Category: Education Legislation

Today, Stand for Children Arizona released results from its annual survey of Arizona voters concerning cell phones at Arizona schools. The survey, conducted in November, asked 800 likely 2026 general election voters about their thoughts on Arizona’s law restricting cell phone use during the school day.    

When asked about the current law that requires restricting cell phone use during class time, 90% of survey respondents supported the law, including 76% who strongly supported it. That number includes 85% of parents (65% strongly).    

In an initial sample, 69% (45% strong) supported phone-free policies prohibiting students from using their phones throughout the entire school day, including lunch and passing periods. That includes 63% of parents (42% strong support).    

As respondents were given more information about phone-free policies, including the academic benefits of rigorous full day phone-free policies and the strong support from school safety professionals, support climbed to 81%, including 61% strong support. Among parents, support reached 77% (52% strong support).    

“This shows there is a broad appetite among parents and our community to implement robust phone-free policies at our schools, beyond just instructional time. This makes sense because it takes the onus off the teacher. It also saves money for schools and takes some pressure off administrators, eliminating many of the discipline issues caused by cell phones.” said Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau. “We owe it to our students and our future to implement phone-free policies to help students be successful at school and in life.”    

Full survey results are available here.    

Today, Governor Hobbs delivered her 4^th State of the State address as the 2^nd Session of the 56^th Legislature kicked off. At a time when over 60% of Arizona voters think the state is on the wrong track, Governor Hobbs laid out her agenda to move Arizona forward.  

Stand for Children Arizona applauds the Governor for continuing to prioritize crucial investments in education and reducing costs for working families. We look forward to the legislature taking up these measures to support Arizonans.  

According to our 2025 Survey of Arizona Voters, a super-majority of Arizonans (75%), including 59% of Republicans, believe there is a need for additional funding for public education. 

“We are happy to see that Governor Hobbs continues to lay out a pro-affordability and pro-education agenda for Arizona and will help to reduce costs for working families,” said Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau. “We look forward to working with Governor Hobbs and the legislature to lower costs for Arizonans on these and other issues like affordable child care. We also must provide needed resources to Arizona’s schools by renewing Prop 123 and continuing to fund successful and cost-effective 9^th Grade On-Track programs. These steps will give Arizona families a chance at a brighter future.”  

Today, Stand for Children Arizona released results from its annual survey of Arizona voters. The survey, conducted in November, asked 800 likely 2026 general election voters about their thoughts on a variety of policies affecting everyday Arizonans, ranging from public schools and early childhood to inflation and tariffs. 

The poll found support from 66% of Arizonans for investing at least $3.4 million in 9^th Grade On-Track. Of that, more than half (39%) support increasing funding to $15 million to expand the program to every high school. This support was bipartisan in nature with 50% of Republicans and 84% of Democrats supporting at least $3.4 million.  

9^th Grade On-Track: 

• 66% support investing at least $3.4 million in 9^th Grade On-Track.
• 39% support increasing funding to $15 million, enough to fund the program at every high school.
• Support for continuing or increasing 9^th Grade On-Track funding enjoyed bipartisan support with 50% of Republicans supporting at least $3.4 million.  

Early Childhood: 

• 56% support renewing a $350 state Child Tax Credit, including 45% of Republicans.
• 61% support investing at least $45 million in affordable childcare. 35% support investing $136 million.  
• 76% support closing the vape tax loophole to fund affordable childcare and 9^th Grade On-Track programs. 64% of Republicans support this.  

Criminal Justice:  

• 62% support eliminating juvenile life without parole sentences.
• 49% of Republicans support eliminating juvenile life without parole sentences.  

Arizona’s Public Schools:  

• 75% think Arizona’s public schools need more funding including 59% of Republicans. 
• 15% listed a lack of adequate funding as the top issue facing schools. 

The Legislature: 

• 61% of voters think Arizona is on the wrong track, a 4-point increase from a year prior.
• 37% of voters would give the legislature an “F” for their handling of public schools, up from 36% a year ago. 

The Economy: 

• 19% of voters listed inflation as the most important issue facing Arizonans, 
• 12% of voters listed inflation as the second most pressing issue. 
• 59% of voters said they have seen prices rise due to tariffs. 

