PHOENIX, AZ – Following the law plus treating kids like human beings rather than nothing more than disease carriers equals more money. That is the basic formula Governor Doug Ducey introduced to school funding on Tuesday with the roll out of his Education Plus Up Grant program.
In other words, schools that have mask mandates in violation of Arizona will miss out on up to $1,800 extra in federal dollars per pupil.
The governor also expanded the availability of school vouchers to families with a total household income that is at or below 350 percent of the Federal Poverty Level through the new COVID-19 Educational Recovery Benefit program. Dollars families receive from the program can be used for education-related expenses, including: transportation to school; online tutoring; child care; and tuition.
The COVID-19 Educational Recovery Benefit program will fund up to $7,000 per student for needs related to child care, transportation, online tutoring and tuition. Grant applications will be accepted here starting Friday, August 20 on a first come, first serve basis.
Ducey’s announcement bolstered the spirits of the tens of thousands of parents across the state who have been showing up to schools and school district governing board meetings demanding an end to mask mandates. Across the state, parents have also been terrified as they see schools inching closer to complete closure of their kids’ schools in the name of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Supporters say it also gives kids with greatest disadvantages a chance to go to schools “focused on education, not virtue signaling.”
Ducey’s plan provides $163 million in grant funding aimed at boosting per pupil spending to district and charter schools following all state laws and remaining open for in-person instruction.
“Parents have worked tirelessly over the past year and a half to keep their kids on track,” said Ducey. “Parents are in the driver’s seat, and it’s their right to make decisions that best fit the needs of their children. Safety recommendations are welcomed and encouraged — mandates that place more stress on students and families aren’t. These grants acknowledge efforts by schools and educators that are following state laws and keeping their classroom doors open for Arizona’s students. My thanks to legislative leadership for working collaboratively over the last couple of months to put more money into K-12 education and ensure schools are in compliance with state law.”
The $163 million, made available through the federal American Rescue Plan, will be distributed through the Education Plus Up Grant program to district and charter schools following all state laws and remaining open for in-person instruction as of August 27 and throughout the remainder of the school year. In response to the pandemic, the federal government provided additional funding to schools in need; however, the federal allocation methodology resulted in significant disparities across schools. The goal of the Education Plus Up Grant Program is to give every K-12 public and charter school the opportunity to receive up to $1,800 per pupil funding.
In order to close the federal per pupil funding gap, the Governor’s new grant program will provide supplemental dollars to schools that did not receive as much federal funding. Education Plus Up Grant funding is contingent on being in full compliance with state law, including Laws 2021, Chapter 404, the FY 2022 K-12 Budget Reconciliation Bill for the entirety of the 2021-2022 school year.
“We’re making historic, targeted investments to ensure all students across Arizona have access to new opportunities, help adult students connect with jobs, strengthen literacy education in K-12 schools, enhance professional development for teachers, and expand access to high quality education,” the Governor added. “Students continue to excel in and out of the classroom as they recover from the effects of the pandemic and distance learning, and we will continue to put our resources toward helping them succeed.”
The text of the governor’s executive order issued August 16 may be read by going to https://azgovernor.gov/executive-orders
Under Arizona Revised Statutes, parents have nearly absolute rights when it comes to the upbringing of their children. Every parent in Arizona should be familiar with his/her rights. The two statutes dealing with that may be found at https://bit.ly/3rSAZt3 and https://bit.ly/2TRXQsb.