Arizona Federation of Teachers

Teachers: Prop 123 Money Not Enough to Help AZ Schools

The Arizona Federation of Teachers says school districts across the state are starting another year with inadequate funding and a shortage of qualified teachers. (AlexBrylov/iStockphoto)

August 10, 2016

Arizona ranks dead last in the nation for teacher pay. (Source: Arizona Republic)

Our state ranks 48th for public school funding and in student achievement outcomes. (Source: KTAR)

Arizona is facing an unprecedented teacher shortage. Currently, more than 2,200 classrooms across the state without a teacher. (Source: Arizona School Personnel Administrators Association survey, September 2016)

Low teacher pay remains central to the teacher recruitment and retention crisis. (Source: Arizona Education News) Teachers are leaving the state for better opportunities elsewhere. (Source: 12 News Phoenix)

Vouchers pull millions from our already underfunded public schools, worsening the classroom crisis. (Source: Arizona Republic)

source: http://saveourschoolsarizona.org/pages/6

Why the AFT-AZ recommended a NO VOTE on prop123

AFT-Arizona/Arizona Federation of Teachers

Vote No Prop 123

Introduction

Arizona schools are suffering from a combination of lower public investment, higher child poverty and rising enrollments. This is the result of a multiyear effort by Republicans and allies like the Goldwater Institute to cut taxes for the rich in a manner that forces schools to make tough choices while the state’s richest households do better than ever.