“These survey results show that Arizonans want our legislature to invest in public schools and working families,” said Stand for Children Arizona Executive Director Rebecca Gau. “We hope the legislature will take the opportunity presented to them next year to meet voters where they are on these issues.” 

Full survey results are available here.  

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.”   

NEW POLL SHOWS VOTERS APPROVE OF REFORMING INVESTMENTS IN EDUCATION ACROSS PARTY LINES

A new public opinion poll of Arizona voters reveals a resounding dissatisfaction with the current state of leadership, particularly within the legislature and with Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne. The data sheds light on key issues facing education in the state and highlights a clear call for reform. 

(PHOENIX) – Stand for Children Arizona conducted an annual poll of Arizona voters asking them to weigh in on key issues facing education in the state. The 2023 public opinion survey results reveal that a majority of Arizonans are concerned about the direction of the state and continue to think that there is a great need for additional funds for schools, giving the legislature poor grades when it comes to supporting our students. 

State of Concern
Arizonans are dissatisfied with leadership and let down by the support they feel from elected officials when it comes to our children and their education.  

• 57% of voters feel that Arizona is on the wrong track. This percentage is unchanged from last year.  
• Favorability of Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne, has decreased since May, while his name ID has increased.  
• 55% of Arizonans have an unfavorable opinion of the Republican-led state legislature. 
• When asked to give a grade to the Arizona state legislature when it comes to helping our public schools, 56% of voters said “D/F.” 

Demand for School Funding
There is a pressing need for increased public education funding and voters believe that the Arizona state legislature is failing by investing in wealthy corporations over our kids. 

• 73% of voters think that there is a need for additional funds for Arizona’s public schools, with a majority believing that need is “great.” 
• Even amidst rising costs and inflation, a majority of Arizonans believe that funding for public schools should increase. 
• Arizona voters overwhelmingly believe that to address the projected $400 million budget shortfall, the state legislature should stop giving out tax breaks to large corporations and the wealthy instead of taking funds from schools. 
• 62% of Arizonans, an increase of 8% over last year, would vote yes on a ballot measure to reform the expenditure limit on education to more adequately fund public schools. 

Calls to Reform ESA Vouchers
Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) voucher program is failing our most vulnerable students and a majority of voters are calling for drastic changes.  

• After hearing about the lack of safety measures, such as background checks for teachers, use on non-educational expenses, and lack of accreditation or transparency, a majority of Arizona voters oppose the ESA voucher program. 
• 65% of Arizonans would vote yes on a ballot measure to reform the ESA voucher system by increasing oversight, financial transparency and accountability, and limiting the program to students in need. 

Investing in our Children’s Futures
Across party lines, Arizonans are in support of investing in our state’s future through programs that directly impact our youngest learners. 

• 73% of voters support establishing state funding for all-day Kindergarten in all Arizona public school districts and charters. 71% support the same establishment for pre-Kindergarten. 
• 60% of voters support a permanent annual $350 per child tax rebate. 

Connecting Families in Arizona’s Justice System 
Prison telecom corporations charge families with incarcerated loved ones up to a dollar per minute for a phone call. Preying on families, these companies take in $1.4 billion annually and pay hundreds of millions in kickbacks to correctional agencies. As a result, 1-in-3 families with someone incarcerated falls into debt trying to stay connected. 

• A majority, 58% of voters, support a proposal to make telephone communications between people inside and outside of prisons and jails free in Arizona. 

Rebecca Gau, executive director of Stand for Children Arizona says about the poll results, “voters are clearly unhappy with how the legislature and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne have approached education and the state budget. From ESA vouchers to school funding, I am hopeful that state leaders will address the needs of kids and families and put kids before politics.” 

The survey was conducted November 13-20, 2023, by Tulchin Research. Poll results are attached. 

Click here to view detailed polling results. 

Our local public schools in Arizona remain under attack. While the legislature voted to pass a one-year waiver to address the aggregate expenditure limit (AEL) for this year, avoiding a financial crisis that would have forced Arizona schools to cut $1.3 billion dollars, there is currently no commitment in place to ensure this issue doesn’t come back next year.

What is the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL)?

