The Arizona House has voted to allow your schools to remain open for the rest of the school year.
“This effort is aimed at making sure that schools stay open and that students are priorities,” said Rep. Matt Gress, R-Phoenix. “We believe that kids need to be in the classroom, not locked out of it.”The bill still needs the approval of two-thirds of the Senate, but judging by the size of the tire tracks over the backs of the far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, it’s looking like Arizona’s parents, teachers and anyone who cares about public education will soon be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
If the cap isn’t waived by March 1, $1.4 billion will disappear from Arizona’s public schools on April 1. That is 17.5% of their total annual budget – or put another way, 70% of the funding left for remaining two months of the school year.Shut down schools because some are failing?, noting that two-thirds of teachers would have to have to be laid off.A catastrophe that 14 Republican legislators apparently have no problem wishing on our kids.
“What has Arizona received for its investment in education?” he asked. “What we’ve received is failing schools where less than a third of students are proficient in math and reading.”Funny, I remember a time – just two years ago – when Republicans were screaming about closed schools and the disastrous impact on children. They were right.There is certainly nothing wrong with looking for ways to improve the public schools that the vast, vast majority of Arizona students attend.