David Safier

When Bee Brings Gifts, Look for the Stinger

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by David Safier Mike has been gently nudging me to write about a topic I’ve been avoiding – Tim Bee’s bill to allow all school districts in Arizona to participate in, and get the extra dollars for, the state’s “Career Ladder” teacher pay program. I’ve ducked and dodged until now, and not because I don’t … Read more

Cuts in the Classroom

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by David Safier (TASL) As I read the Star article, Classroom’s dollar share drops over breakfast this morning, I found myself asking, “Are all the analysts idiots?” Everyone was trying to explain why Arizona is spending a lower percentage of our education dollar in the classroom. They all got it partly right, but mostly wrong. … Read more

Schools, Free Speech and Religious Speech

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by David Safier At first glance, this looks like a free speech and religious freedom issue. HB 2713, which just passed in the House K-12 Committee 5-4, basically says schools can’t discriminate against students based on religion and have to allow students to wear religious jewelry as well as articles of clothing that display religious … Read more

ELL Funding is Good for Arizona’s Economy

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by David Safier (TASL) Ted Downing, a former State Representative who is a prof at UA, wrote a comment to my post, “WE NEED MORE TIME!” that adds to the conversation about funding for ELL programs. If we can show people the economic repercussions to Arizona of giving students who need to learn English an … Read more

“WE NEED MORE TIME!”

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by David Safier (TASL) In a predictable move, state legislators are complaining they can’t get the ELL funding together by the court’s March 4 deadline. They say they need more time. (See Meanwhile, in Phoenix… for background.) You want to talk time? OK, let’s talk time. Sixteen years ago, in 1992, a suit was filed … Read more