Phoenix, Ariz. – For years, Arizona students have attended underfunded schools that are facing a teacher shortage crisis and are ranked near the bottom of the country. And as we begin a new school year, Arizona students face continued threats to their success, despite public school leaders and teachers who are giving their all every day.
Students are returning to public schools that are ranked last in the country—or 48th, depending on who you ask—due in large part to the fact that Arizona’s public schools are funded at only 2/3 of the national average. That’s $5300 per pupil below the average!
Meanwhile, Arizona’s public schools are in the midst of a teacher shortage crisis. Last year, more than 8% of classrooms were either vacant or filled with a teacher who “did not meet state requirements”. That’s part of why Arizona schools have the worst student-to-teacher ratio in the nation.
However, there is some good news this year. The legislature appropriated $3.4 million for 9th Grade on Track programs, meaning that more students will be able to benefit from this scientific approach to keep them on track for graduation. The legislature also included a two-year waiver of the AEL in the Fiscal Year 26 budget that will allow schools to spend their entire budget for the next two school years. And the legislature passed a bill requiring school districts to prohibit the use of phones during class time, a policy shown to improve academic outcomes and make students more engaged.
“Constant underfunding of the public schools which are chosen by the vast majority of Arizona students, and a failure to end the teacher shortage crisis, continue to shortchange the education of Arizona’s students,” said Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau. “Arizona’s students, teachers, and communities deserve better. Investments in programs like 9th Grade on Track are a start, but must be accompanied by larger investments in Arizona’s students.”
