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VOUCHER Expansion in Thank you for convening a conversation to discuss the recent law that passed expanding vouchers in Arizona, (ESA). The discussion focuses on four questions: (1) What does the voucher bill do? (2) What impact will the voucher bill have on students, staff, and schools? (3) How did the voucher bill to expand vouchers pass? (4) What’s Next? What should we do now?

Ask: What are the impressions that your colleagues have about the expansion of vouchers?  Is this a concern?  What are your members asking to do?  Is this something that parents have asked about?

I. What does the voucher expansion bill do? What impact will it have on our students, staff, and schools? Distribute FAQ: Have participants read the FAQ. Ask participants, “What do you think are the cost implications of the Voucher/ESA Expansion and the effects on our students and their families, our profession, and our schools?”

II. How did the voucher bill to expand vouchers pass? Distribute “How Your Legislator Voted”: Review the document with participants. Distribute “Devos, Ducey, and Their Allies”: Review the document with participants. Seek participant reactions about their thoughts and feelings after reading these documents.

III. What’s Next? Distribute Arizona Schools Now Handout: Review the handout. The legislature is now deliberating on the budget and we can advocate for funding for our schools. Discuss pending action on the Budget and the AZ Schools Now efforts to make educator raises a priority.

IV. What should we do now? It will be up to citizens to change our legislators and governor. What do we need to do in response to the expansion of vouchers? What do you think school employees and citizens are willing to do? What are you willing to do?

V. FIVE STEPS each of you can do Now! 1. Thank your legislator who stood with you, and your students and send an email of disappointment to those who voted against public schools. 2. Join AEA as we continue to fight against these bills that seek to privatize education with little accountability. Early membership enrollment is now through the end of May. Already a member get a colleague to join. 3. Join AEA’s Legislative Update for specific actions to take to advocate for the Budget. 4. Support AZ Schools Now and the 4% increase for salaries by signing the AZ Schools Now petition (on Key Links) 5. Work with your local school board to pass the ASBA Resolution opposing voucher (ESA) expansion (on Key Links page).

Materials needed  Sign in sheet – with contact information and a place to indicate membership status and interest.  Voucher Expansion in Arizona  AEA Early Enrollment Forms – with a plan to make a membership ask to join their professional association.  FAQ on the new ESA law -- what does it do, how would it impact my school  AZ Schools Now proposal for 4% pay increase and Comparing Budget Proposals  Five Facts About Betsy DeVos – and the ties she has to Arizona and Ducey/Stand for Children/AFC etc.  List of legislators who voted for ESA’s and who voted against.  Sample email / letter that can be sent to legislators for or against ESA’s.  Key links including how to sign up for the AEA’s Legislative Update and AZ Schools Now Petition.

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017

ARIZONA EDUCATION ASSOCIATION EARLY ENROLLMENT FORM *

Name: xxx-xx- SSN (last 4 only): Address: Local EA: Apt #: Work Location:

City State Zip: Gender:

Home Phone: Ethnicity:

Mobile Phone: Birth Date:

Home Email: Registered Voter? Yes No

Work Email: Democrat Republican Independent None

Certified Full Time Part Time # Hours Per Week:_____ Subject:______Classified Full Time Part Time # Hours Per Week:_____ Position:______

2017-18 2016-17 # of Certified Classified # of Certified Classified Deductions Amount* Amount* Deductions Amount* Amount*

