As this year’s legislative session kicks into full swing, one issue is front and center this year: education. And in a strange twist, Republicans and Democrats are actually somewhat united on this issue…for now. But as the fight for control of the legislature, which leans ever so perilously on the side of the Republicans, heats up this year these agreements will likely turn into battles (read our full coverage on education here).
But for now, the one thing that everyone can agree with: Prop 123 has been a positive for teachers. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle agree that it needs to be extended, a welcome change for a proposition that passed by a thin margin back in 2016. The brainchild of former Governor Ducey was designed to boost pay for the state’s teachers, as Arizona’s pay to teachers had repeatedly been near the bottom of the nation’s rankings.
That is where the agreement ends, however. The conversation during the legislative session has now shifted to a few different disagreements: the distribution rate from the state’s trust fund as well as the role of educators in charter schools and how much paycheck protection they get.
The state land trust fund is devoted wholly to education spending in Arizona, and Democrats want to increase the distribution rate to 8.9% of the fund, while Republicans want to keep it at 6.9%. One must consider long-term viability of the fund in this case: the fund isn’t likely to return 8.9% in an average year, thus leading to a dip into principal which may imperil it in the long-term.
Regarding charter school educators, legislators are trying to pass Senate Concurrent Resolution 1034, which will ensure that educators in eligible charter schools will have the same pay protections from Prop 123 as do public school teachers. While it is something that Democrats should ostensibly be in favor of, it segues to another sore spot in Arizona politics.
For added context on this issue, the conversation about education in Arizona in 2024 is now inextricably intertwined with the debate about vouchers, or Education Scholarship Accounts (ESAs). School choice advocates have lauded the freedom that ESAs have provided in allowing for more options and to not be tied down to the public schools in their districts. Democrats have criticized not only the shift of resources away from public schools, but also the degree to which ESAs have been universally adopted (and not just for special cases) and the burden they have put on the state’s budget.
While strong disagreements remain, if nothing else the Overton Window (the range of acceptable and normalized conversation) has shifted in Arizona on this subject. We have a kumbaya moment: it is widely accepted that teachers are important to the growth of our state and deserve a reasonable paycheck. That alone is significant progress compared to a decade prior and is a positive development, even if the two sides may disagree on the particulars.