From day one, Legislative
Democrats have made restoring Republican cuts to career and technical education
(CTE) programs a priority. It was included among the
key areas that need strategic investment to move the state
forward.
In
Arizona, Joint Technical Education Districts, a network of district and charter
schools that provide career training programs, help keep students in school,
prepare them to enter the workforce and can increase their overall earning
potential. Last year, Republicans passed a budget that cut about $30 million
from CTE programs across the state. Since then, there has been a bipartisan
effort to fully restore these cuts, because these programs are growing and are
“proven
models of success.”
Despite this level of support,
the governor’s budget proposal would only provide money for competitive grants
for these programs – totaling about $30 million over three years. It is a
bureaucratic scheme. The governor’s proposal creates barriers for
already-successful JTEDS struggling under the weight of past budget cuts. But if
it’s not broken, don’t fix it; just fund it. These programs work for Arizona
students.
The
Arizona Republic reported that many school administrators aren’t
satisfied with the governor’s proposal, saying that the new grant proposal “does
little to address the root of their long-term funding issues.” Pima County JTED
Superintendent Alan Storm told The
Arizona Republic, “The governor did absolutely nothing to restore
funding for JTEDS with his new grant proposal. Not a thing.”
The
governor also failed to correct the teacher retention and recruitment problems
plaguing Arizona schools. The Arizona School Personnel Association Survey from
Dec. 2015 reports that there are 1,227 vacant teacher positions within the 84
Arizona school districts that participated. It’s been reported nationally that
teachers are “fleeing
Arizona in droves.” This could affect students immediately and also could
have a lasting effect on the state’s economic security. Democrats
want to invest at least $50 million in teacher retention and recruitment
programs. The governor’s budget proposal does not invest a dime in teacher
retention or recruitment efforts.
Arizona is full of independent
and innovative people. There is no reason so many people should still be
struggling after the recession. Democrats want to move the state forward by
reinvesting in our schools and career and technical training programs so that
our students have opportunities to find great careers. The governor has gotten
very good at providing sound bites without substance, but Arizona needs more
than that.
To
see the Democratic plan for building a stronger Arizona, click here.
#DemsLead
