Important Issues

Governed by local volunteer elected officials, we believe that local school boards are best suited to make decisions for their students and their community.  AQE regularly stands up for local control and fights against draconian measures aimed at taking decision making power away from local school boards.

Since passing universal vouchers in 2022, the unaccountable program has grown rapidly and is now threatening to balloon to nearly a billion dollars while the state is facing a $400 million shortfall.  AQE has actively opposed expansion of the program and demanded increased accountability to ensure that taxpayers are protected, and public schools are not harmed.  We will continue to draw attention to this bad policy and the negative impact it has on our school funding.

Like local control, local school funding issues in the form of bonds and overrides are incredibly important for our school districts.  We strive to draw attention to these important elections informing the public about what is on the ballot and sharing best practices with school officials and other education supporters.

Originally passed in May of 2016, Prop 123 increased the distribution from the State Land Trust that goes to K-12 education from 2.5% to 6.9%.  Without renewal, this funding will expire in 2025.  AQE is taking an active role in the renewal discussion and will be watching proposals closely to determine which solution would be best for the state and for public education.

Originally passed in 1980, the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL) is a spending cap in the Arizona State Constitution that placed on all school districts based on the aggregate expenditure of all districts.  It is adjusted each year for student population and inflation and cannot be lifted without a vote of the legislature.  It does not, however, apply to charter schools.  With legislative increases in education funding as well as the extension of Prop 301 which removed its exemption from the limit, the state is likely to face this issue year after year.  AQE established www.EducationDoomsday.com to track legislative action on this issue and the disastrous impact it would have on school budgets if the cap was not lifted.