PAYROLL DEDUCTION

*Deduction amounts are based on full time employment and are valid through May 31, 2017. Amounts may vary based on date signed, employment status and/or prior membership status, and/or any changes in AEA/NEA and/or local dues. As a participant in the Arizona Education Association/National Education Association Early Enrollment Membership Incentive Plan, I am eligible to receive—prior to September 1, 2017, but in no event before April 1, 2017—benefits under the NEA Educators Employment Liability (EEL) Program, as well as access to select NEA and AEA Member Benefits programs. As a condition of eligibility for these benefits, I agree to pay the appropriate unified Active membership dues for the 2017-18 membership year in accordance with established payment procedures. Should I fail to do so, my eligibility to receive benefits under the NEA EEL Program shall immediately terminate. In addition, I shall become liable for the cost of any benefits that were provided to me under the NEA EEL Program and AEA member benefits prior to September 1, 2017. EVERY MEMBER OPTION (EMO): AEA annual dues include an EMO assessment in the amount of $12 for all active members working one-half time or more, which shall be distributed as follows: $5 for AEA Foundation for Teaching and Learning (Foundation), $4 for AEA Fund for Public Education (AEA Fund), and $3 for the AEA Education Improvement Fund (AEA EIF). AEA-Retired members and those active members working less than one-half time shall have an EMO of $6, distributed as follows: $2.50 for AEA Foundation, $2 for AEA Fund, and $1.50 for the AEA EIF. Since 1997, the AEA Foundation has supported teaching and learning in Arizona through over $950,000 in student scholarships, professional development, opportunities and grants for innovative classroom projects. The AEA Fund and the AEA EIF collect voluntary contributions from Association members and their immediate family members who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents for political purposes, including, but not limited to, supporting legislative initiatives and propositions that further the improvement of education in Arizona and making expenditures to and on behalf of friends of public education who are candidates for state office. All contributions to the AEA Fund and the AEA EIF are voluntary and not a condition of employment nor membership in the Association, and members have the right to refuse to contribute without suffering any reprisal. Members desiring a refund from EMO may request a Refund Request Form by calling 800-352-5411. The member must mail the Refund Request Form to Membership postmarked or hand-delivered within thirty (30) days of signing this enrollment form. The Arizona Education Association will mail a refund check after receipt of the Refund Request Form. Dues payments are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes but may be deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, other than the 2 percent of their AEA dues attributable to lobbying expenses on the state and national level. By providing my phone number, I understand that the National Education Association (NEA) and its affiliates including Arizona Education Association (AEA), the local association, NEA Member Benefits, and NEA360 may use automated calling techniques and/or text message me on my cellular phone on a periodic basis. The NEA, AEA, and local association will never charge for text message alerts. Carrier message and data rates may apply to such alerts. Text STOP to 787753 to stop receiving messages. Text HELP to 787753 for more information. With full knowledge of the above, I agree to become a member of the AEA and to subscribe to its goals and objectives and to abide by its Constitution and Bylaws. I authorize payment of my membership dues as revised annually in the payment method selected. I understand my membership will be automatically renewed each year, and the appropriate amount will be deducted per the schedule adopted, unless I revoke this authorization in writing on or before Sept. 1 of any year. I understand AEA legal services are only available for matters that occur while I am a member and once the 2017-18 membership year begins.

Signature: Date:

Recruited By (please print name):

OFFICE USE ONLY *A membership form specific to your local association is available - Contact your AEA office. Individual ID:

602-264-1774 | 800-352-5411 | 345 E Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532 | www.arizonaea.org

FAQ on the New ESA (voucher) Law

What is an ESA? The Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program is a voucher program established in 2011 in response litigation that successfully challenged the earlier form of vouchers in Arizona. The ESA program gives taxpayer money from the general fund to parents who spend it on private schools or other educational expenses.

Initially, ESA provided funding to special needs students, but in past years the ESA Program has since expanded to include: 1) students attending D and F schools or school districts; 2) foster care children; 3) children in military families; 4) siblings of current or previous ESA recipients; 5) school tuition organization recipients who are eligible for the Arizona Scholarships for Pupils with Disabilities Program; 6) students residing on an Indian Reservation, and 7) the children of the legally blind or hard of hearing (A.R.S. § 15-2401).

Is the ESA program legal? AEA and other groups sued to stop the ESA program, but the Arizona Court of Appeals ruled in Niehaus v. Huppenthal that the ESA program did not violate Article IX, §10 of the Arizona’s Constitution, which prohibits public money from aiding any church, or private or sectarian school, or any public service corporation. The Court said that because the funding was awarded to the parent to spend on a variety of educational options, ESAs are not an “appropriation of public money in aid” of private or religious schools. The Arizona Supreme Court refused to review that decision.

How does S.B. 1431/H.B. 2394 expand the ESA program? S.B. 1431/H.B. 2394 expands eligibility in the ESA Program to any Arizona child in public school, or eligible to attend public school, as follows:

a) beginning in the 2017-2018 school year, children in kindergarten, grades 1, 6 and 9; b) beginning in the 2018-2019 school year, children in grades 2, 7 and 10; c) beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, children in grades 3, 8 and 11; and d) beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, children in any of grades 4, 5 and 12.

It defines kindergartner as children that are at least 4 years old but not older than 7, so any child that is 4 to 7 is eligible for the program.

