Why teachers are fleeing Arizona in droves

[n2doc]

By Valerie Strauss

Teachers have been fleeing Arizona in droves, resulting in such a serious shortage of experienced teachers that state officials are warning of serious consequences if the exodus continues.

Over the last five years, thousands of teachers have left the state, according to a 2015 report by the Arizona Department of Education, with this past school year being possibly the worst. The report warns if teachers keep leaving, “students will not meet their full potential” and “Arizona will not be able to ensure economic prosperity for its citizens and create the workforce of tomorrow.” It calls for increased pay for teachers and more overall education funding in the state.

Why are so many teachers leaving? Educators say reasons include low pay, insufficient classroom resources, and so many testing requirements and teaching guidelines that they feel they have no flexibility and too little authentic instructional time. According to new Census Bureau statistics, Arizona is near the bottom of a state list of spending per student, $7,208. The average per pupil spending around the country is $10,700, and the state is near or at the bottom for classroom spending per student. But it is near the top of a list of states showing which ones get the biggest percentage of their education revenue from the federal government.

The New York Times reported in this story:

In the Miami Unified School District east of [Phoenix], the superintendent is also a grant writer and the principal of the elementary school is also in charge of keeping the toilets running, as the district’s director of maintenance.

“We’ve asked our teachers to double up — everybody is doubling up,” said Sherry Dorathy, the superintendent of the district, which is facing a 4 percent cut in next year’s budget. “And we haven’t given our teachers a raise in seven years.”

more

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/06/19/why-teachers-are-fleeing-arizona-in-droves/

[Romeo.lima333]

1. behold the wonders of republican policy ................ nt

[raccoon]

2. Has AZ had lots of tax cuts in recent years? nt

[n2doc]

3. yep

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2015/03/09/arizona_budget_deal_the_state_is_gutting_public_colleges_to_save_some_corporate.html

[Wellstone ruled]

4. Oh yes. This is the new South West.

Nevada just wiped out the Teachers Union in this last session and in order to fill thousands of Teacher openings,guest what,you don't need a Teaching Cert to be hired,we will train you. Here is another goody,legislation to break up the Clark County School District into and up to 8 new Districts along neighborhood boundaries. And you can guess how those lines are going to be drawn. Another little goody,5k dollars per student per year can be taken form Public Ed dollars and used for Private Academies,Charter and Religious run Schools. Utah Arizona and now Nevada public schools have succumb to the wishes of the Altra Conservative Religious Politics and be damn the Educational Standards needed in today's world. These three states can kiss their skilled jobs growth good bye. Oh well,we need room cleaners and Buffet servers. And more dope dealers.

[QED]

5. How Az schools can catch Mississippi (for the love of God) without tax hike

This is a good analysis of just how back off AZ schools are.

How Az schools can catch Mississippi (for the love of God) without tax hike

Catch Mississippi.

Let that be our war cry when it comes to the funding crisis in Arizona schools as much as the very term "funding crisis in Arizona schools." Better yet, let's make it Catch — for the love of God — Mississippi.

You know it's a crisis when 1) you have to catch Mississippi and 2) Gov. Doug Ducey wants to look like he is trying (or is trying, legitimately) to do something about it.

More:

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/opinion/report/060915_schools_op/how-az-schools-can-catch-mississippi-for-love-god-without-tax-hike/

Oh, and a committee on Retention and Recruitment of Teachers came up with one idea: increase from 1 to 3 years the time a teacher moving into Arizona has to meet certification requirements.

http://www.12news.com/story/news/local/arizona/2015/06/20/teacher-shortage-continues-as-educators-flee-arizona/29060599/

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. AZ GOP has nothing but contempt for teachers and education

They mostly view any state employee, and especially public school teachers, with slightly less contempt than they would have for an ISIS Executioner. In their mind state employees (except for themselves and relatives on the payroll) are parasites that get in the way of more tax cuts, privatization kickbacks and right-wing christian fundamentalist indoctrination.