Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas said she is very pleased by reports that Gov. Doug Ducey and legislators will call a special session and that a deal has been reached to settle the ongoing education funding lawsuit.
“I strongly support the decision makers who have come together to address the need for increased education funding, including Gov. Ducey and leadership at the Legislature,” said Superintendent Douglas. “I am excited and pleasantly surprised to hear that the plaintiffs and defendants in the lawsuit were able to reach a compromise that will result in immediate new funds for our schools.”
The Superintendent had previously expressed her disappointment that the state was only able to afford an additional $74 million for education in its FY 16 budget given increases in state revenues. This led her to call for an immediate appropriation of $400 million for classroom teachers, a plan that would have been supplemented in future years by Gov. Ducey’s land trust proposal.
With respect to the proposed settlement, the Superintendent said that while she is relying on a broad description of the compromise, the specific details will be key. However, she said she is confident that both parties are well represented and will do what is right for Arizona children.
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