Does S.B. 1431/H.B. 2394 cap the number of children who get ESA? Yes. Beginning in FY 2023, ESA enrollment is capped at the 2021-2022 school year level, and the ESA program can only grow half a percent each year until the 2021-2022 school year.

Can the legislature lift the cap? Yes. They can vote to remove the cap on enrollment in the ESA program.

How much money does each child get from the ESA program? It depends on the child and the school they attended. Unless she is a low income student, each child will receive 90 percent of the base support level and additional assistance they would have received as a student based on whether the student previously attended a charter school or a school district. Thus, students leaving charter schools will receive a greater amount than those leaving district schools and special education students will receive more than general education students.

Low income students will receive 100 percent of the base support level and additional assistance.

Who is a low income student? The bill defines low-income student as a child who is or was a ward of the juvenile court or a child who is a dependent of a family whose federal adjusted gross income as reflected on the last state income tax return that was required to be filed does not exceed 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for that same year. For a family of four, 250% of the 2017 Federal Poverty Guidelines is $61,500.

Who verifies if the student is low-income? The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) may request the Department of Revenue (DOR) to verify low income classification of the family. ADE must allow applicants to designate if they would like to be classified as low-income for the purposes of funding an ESA.

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017 PARENTS, TEACHERS AND TAXPAYERS

HOLDING POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE

INVEST IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

AZ Schools Now is a coalition of dedicated volunteers, teachers, parents, school board members, education leaders and advocates that came together prior to the passage of Prop 123 to focus on the next steps to reinvest in Arizona’s public schools.

Collectively, the constituencies of the AZ Schools Now partner organizations represent some of Arizona’s most ardent and invested supporters of public education. These organizations include the Arizona Business and Education Coalition, Arizona Education Association, Arizona Education Network, Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona PTA, Arizona School Administrators Association, Children’s Action Alliance, Arizona Center for Economic Progress, Support Our Schools Arizona, and Valley Interfaith Project.

To ensure steady progress in the success of Arizona’s public schools and its students, the coalition has identified four key objectives to champion with state lawmakers:

1. Broaden existing revenue streams and reject proposals to shrink funding availability for public education through tax cuts and the expansion of tax credits and school vouchers 2. Expand and stabilize our workforce of qualified teachers through competitive compensation and professional support 3. Provide critical tools for classrooms with supplies and updated textbooks and technology 4. Repair and maintain school facilities to give students safe, clean and functional places to learn

Arizona Schools Now in Action!  Televised school funding candidate debates  Community budget forums in Flagstaff, Tucson, Phoenix  Published candidate education report cards  Earned media on school funding issues  Community forum attended by 300 citizens  Proposed 4% teacher salary increase to Governor’s 0.4% increase presented to Governor by AZ Teachers of the Year

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017 AZ Schools Now Statement on the Governor’s Proposed Budget The time to address long-term revenue sources and the teacher shortage crisis is now

January 18, 2017 Phoenix, Ariz.—AZ Schools Now is pleased that Governor Ducey is joining business CEO’s, parents and education advocates in making a commitment to increase state investments for Arizona’s public school students. We agree with the Governor’s focus on addressing the teacher shortage crisis and in helping low-income students.

However, $95 million in additional funding for FY2018 does not begin to cover the substantial cuts made in the last decade to K-12 funding. With so few dollars spread over 15 separate initiatives, the proposal lacks the funds needed to move the needle on key benchmarks that fuel student success. Given these constraints, AZ Schools Now is asking the Governor and legislators to focus all new K-12 investment on teacher salaries to address our most pressing issue: teacher shortages.

“Tinkering around the edges will not solve Arizona’s teacher shortage,” noted Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association. “Arizona ranks near the bottom in teacher pay. Raising salaries by 0.4 percent does not meaningfully address this crisis or help the thousands of students left without a qualified teacher in the classroom.”

AZ Schools Now recommends an investment of $134 million to be used for permanent teacher salary increases. The monies include the $95 million identified by the Governor in new funding initiatives for K-12 as well as $24 million that was set aside two years ago for achievement districts. Implementing a freeze on corporate private school tax credits will add an additional $12 million, and skipping this year’s tax cut will free up $3 million more.

