot campaign for the State House in 2022 and is now running for reelection along with his daughter, Stacey, who is running for the State Senate!
Representative Keith Seaman taught in Arizona public schools for over 40 years, dedicating his life to education while raising his daughter. Keith worked as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, where he got firsthand experience of the problems that teachers and students face. In 2018, Keith was elected to the Coolidge Unified School Board. When re-elected to the State House, Keith will continue fighting for Arizona students, teachers, and families.
Stacey Seaman is an educator and advocate who has taught in the Casa Grande Elementary School District since graduating from the University of Arizona — she is currently seeking her PhD in Music Education. Stacey has always been a strong community advocate, church volunteer, and prominent in the Casa Grande Community. She now plans to represent her community in the state legislature alongside her father.
The Maricopa Unified School District lies in the northwest of LD16, and, despite the name, both the school district and the town it is named after lie entirely in Pinal County. The area is growing rapidly and has many of the unique needs associated with rural schools — luckily, SOSAZ-endorsed candidate Shawnte Rothschild has the experience required to be a champion for Maricopa on the school board!
Shawnte Rothschild has a deep-rooted commitment to fostering inclusive, high-quality education and a proven track record of leadership and community involvement. A mother of three, she is running for the Maricopa school board to actively contribute to creating an educational environment that not only achieves academic excellence but also nurtures critical thinking, intercultural understanding, and open-mindedness among our students. Shawnte’s goal is to ensure that our education system mirrors the values of inclusivity and respect for diverse viewpoints, equipping students not just with knowledge but with the wisdom to use that knowledge responsibly in our interconnected world.
If you live in Maricopa, Pinal County, or the surrounding area, please support these amazing #PublicSchoolProud candidates this November! In the meantime — help us spread the word. Click on any of the upcoming events below to register now!
- Knock Doors in Eloy (LD 16) – Sunday, Sept. 22, 4 pm – 7 pm
- Knock Doors in Maricopa Unified / LD 16 – Thursday, Sept. 26, 5:30 pm – 8 pm
- Knock Doors in Maricopa Unified / LD 16 – Saturday, Sept. 28, 9 am – 12 pm
- Click here for more upcoming door-knocking, calling, and other events in LD16!
- Interested in making calls to support these candidates on your own time?
Contact tyler@sosarizona.org to get started!
🌟👟 Knockstars / Callstars 📞🤩
#TeamSOSAZ volunteers are fired up and contacting thousands of voters every week! THANK YOU to these 🤩 Knockstars and 🤩 Callstars (see what we did there?) for putting in serious work to elect pro-public education candidates!
Don’t sit out — get in the game and make an impact on #Election2024. Find an event near you and sign up here: https://sosarizona.org/upcomingevents/
❤️ Volunteer Highlight ❤️
Alisha is an educator and a mom who regularly knocks doors in Chandler for #PublicSchoolProud candidates. Thank you for making time to make a difference and for knocking doors with us, Alisha!
With just 6 weeks until Election Day 2024, NOW is the time to get involved: bit.ly/SOSAZvol
SOSAZ Voter Guide
Find all of the SOSAZ endorsed school board and legislative candidates, as well as Bond and Override information, at: sosarizona.org/vote
This week, we weighed in on most of the propositions that are going to be on the General Election ballot. Here is our handy Proposition Voting Guide:
The vast majority of these are legislative referrals put on the ballot for nefarious reasons by the extremist-run state legislature. For more details on these positions, visit our Propositions page at sosarizona.org/vote4publiced/propositions/.
We also took a position on judges, recommending a DO NOT RETAIN vote on Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King. Both justices are members of the Federalist Society and have a history of dangerous decisions that have major negative implications on public education. Rejecting these justices would give Gov. Hobbs two AZ Supreme Court appointments in January. For more information, visit sosarizona.org/vote4publiced/judges/.
Take Action!
🔥When we elect a pro-public school Legislature and school boards this November, it’s going to be because of everyone who stepped up and stepped out of their comfort zones to talk to voters. If you’ve been meaning to jump in and get involved, NOW is the time. We have 7 weeks left to make massive change for our state and the wind is at our backs!!
