Proposition 320 is presented as a way to improve public education, but its approach would undermine the very schools and students it claims to support.
The proposition requires public school districts—but not charter schools or private schools receiving hundreds of millions of dollars in public vouchers—to direct 60% of their budget toward "direct classroom instruction," as defined by the Auditor General.
The problem? That definition excludes critical services that students depend on, including special education, school counselors, psychologists, speech therapists, librarians, and literacy and math support programs.
Districts that fail to meet the target will face substantial reductions in their Classroom Site Fund distributions. This is funding approved by Arizona voters through a half-cent sales tax and dedicated to teacher compensation and professional development, dropout prevention, and student support services.
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Think about that: Districts could be forced to divert already inadequate resources to meet an arbitrary spending formula—or risk losing funding that directly supports teachers and students.
Amy Krauss
Foothills
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
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