The Arizona Department of Education received a $300,000 grant to address the state’s teacher shortage.
The department will receive the money over the next two years from the nonprofit Ascendium Education Group. The money will go toward expanding the department’s teacher apprenticeship program, including supporting 100 apprentices.
The money will help pay teachers and train them, Tom Horne, the Arizona superintendent of public instruction, told The Center Square on Thursday.
Horne said the apprenticeship program is one of numerous alternative pathways through which people can become a teacher in Arizona.
Such pathways allow people who are “knowledgeable and want to teach” to become teachers, he added.
The money from the grant is important because Arizona has a “terrible teacher shortage,” Horne noted.
Arizona continues to lose more teachers than it hires, the superintendent said. “Recruiting, training and supporting teachers is vital and the teacher shortage has reached catastrophic proportions.”
“These funds will be used to expand our already robust efforts to help bring more teachers into the profession and retain those valuable educators currently in the classroom,” he added.
Between July 2025 and November 2025, Arizona saw over 1,000 teachers quit their jobs.
Horne noted Arizona needs to “continue to push for more help for educators by increasing teacher pay using State Land Trust funds with no new taxes, and ensuring school administrators support teachers on classroom discipline.”
He added that these are the two main issues teachers mention “as reasons to leave the profession.”
Last week, Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a new $18.29 billion budget into law. It did not include funding to raise teacher pay, according to Horne.
For the 2024-2025 school year, the National Education Association reported the average teacher salary in Arizona was $64,291, ranking 31st in the country. Arizona teachers saw a 2.5% increase in average pay from the 2023-2024 school year, when it was $62,714.
All the states bordering Arizona had higher average teacher salaries for the 2024-2025 school year.
The Center Square reached out to the Arizona Education Association, the state’s largest teacher union, but did not hear back before publication time.
public school – or public indoctrination center – that is why parents don’t send their kids to be indoctrinated – Thank God! Close them if this is all they’ve got to offer
So a Grant paid over 2 years to expand an apprenticeship program. I’m guessing it doesn’t go to the teacher. Instead it goes to a program manager who administrates it. So nothing for the teacher but….? That only $1500 a year for 100 teachers a year for 2 years. The school districts are the ones who set the pay structure for teachers. Maybe scale back in administration and redirect those funds else where. As it is in Maricopa County 58% of our property tax goes to fund schools and Community Colleges. 48% of that 58% goes to take care of the debt they have already accumulated in over budget spending (overrides and bond elections). Get your fiscal house in order before you come looking for relief. Nearly half of what could be your budget goes to pay off debt. Wouldn’t you prefer it go to fund schools? I know I would.
maybe if they didnt push the unions it could make a difference. Why lose 10% or more of your paycheck for the folks who dont do anything for you?
Is it certain that the teacher shortage is caused by low pay only? I doubt it. There has to be more there. The toxic environment around schools in AZ must be a contributor. People clearly support school choices but the Dem establishment and unions are trying to undercut every effort to support and sustain it. There is no reason public and private schools could not live peacefully side by side.
Oh this oughta be good…how about relocating teachers around the country like TSA govt employees? Empty schools buildings are happening for a reason…propaganda indoctrination is failing!