The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Classes in Chicago Public Schools were canceled for the second day Thursday, the result of an impasse over the teachers union's desire to return to remote . Her position is partially funded by Report for America, a national program that supports local journalists. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The spending cap does not affect public charter schools, which educate about 240,000 K-12 students. Photos, graphics and other visual elements are permitted for one-time-use only. UArizona ranks 29 among top 100 universities granted US utility patents in 2022. Berry said she and fellow financial officers of neighboring school districts dont know where the money from the budgets will go if the Legislature doesnt override the cap. However, he says he is hopeful that a decision will be made relatively soon. Doug Ducey did not mention the cap in his last months state of the state address. We also need to take the next step, to abolish this arbitrary, antiquated policy. Email covid.edu@azcir.org, or contact AZCIRs reporters: Which school districts have mask mandates in place? She said, for example, the Washington Elementary School District would lose over $25 million, Miami Unified School District would lose nearly $2 million, and Deer Valley Unified School District would lose more than $36 million. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Arizona public schools face budget cuts of $1.2 billion dollars unless the state Legislature lifts the school spending cap by the end of the month. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It affects all of us. Pima County tracks cases by school district. Gov. January 6, 2022 at 11:22 a.m. EST. Parents are best suited to make decisions about their childs education. Failing to act will harm students and families, Hoffman told legislators Tuesday in her address. Itll be scheduled, and I think most people expect that itll be passed by enough to make (the overages) no longer an issue.. Taylor Lane expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelors degree in journalism. Stay up-to-date on the most recent guidance, resources, and professional development offered by the Arizona Department of Education and our partners. That has a negative economic impact on all of us. Virtually no one's pressing to close schools, Hurt students for the unvaccinated? Gallego raises more money than Sinema in Arizona Senate race I get the decision out when I get it out., Ducey defends use of school funding in face of feds threat to reclaim it. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. During her State of Education address at the Capitol on Tuesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said if the cap isnt overridden by March 1, public school districts will have to cut 16% of their individual budgets before April 1. 185.6.9.159 Close your doors for even a day and you will pay. Arizona superintendent urges lawmakers to act as schools face closure ticking timebomb, Superintendent Hoffman says schools face closure ticking timebomb, Tucson marks first 100-degree day of 2023, WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO of officer-involved fatal shooting, Gov. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Independent, nonprofit investigative journalism for Arizona. 2023 Cronkite News. State Sen. T.J. Shope, a Republican, does not support repealing the cap. For more than a decade the Legislatures failure to invest properly in our schools has resulted in such a severe teacher shortage that more than20% of our students dont have a permanent, qualified teacher in their classroom. According to Education Forward Arizona, the Legislature last overrode the gap in 2007 and 2008. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. . They have not overspent. Hoax post claims US schools are closing again | Fact Check Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The district provided no in-person classes from March 2020 through the end of the . The deadline for a decision is March 1. When does the states ban on school mask requirements take effect? On CoronavirusNOW.com, you'llfind extensive coverage about COVID-19, including breaking news from around the country, exclusive interviews with health officials, and informative content from a variety of public health resources. You must use our. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. By: Sheenae Shannon, AEA Communications Director. Feb. 11, 2022. Listen to public health experts and school leaders. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Then work with us to abolish this arbitrary, antiquated policy. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasnt happened this school year. Maria Polletta is an investigative reporter for AZCIR focused on covering inequities in education. During the 2021-2022 school year, public schools were staring at 16% across-the-board cuts, and looking at layoffs and school closings, according to education advocates. Cheney believes the Legislature is trying to prevent Prop 208, an income tax rate surcharge on high-earners, from going into effect by not lifting the spending cap limit. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . From how it spreads to where it originated, here's a look at everything you need to know about the deadly contagion. The county has provided a form letter school officials can use that says those who are not fully vaccinated or have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days are to quarantine (stay) at home for up to 10 days.. School closings fueled by omicron variant and home COVID test shortage The measure did not need to be signed by the Governor. Whatever the case, it means even more stress on already stressed-out students, parentsand teachers. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Arizona public schools face budget cuts of $1.2 billion dollars unless the state Legislature lifts the school spending cap by the end of the month. Arizona public schools concerned over possible $1.2 billion in budget cuts, Tucson marks first 100-degree day of 2023, WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO of officer-involved fatal shooting, Gov. They also asked the governor to authorize Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or school vouchers, for all students trapped in those districts. How aggressively will the state enforce the ban? PHOENIX Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman held her 2022 State of Education address Tuesday afternoon, heavily focusing on the . The formula that calculates school district spending is based on spending from the 1979-80 school year, according to the Arizona Center for Economic Progress. In Arizona, he said on Tuesday, were going to ensure continued access to in-person learning.. I think the Democrats are obviously trying to create the impression that were not going to (override the limit) and schools are going to go over the cliff, when in reality, around here, no ones really talking about that, he said. Learn more about what we do and how to find our content on our broadcast, digital and social media platforms. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Arizonas children lost precious years of childhood. PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Lane, who is a digital production intern with The Arizona Republic, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasn't . (Arizona public school funding, by the way, alreadyranks lowest in the nation). Closing schools again won't stop omicron. It'll just hurt kids. In-person learning is vital for the development, well-being and educational needs of K-12 students. Twenty-six Republican lawmakers have asked Ducey to withhold federal funding from and initiate legal action against any district that ignores the ban. Let me be perfectly clear that inaction is not an option, and its appalling that this was not the first issue addressed when the (policy) session started a month ago.. State Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said the amendment was a way to placate Arizonans concerned about high taxes. Robbins announces changes to the future of University of Arizona's medical programs. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. In 2022, then-State Senate President Karen Fann said the 1980 law needs to be re-examined. Its frustrating, he said, because every dollar needed for salaries and to fulfill budgets already has been approved by the Legislature. It allows people to lift themselves out of poverty. "I think the community is really just frustrated and kind of sick of this because it feels almost like a political football game. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Some districts maintain their own dashboards online. Its going to be very, very hard to do.. Get AZCIRs latest investigations and updates delivered straight into your inbox. K-12 districts with mask mandates include: Higher education institutions with mask requirements include: Other districts have implemented partial mandates that apply only on school buses, on tribal land or when students and staff cannot implement social distancing. The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. Districts based their budgets on money the Legislature already approved. In a statement, Arizona Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said: Legislative leaders have less than one month to prevent Arizonas school districts from facing existential budget cuts. Or, they will have to close schools altogether by April 1. Arizona school funding cut deadline looms, Legislature yet to act Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said a familiar issue is still the most pressing one for education in our state. The Legislature has until March 1 to override the spending cap. Aaron Rodgers Mural Removed in Green Bay: WATCH So, districts already have the state-approved money in their bank accounts. School Year 2022-2023 | Arizona Department of Education You have permission to edit AZCIR material to reflect changes in time, location and editorial style only. No schools were reported several weeks in January and February. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Chaos and confusion: Back to school turns ugly as Delta rages Public school districts, mostly across the Northeast and Midwest, closed this week as the omicron variant of coronavirus surges following the winter break and the country's students face a mental . All rights reserved. Interactive Coronavirus case data and map, Coronavirus in Arizona: Latest case numbers, Coronavirus: Symptoms, testing and how to prepare amid growing COVID-19 outbreak, How coronavirus differs from flu: Symptoms to watch for, Is it the flu, a cold or COVID-19? Michael Tubbs, once the youngest mayor of a major American city, to address UArizona graduates at Commencement. What that means immediately is that educators can lose their jobs starting April 1, programs can be canceled starting April 1, and class sizes can expand starting April 1, Garcia said. And Arizonas death rate remains one of highest in the nation, thanks in part to a governor who has used his emergency powers to actually prevent cities and school districtsfrom trying to protect public health. In central Arizona, the Congress Elementary School District board met Wednesday and reviewed contingency plans. Public schools in Atlanta, Georgia also marked August 4, 2021 as the first day of the 2021-2022 academic year. The cap only affects district public schools; charter schools did not exist in 1980. A two-thirds majority of the Legislature is needed to override the cap and allow the $1.2 billion to be spent. Similar Facebook posts were shared in early August 2021 claiming some schools are closing their doors again, . The 10,000 pupils in the Lansing Public School District are stuck in virtual mode until at least next week. As schools and education advocates are biting their nails waiting for the overrides, Kavanagh said hes pretty confident that the budget will be approved. 2023-2024 calendars are being added as they become available. We need to repeal it. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . 2023 FOX Television Stations, until MON 7:00 PM MST, Western Pima-South Central Pinal-Tohono Oodham Nation, Eastern Pima-Southeastern Pinal-Santa Cruz-Western Cochise, until SUN 5:00 PM MST, Maricopa County, Yuma County, Yuma County, from FRI 11:40 PM MST until TUE 11:30 PM MST, Maricopa County, from MON 9:00 AM MST until MON 11:00 PM MST, Northwest Plateau, Northwest Deserts, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, from SUN 11:59 AM MDT until TUE 12:00 AM MDT, Apache County, until MON 9:00 PM MST, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail. All stories must run in their entirety unless otherwise noted or agreed upon after discussion with AZCIR. Gov. Maricopa County Department of Public Health, for example, recently began requiring students and staff who came in close contact of a known COVID-19 case to quarantine. We are not adding any new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money that you budgeted to them last year. said Lewis. All rights reserved. Click to reveal The aggregate expenditure limit, passed by voters in 1980, is an amendment to the Arizona Constitution that sets a spending limit for school districts based on total spending of all districts. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Superintendent Hoffman is also asking lawmakers to pass a bill that would ultimately repeal the spending cap, avoiding a showdown like this one, again. Arizona public schools once again at risk of massive budget cuts and Phase 2, 2022-2023. While Arizona is a leader in providing parents options when it comes to the education of their children - the solution is not as simple as school choice. While these cuts only impact district schools, our public charter schools wont be able to absorb the students that might lose access to their primary district school if these cuts go through and as we know, in many communities the district is the only choice available.. Back in 1980, a cap on school funding, also known as an Aggregate Expenditure Limit, was added to the Arizona Constitution. A governor who actually pays bonuses to school districts that refuse to enact mask mandates using federal funding intended to fight COVID-19, no less. Some are saying, Im not going to approve exceeding the limit until the courts rule that it is unconstitutional., Judge John Hannah of Maricopa County Superior Court declined to rule immediately on the constitutionality of Proposition 208, according to The Arizona Republic. A spending limit set 40 years ago doesnt work today. Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. This is their way of saying no to 208 even though the voters passed it overwhelmingly, she said. 5 Glendale elementary schools could close - The Arizona Republic Stay informed of the rapid school district changes with the below Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. That depends; county health departments in Arizona can issue quarantine guidance. Nearly 300 schools in the U.S. will remain closed for in-person classes after the winter break in an effort to address growing concerns over the latest COVID surge of . Arizonas schools may be forced to shut down as early as April 1 this spring. There are solutions already introduced as bills thanks to Representative Jennifer Pawlik and Senator Christine Marsh -- I urge the majority party to act immediately and allow our schools to get on with serving their students and families.. Investing in education ensures we have a pipeline of qualified workers and innovators. Getting Back to School | ABC15 Arizona - KNXV Two years ago, most of society shut down in the face of a deadly virus we knew little about and couldnt defend against. 1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008. Budget documents show that Chandler schools would lose more than $54 million. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Horne, for his part, says he is in support of lifting the cap and is even considering a repeal. Its kind of like kicking our kids when theyre already down, isnt it? Prior to writing for District Administration he worked in daily news all over the country, from the NYC suburbs to the Rocky Mountains, Silicon Valley and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Are US Schools Closing Again Due To Rising COVID-19 Cases - Boom Live "When this was set in 1980, we didn't have Chrome tablets or whiteboards or any of the stuff that we have now that teaches our kids," State Sen. Fann said at the time. This tracker links to some school districts in the county that have their own dashboards, where they further break down case numbers by school. */. Yes. Which counties have online dashboards or reports tracking COVID in schools? Um, no, AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Published: Feb. 8, 2022 at 5:11 PM PST. A democrat from Chandler has introduced a bill to eliminate the cap all together. Its time we ask ourselves the question: Is it fair to continue asking children to sacrifice and suffer in order to protect unvaccinated adults? Sinema, who has not said whether she will seek a second term, still had a formidable $10 million in her bank account at . PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Even so, that will only fix the problem for this spring. USA TODAY. This limitation excludes charter schools and only applies to district public schools. Or more specifically, we will pay … for parents to send their kids to private school. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. School closures and shifts to remote instruction are quickly becoming less common as COVID case rates drop in many states. Two-thirds of each house of the legislature would need to vote on a concurrent resolution to approve the excess spending. Basically, wed have to cut two months worth of operation from our budget starting in March. 360 Hiatt Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. Gov. Doug Ducey, there is no plot afoot to close Arizona schools There is no other choice but to suspend and repeal the cap.. We changed the rules on schools. Essigs said the Legislature projected the limit to decrease because of the decline in enrolled students during the 2020-21 school year because of the pandemic, which would lead to a lower spending limit this year, despite students returning to in-person learning. Menu. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Please choose your school district in Arizona from the list below to view a calendar of your 2022-2023 school holidays. PHOENIX The clock is running out for state legislators to override a cap on spending that would prohibit Arizona public school districts from disbursing nearly $1.2 billion thats already been approved by the Legislature and budgeted. Huge things have changed since 1979 when the AEL was created. We knew this was going to become an issue.