Dr. Timothy Ogle, executive director of the Arizona School Boards Association, stated, “It is impossible to solve our current teacher shortage within the existing revenue structure, but raising teacher salaries by 4 percent instead of 0.4 percent makes a strong statement to educators that lawmakers are willing to move in the right direction.”

“Arizonans are ready to turn the page on short-term funding proposals that result in one crisis after another,” said Jen Darland, regional leader of Arizona Parent Network and Support Our Schools AZ. “We are calling on the Governor and legislature to convene stakeholder meetings this session to discuss long-term funding solutions that include new revenue sources and an update of Prop. 301.”

AZ Schools Now is a coalition of dedicated volunteers, teachers, parents, school board members, education leaders and advocates that came together prior to the passage of Prop. 123 to focus on the next steps to reinvest in Arizona’s public schools.

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017

Comparing Budget Proposals Comparing Budget Proposals

COMPARISON OF SCHOOL FUNDING PROPOSALS Arizona lawmakers passed the most drastic cuts in the nation Fiscal Year 2018 between 2008 and 2011 leaving our schools with a $1.2 billion funding deficit. Additional revenue will be required to Assuming there provide the funding our schools need. Prop. 123 barely will be no tax increase this scratched the surface. legislative session, it is important to prioritize available revenue to do the most good for our schools.

COMPARISON OF SCHOOL FUNDING PROPOSALS Fiscal Year 2018

How we spend the revenue we have and protect Voucher Expansion and K-12 Funding ourselves from additional tax Governor Ducey and the Legislature passed giveaways is statewide vouchers, draining more funds critical as budget discussions from our public schools, despite a funding continue. crisis and public outcry to invest in our public schools.

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017

Five Facts About Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos

1. Betsy DeVos has no training or experience in education. She has never worked in a school in any capacity, and does not hold a degree in education (nor did she or her children ever attend a public school).

2. Like Donald Trump, DeVos is an ardent supporter of “school choice” privatization schemes, despite a complete lack of evidence that privatizing public schools produces better education. In Michigan, Betsy and husband Dick DeVos have pushed for decades for so-called “choice” schemes and corporate charter schools, most of which have performed worse than the state average. They are long-time Republican party donors who support pro “school choice” candidates, and Betsy DeVos has served on the boards of two major groups leading the charge to privatize public schools.

3. DeVos has invested millions lobbying for laws that drain resources from public schools. In 2000, Michigan voters rejected a massive effort led by Betsy and Dick DeVos to change the state’s constitution to allow private school voucher schemes that siphon money away from public schools. But Betsy DeVos has promoted these measures as chair of the American Federation for Children, and the DeVos family has spent millions to push for the expansion of vouchers in other states. The American Federation for Children spent over $250,000 in Arizona legislative races in 2016 to ensure expansion of private school vouchers in this legislative session.

4. DeVos has fought against the regulation of charter schools. The DeVos family gave nearly $1 million to GOP lawmakers in the Michigan legislature who gutted a bill that included accountability measures for charter schools in Detroit. Those charters will not be subject to the same oversight or regulation as public schools, even though they are funded with taxpayer money, thanks largely to the DeVos family.

5. Betsy DeVos is not a good fit for a position overseeing the civil rights of all students. Donald Trump’s nomination of DeVos is deeply concerning to many civil rights groups, because school choice schemes promote racial segregation and undercut civil rights enforcement that is routine in public schools. Corporate charter schools have higher than average teacher turnover and closure rates, which disproportionately affect students of color and low-income families.

The DeVos family’s support for anti-LGBT causes is well-documented. Since 1998, the DeVos family has given more than $6.7 million to Focus on the Family, a group that supports “conversion therapy”—a debunked theory that purports to change the sexual orientation of gay and lesbian individuals that is strongly opposed by the American Psychiatric Association, the Human Rights Campaign, and scores of other medical and civil rights organizations.