Upcoming Canvasses
Mesa – LD 9
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
9:00-12:00pm
Chandler – LD 13
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
9:00-12:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
12:00-2:30pm
Phoenix – LD 2
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
4:00-6:00pm
Eloy – LD 16
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
4:00-7:00pm
Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
4:30-7:00pm
Somerton – LD 23
Monday, Sept. 23 –
5:00-7:30pm
Chandler – LD 13
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
5:30-7:30pm
Phoenix – LD 2
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
5:00-7:00pm
Marana – LD 17
Wednesday, Sept. 25 –
4:00-7:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Thursday, Sept. 26 –
5:00-7:30pm
Maricopa – LD 16
Thursday, Sept. 26 –
5:30-8:00pm
San Luis – LD 23
Friday, Sept. 27 –
5:00-7:30pm
Marana – LD 17
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
8:30-11:30am
Yuma – LD 23
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
8:30-11:30am
Scottsdale/Paradise Valley
– LD 4
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
8:45-12:15pm
Casa Grande – LD 16
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Maricopa – LD 16
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Phoenix –
LD 2 Spanish canvass
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Peoria – LD 27 Canvass
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
4:30-6:30pm
Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 29 –
4:30-7:00pm
Upcoming Phonebanks
Scottsdale Unified
& LD 4
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
5:30-7:30pm
Mesa Unified & LD 9
Wednesday, Sept. 25 –
5:30-7:30pm
Marana Unified & LD 17
+ LD 17 Spanish Calls
Thursday, Sept. 26 –
5:30-7:30pm
Peoria Unified & LD 27
Tuesday, Oct. 1 –
5:30-7:30pm
Chandler Unified & LD 13
Wednesday, Oct. 2 –
5:30-7:30pm
Agua Fria High & LD 23
+ LD 23 Spanish Calls
Thursday, Oct. 3 –
5:30-7:30pm
GOTV Phonebanks –
Districts TBA!
Thursday Phonbanks
ft. Spanish Calls
Tuesday, Oct. 8 –
5:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 9 –
5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 10 –
5:30-7:30pm
(with Spanish calls)
Tuesday, Oct. 15 –
5:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 16 –
5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 17 –
5:30-7:30pm
(with Spanish calls)
Tuesday, Oct. 22 –
5:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 23 –
5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 24 –
5:30-7:30pm
(with Spanish calls)
Unable to join a scheduled
phonebank? Access our
Phonebank Hub to make
calls at your convenience!
Upcoming Canvasses
Mesa – LD 9
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
9:00-12:00pm
Chandler – LD 13
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
9:00-12:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
12:00-2:30pm
Phoenix – LD 2
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
4:00-6:00pm
Eloy – LD 16
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
4:00-7:00pm
Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 22 –
4:30-7:00pm
Somerton – LD 23
Monday, Sept. 23 –
5:00-7:30pm
Chandler – LD 13
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
5:30-7:30pm
Phoenix – LD 2
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
5:00-7:00pm
Marana – LD 17
Wednesday, Sept. 25 –
4:00-7:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Thursday, Sept. 26 –
5:00-7:30pm
Maricopa – LD 16
Thursday, Sept. 26 –
5:30-8:00pm
San Luis – LD 23
Friday, Sept. 27 –
5:00-7:30pm
Marana – LD 17
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
8:30-11:30am
Yuma – LD 23
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
8:30-11:30am
Scottsdale/Paradise Valley
– LD 4
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
8:45-12:15pm
Casa Grande – LD 16
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Maricopa – LD 16
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Mesa – LD 9
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Phoenix – LD 2
Spanish canvass
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
9:00am-12:00pm
Peoria – LD 27 Canvass
Saturday, Sept. 28 –
4:30-6:30pm
Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 29 –
4:30-7:00pm
Upcoming Phonebanks
Scottsdale Unified
& LD 4
Tuesday, Sept. 24 –
5:30-7:30pm
Mesa Unified & LD 9
Wednesday, Sept. 25 –
5:30-7:30pm
Marana Unified & LD 17
+ LD 17 Spanish Calls
Thursday, Sept. 26 –
5:30-7:30pm
Peoria Unified & LD 27
Tuesday, Oct. 1 –
5:30-7:30pm
Chandler Unified & LD 13
Wednesday, Oct. 2 –
5:30-7:30pm
Agua Fria High & LD 23
+ LD 23 Spanish Calls
Thursday, Oct. 3 –
5:30-7:30pm
GOTV Phonebanks –
Districts TBA!
