Everyone wants schools to reopen. Everyone agrees with the goals of the American Academy of Pediatrics which says students fare better with in-person instruction and classroom attendance. Children want to be with their friends in the classroom learning and interacting. Teachers and Principals want to serve the community and fully help children learn and succeed. … Read more
Allowing the creation of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts in Arizona where students can channel funds towards religious or nonsectarian private schools may have become more of a Pandora’s Box with yesterday’s Supreme Court Espinoza vs Montana Department of Revenue ruling that said that state governments can not discriminate against sectarian private schools that apply for state … Read more
The Arizona Department of Education’s guidelines to reopen schools for the 2020/21 school year is impressive. It involved stakeholders from teachers, school leaders, parents, students, the health community, administrators, technology specialists, strategic planning, and school finance. It contains general guidance for schools and customized advice for teachers, school leaders, students (the longest sub-section,) and parents. … Read more
With the Public Health Coronavirus Emergency along with the issuance of Governor Ducey’s Stay at Home Proclamation, four citizen initiative campaigns, led by Arizonans for Second Chances, Rehabilitation and Public Safety, Smart & Safe Arizona, Invest in Education, and Save Our Schools Arizona, have petitioned the Arizona State Supreme Court to allow them to collect … Read more
Since the passage of the Anti Voucher expansion Proposition 305 Ballot Measure in 2018, the reactionary members of the Arizona State Legislature have continued to push the envelope on proposed measures to allow families to spend state taxpayer money, through Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA’s) on private (mostly religious) schools. These fringe legislators have: Pushed bills … Read more