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017 SENATE SB1431: 16 yes – 13 no – 1 not voting Name Party Vote Name Party Vote Sylvia Allen - LD6 R Yes - LD18 D No Nancy K. Barto - LD15 R Yes David T. Bradley - LD10 D No - LD5 R Yes Kate Brophy McGee LD28 R No Judy M. Burges - LD22 R Yes Olivia Cajero Bedford - LD3 D No - LD1 R Yes Guadalupe Contreras - LD19 D No David Farnsworth - LD16 R Yes - LD2 D No - LD14 R Yes Steve Farley - LD9 D No John Kavanagh - LD23 R Yes Katie Hobbs - LD24 D No - LD21 R Yes - LD26 D No Steven B. Montenegro - LD13 R Yes LD30 D Not Voting Warren H. Petersen - LD12 R Yes Catherine Miranda - LD27 D No Franklin M. Pratt - LD8 R Yes Lisa A. Otondo - LD 4 D No Steve Smith - LD11 R Yes Jamescita `Peshlakai - LD7 D No Bob Worsley - LD25 R Yes Martin J. Quezada - LD29 D No Steven B. Yarbrough - LD17 R Yes Kimberly Yee - LD20 R Yes

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SB1431: 31 yes – 28 no -1 not voting Name Party Vote Name Party Vote John M. Allen - LD15 R Yes - LD24 D No - LD6 R Yes Richard C. Andrade - LD29 D No - LD25 R Yes Baldenegro - LD7 D No - LD20 R Yes Isela Blanc - LD26 D No Noel W. Campbell - LD1 R Yes - LD27 D No Regina E. Cobb - LD5 R Yes - LD28 D No David L. Cook - LD8 R Yes Mark A. Cardenas - LD19 D No Edwin W. Farnsworth - LD12 R Yes Heather Carter - LD15 R No - LD11 R Yes Cesar Chavez - LD29 D No Travis W. Grantham - LD12 R Yes Ken Clark - LD24 D No Drew John - LD14 R Yes Todd A. Clodfelter - LD10 R No Anthony T. Kern - LD20 R Yes Douglas Coleman - LD16 R No Jay Lawrence - LD23 R Yes - LD7 D No Vince W. Leach - LD11 R Yes - LD10 D No David Livingston - LD22 R Yes Denise Epstein - LD18 D No - LD22 R Yes Jose - LD19 D No J.D. Mesnard - LD17 R Yes Charlene R. Fernandez - LD4 D No - LD13 R Yes Randall S. Friese - LD9 D No Paul Mosley - LD5 R Yes - LD2 D No Jill Norgaard - LD18 R Yes - LD3 D Not Voting - LD14 R Yes Daniel Hernandez Jr. - LD2 D No - LD21 R Yes Ray D. Martinez - LD30 D No Jose Rivero - LD21 R Yes Otoniel Navarrete - LD30 D No - LD13 R Yes Pamela Powers Hannley - LD9 D No David Stringer - LD1 R Yes -LD27 D No Thomas Shope Jr. - LD8 R Yes Jesus Rubalcava - LD4 D No Maria Syms - LD28 R Yes Macario Saldate IV - LD3 D No Robert J. Thorpe - LD6 R Yes - LD26 D No - LD16 R Yes - LD25 R No Michelle B. Ugenti-Rita - LD23 R Yes - LD17 R Yes

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017

Email messages to legislators

To legislators who voted NO to vouchers:

Dear [TITLE], Thank you for voting against voucher legislation and standing up for public schools in Arizona. Your support of our students, staff, and teachers is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME]

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Letter to legislators

To legislators who voted YES to vouchers:

Dear [TITLE], As your constituent and a [teacher, school employee, parent, education advocate] at [school], I wanted to let you know the impact your vote on expanding private school vouchers will have on my students and community. We are already facing a teacher shortage and teachers are having to do more with less. [TELL YOUR OWN STORY AND GIVE EXAMPLES]

As an elected official, you have a responsibility to listen to your constituents and ensure that our public schools and teachers get the support and resources they need. I urge you to stand up to wealthy special interests who are already working to lift the caps on voucher enrollment, and support our public school students and teachers through supporting the repeal of private school vouchers. These vouchers drain money from our public schools without any accountability and recent studies show that they cause more harm than good for our students. Stand with Arizona voters, who overwhelmingly support increased funding for our public schools and oppose private school vouchers. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, [YOUR NAME]

AEA Local Discussion Guide | April 2017 Key Links

Arizona Education Association http://www.arizonaea.org/

Arizona Schools Now http://www.facebook.com/SchoolsNowAZ/

Children’s Action Alliance http://azchildren.org/category/issues/budget-and-taxes

Arizona School Board Assn Resolution https://goo.gl/HZXyWH

AEA President Joe Thomas quoted in report, “Demystifying ESA’s” https://goo.gl/n02deX

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345 E Palm Lane | Phoenix, AZ 85006 | 602-264-1774