Phoenix, Arizona-Maybe
this time the governor and the Republican leadership will listen to what the
people of Arizona want? Recently, a poll showed that a majority of Republican,
Democratic and Independent voters oppose
using public money for private schools. But that is exactly
what Republican leaders have been pushing at the Legislature by expanding
voucher programs.
The
poll results came on the heels of a national
report that names Arizona as one of the few states in the nation to cut
student funding by about 10 percent or more since 2008, while enacting tax cuts.
“Our
country’s future depends heavily on the quality of its schools. Increasing
financial support can help K-12 schools implement proven reforms such as hiring
and retaining excellent teachers, reducing class sizes, and expanding the
availability of high-quality early education. So it’s problematic that so many
states have headed in the opposite direction over the last decade. These cuts
risk undermining schools’ capacity to develop the intelligence and creativity of
the next generation of workers and entrepreneurs.”
That
is not the future House Democrats want for Arizona students and businesses. Our
state leaders have an obligation to support the public education system that
serves the majority of Arizona students. As long as Republican leadership
continues to fail to prioritize schools,
we can expect our classroom sizes to continue to grow, our teachers to
continue to leave the state and
business executives to continue to see schools as a “key
weakness” for
our state. House Democrats will continue to carry this message to the governor
and Republican leadership until it gets through. Click here to find ways to
ensure your voice is
heard.
