As Arizona state lawmakers prepare to engage in budget discussions for Fiscal Year 2026, the Arizona Education Association (AEA) has taken a proactive step by sending a letter representing nearly 23,000 educators. The letter urges budget negotiators to safeguard education funding and address critical priorities for public schools in Arizona.
Marisol Garcia, President of the AEA, stated, “The Arizona Budget is a statement of our values, and it should reflect our state’s commitment to ensuring a high-quality education for every child.” She emphasized that potential reductions in state education funding could have severe long-term impacts on Arizona’s ability to maintain an educated workforce that attracts businesses and supports economic growth.
The AEA’s letter outlines several key priorities:
– Waiving the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) for the 2025-2026 school year. The AEA seeks repeal or significant reform of this outdated metric, which limits how local revenues can be used for public schools.
– Reversing the K-5 Literacy Endorsement Mandate. This unfunded requirement imposes financial and administrative burdens on educators and affects educator retention. The AEA calls for its repeal.
– Maintaining critical funding levels for public schools. This includes $342.1 million allocated to the School Facilities Division with specific amounts earmarked for building renewal grants and new construction projects. Additionally, $285.6 million in ongoing funding from the General Fund is essential to ensure state support does not decrease with the expiration of Proposition 123.
– Ensuring statutory inflation adjustments with a base level amount of $173.2 million so school districts can manage rising costs affecting student services like transportation.
– Allocating $37 million to Poverty Group B weight and $29 million to District Additional Assistance to support daily operations and aid vulnerable students and rural communities.
– Providing $3.8 million for school meal grants to assist Arizona’s most vulnerable students with nutrition needs.
Furthermore, the AEA suggests revising prior-year Average Daily Membership calculations so public schools can financially accommodate mid-year student enrollments from charter or private schools.
For those interested in further details, the full letter is available online.