The Arizona Public Schools Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) is a state law that limits the amount of money that public schools in Arizona can spend each year. It was passed in 1980 to set a spending cap for all public schools based on attendance and inflation (it excludes charter schools since they didn’t exist in 1980).​ The AEL is an antiquated measure that does not account for modern day school finance or the ways education has changed since 1980. The AEL is calculated each year by taking the average per-pupil spending for the previous three years, and then adjusting it for inflation and student enrollment. The AEL is then used to determine the maximum amount of money that each school district can spend in the following year – regardless of how much the state legislature and the Governor have budgeted for schools.

How does it impact our schools?

This year alone, schools across the state would have lost $1.3 billion, if not for the legislature passing a waiver. This will mean that next year, we can estimate schools will be in danger of losing a similar amount of money. Meaning, our local schools would be forced to:

• Close schools
• Fire teachers (worsening an already existing teacher shortage)
• Fire of support staff
• Cancel after school programs
• Shorten the school day

To see how much the AEL would cost YOUR district if not overturned, check out this list of impacted districts.

Didn’t the state increase education

funding last year? Why is this an issue?

In 2022, the Arizona state legislature passed a bipartisan budget which included historical investments in education. We were on the front lines to get this $1 billion investment added.

Education stakeholders were promised by the governor and legislators that the AEL would be fixed to allow these funds to actually be spent by schools.

Ultimately, Governor Ducey did not follow through on his commitment, and now schools are being forced to annually plan contingencies based on political theatre. We need our elected officials to put kids ahead of politics and do the right thing.

What can we do?

Legislators have until June 30^th to place a waiver for the AEL for the upcoming school year.

Our local public schools in Arizona are under attack once again. Currently, the legislature has not voted to pass a one-year waiver to address the aggregate expenditure limit (AEL), and as a result, schools will be forced to cut $1.3 billion dollars on March 1^st

What is the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL)?

The Arizona Public Schools Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) is a state law that limits the amount of money that public schools in Arizona can spend each year. It was passed in 1980 to set a spending cap for all public schools based on attendance and inflation (it excludes charter schools since they didn’t exist in 1980).​ The AEL is an antiquated measure that does not account for modern day school finance or the ways education has changed since 1980. The AEL is calculated each year by taking the average per-pupil spending for the previous three years, and then adjusting it for inflation and student enrollment. The AEL is then used to determine the maximum amount of money that each school district can spend in the following year – regardless of how much the state legislature and the Governor have budgeted for schools.

How does it impact our schools?

This year alone, schools across the state will lose $1.3 billion. This will mean that after March 1 districts may have to

• Close schools
• Fire teachers (worsening an already existing teacher shortage)
• Fire of support staff
• Cancel after school programs
• Shorten the school day

To see how much the AEL will cost YOUR district if not overturned, check out this list of impacted districts.

Didn’t the state increase education

funding last year? Why is this an issue?

Last year, the Arizona state legislature passed a bipartisan budget which included historical investments in education. We were on the front lines to get this $1 billion investment added.

Education stakeholders were promised by the governor and legislators that the AEL would be fixed to allow these funds to actually be spent by schools.

Ultimately, Governor Ducey did not follow through on his commitment, and now schools are being forced to plan contingencies based on political theatre. We need our elected officials to put kids ahead of politics and do the right thing.

What can we do?

We have until March 1^st to pressure our elected officials to lift the AEL for this year. Here’s what to do to help:

STEP ONE – Sign our petition asking the legislature to lift the AEL. We are delivering collected signatures for an in-person “Lift with Love” event on February 14 (Valentine’s Day) at the Arizona state capitol. We’ll be handing out valentines (the petition) to lawmakers and asking that they use their heart and think of the kids who will be affected by this archaic policy.

STEP TWO – Call your legislators (1 senator, 2 representatives) and ask them to lift the AEL immediately. Use this to determine your legislative district and then use this to find their phone number.

STEP THREE – Tell your friends! According to our 2022 annual survey, most Arizonans support lifting the AEL. The more people are aware they need to contact their legislators about this issue, the more likely it is we’ll have impact. Share this blog, share the petition, and tell everyone you know that we have until March 1 to support our local schools!