Thursday Phonbanks
ft. Spanish Calls
Tuesday, Oct. 8 –
5:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 9 –
5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 10 –
5:30-7:30pm
(with Spanish calls)
Tuesday, Oct. 15 –
5:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 16 –
5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 17 –
5:30-7:30pm
(with Spanish calls)
Tuesday, Oct. 22 –
5:30-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct 23 –
5:30-7:30pm
Thursday, Oct 24 –
5:30-7:30pm
(with Spanish calls)
Unable to join a scheduled
phonebank? Access our
Phonebank Hub to make
calls at your convenience!
💥Text to #Vote4PublicEd 🗳️ Volunteer Texting Available!!!
Want to be part of our texting team?
Sign up here to get information on texting with #TeamSOSAZ!
Upcoming Book Talks!
Thursday, September 26 – 5:00pm
Virtual
Join SOSAZ Network’s Co-Director Dr. Sharon Kirsch as she interviews the authors of the new book “The Education Wars,” Jennifer Berkshire and Jack Schneider. “The Education Wars” chronicles the extremists groups seeking to ban books, limit what educators can teach, and threaten the very foundations of public education – and describes how the millions of Americans who love their public schools can fight back! You can order your copy from Changing Hands Books, your local bookstore, or Amazon.
Vote 4 Public Ed Shop
NEW SWAG HAS ARRIVED!!
For a limited time, donate to receive a special package with everything you need for the election cycle, including t-shirt, tote bag, car magnet, and newly designed vinyl stickers!
Public School Proud!
Check out some incredible pictures and stories from across the state that make us #PublicSchoolProud!
Know a story you think we should spotlight? Send an email to tyler@sosarizona.org to let us know!
🎺 Shout out to the amazing musicians in the Golden Hawk marching band at Desert Sunrise High School in Maricopa for putting on an amazing show at their school's Homecoming game last week! The school shared that their “energy, talent, and hard work made the night even more unforgettable.” 💖
Congratulations to 5th-grader Miles from Kiva Elementary in Scottsdale Unified for representing Arizona & SUSD at the International Geography Bee in Vienna, Austria, this summer, where he placed 7th place in an individual event! Way to make Arizona proud, Miles! 🔠
🏈🤾♀️ Following in the footsteps of many other high schools, Page High School in Northern Arizona now has their very own Girls Flag Football team — and just look at that amazing turnout! Go Warriors!
We are excited to announce SOSAZ’s *NEW* Public Education Defense Fund, which will protect Arizona students’ right to a safe, quality, accessible public school in their community.
Every dollar contributed to this fund will go directly towards electing pro-public education candidates up and down the 2024 ballot, from school board to the state legislature.
Donate to SOSAZ’s Public Education Defense Fund Today!
Building a strong Public Education Defense Fund is essential to fighting back against increasingly dangerous political agendas that threaten our students’ right to learn in safety, acquire a truthful understanding of science and history, and succeed in excellent public schools.
Your contributions will help us recruit, elect, and support public education champions running for local school boards and the Arizona state legislature, shifting the balance of power at the Arizona state legislature towards one that will prioritize, fund, and defend Arizona’s public school students, educators, and classrooms.
Thank you for helping us work toward a future where a high-quality, fully-funded public education is available to all Arizona students.
Get Plugged In!
Don’t forget to join us on social media. Pick your favorite(s) and join us for fun, engaging content!! This is where we post important updates, key news articles, and informative graphics and videos you can’t get anywhere else.
Here are some other easy actions you can take:
- Sign up for a Community Action Team (CAT): East Valley, West Valley & North Phoenix, Northeast Valley, Central & South Phoenix, Northern Arizona, Pima County and Rural Southern Arizona! Your local coordinators will help you with using Request to Speak and contacting your lawmakers.
- Request an SOSAZ Education Arizona Roadshow presentation HERE
- Sign up to automatically receive the SOSAZ Legislative Weekly Report HERE