Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1004939
SUMMER 2018 | ADVOCATE 7 at the capitol 2018 Session Timeline and Educators' Influence on K-12 Funding Below is an overview of the developments of the legislative session and how educators influenced and moved the Governor and legislature to increase funding dedicated to K-12 education. This was the largest funding increase for K-12 since the recession. APRIL 10 AEU/AEA Call for Vote to Walk-Out Gets Leaked Online 11 AEU/AEA Statewide Action – School Walk-Ins, 110,000 educators participate across the state 12 Ducey announces a "20% Teacher Raise by 2020" • Held press conference with the announcement and began media push • Provided no details on how the plan will be funded • Did not have the votes to pass the proposal and budget 13 AEA/AEU Call for Vote to Walk-Out 16 Becomes clear Ducey does not have sustainable revenue for "20% Teacher Pay Raise" proposal 19 AEA/AEU Announce the Walk-Out Vote Results, 78% of educators vote to walk-out 23 House Bill 2166: vehicle fees; alternative fuel VLT Passes Senate • In response to the criticism regarding lack of sustainable revenue, Governor pushes for passage of this bill to be source of ongoing revenue for teacher pay • Bill passes the Senate on April 23 and Governor signs the bill into law on April 25 26 AEA/AEU Statewide Walk-Out Begins, 75,000 educators participate in march to the Capitol AEA/AEU Statewide Walk-Out continues until FY19 Budget is passed MAY 3 Legislature passes House Bill 2663: K-12 BRB overnight/ early morning • Thousands of educators observe the process • AEA/AEU Statewide Walk-Out ends when the budget is passed with a $306 million teacher pay increase in base level funding. 4/27 - 5/3 JANUARY 12 Governor Ducey releases his 2018 budget proposal, which includes: • $65.4 million for 2% teacher pay increase • $100 million for District and Charter Additional Assistance • Ducey vows not to extend Proposition 301 until after his re-election FEBRUARY 28 Tweet Exchange between Joe Thomas and Noah Karvelis • Noah sends Joe a tweet asking what can be done on school funding and how to build support for a statewide job action • Joe encourages Noah to start with local actions, wear Red for Ed day at school MARCH 3-5 Arizona Educators United forms on Facebook 7 First Arizona #RedForEd Day, thousands participate across the state 14 AEA Spring Break at the Capitol / AEU Lobby Day, 200 educators attend in-person 21 AEA Spring Break at the Capitol / AEU Lobby Day, 400 educators attend in-person 22 Rules are Suspended for Senate Bill 1390: tpt; additional rate; education (Proposition 301 extension) • Bill is revived and moves through Senate Education Committee, then through legislative process in both chambers • Governor signs the bill into law on March 26 28 AEU #RedForEd Capitol Rally, 7,000 educators attend in- person