Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/851305
10 ADVOCATE | SUMMER 2017 at the capitol Teacher Salary Increase or Bonus? There is continued debate on whether the monies for teacher salaries are a permanent increase or stipend payments. This is due to how the funds were appropriated in the final budget bill. • Provides $34 million appropriation for a 1.06% teacher pay increase in FY18, and specifies it is the intent of the legislature to provide an additional $34 million appropriation for a 1.06% increase in FY19. • This appropriation is separate from the base level and is provided based on a district's total payroll for teachers (salary and employee related expenses) in the current fiscal year. The appropriation will not be adjusted for inflation. • AEA will not consider this to be a permanent pay increase for teachers unless and until it is provided as an increase to the per-student base level amount. • Stipulates the increased compensation is limited to current full-time teachers. • AEA expressed concerns with the salary increase being limited to current full-time teachers and not being inclusive of other certified professionals and education support professionals. Results-Based Funding: Doubling-down on high-stakes testing One of the Governor's key funding proposals was Results-Based Funding, and he successfully kept the full proposal in his budget. Appropriates $37.6 million in FY18 to reward individual schools that are already scoring in the top 10% of AZMerit. The only change is that half of the funds will be earmarked for teacher salaries. • For 2017-2018 payments, it's based on the results of the 2016 AZ Merit for that specific population of schools. • ADE shall provide $225 per student to each school that meets the following: • Fewer than 60% of enrolled students are eligible for free and reduced priced lunch (FRPL) or an equivalent measure at the time the statewide assessment is administered; and • The school performed in the top 10% of all schools in specified portions of the statewide assessment in Spring of 2016. • ADE shall provide $400 per student for each school that meets the following: • At least 60% of enrolled students are eligible for FRPL or an equivalent measure at the time the statewide assessment is administered; and • The school performed in the top 10% of all schools in specified portions of the statewide assessment in Spring of 2016. • ADE shall provide $400 per student count for alternative high schools subject to a specialized rating system who in 2014 were assigned the equivalent of an A. • Beginning in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, funds should be distributed the same as in FY2018 except that eligible schools are required to have been designated with an A rather than meet the top 10% requirement and the alternative high school distribution provision is removed. • The budget requires that these monies be separately accounted for in Annual Financial Reports. • The funds shall be allocated directly to enhance, expand or replicate the school site that generated the funding and not supplant monies that are generally provided to that school. • Requires the majority of monies to be used for teacher salaries, to hire teachers, and provide teacher professional development. • Permits a portion of the monies to be used for the expansion and replication of that school site as a quality school model. • Directs monies to be used to sustain and replicate results, serve more students on a waiting list of an A or B school and increase salaries for teachers, classroom staff and school leaders closing the achievement gap in high-poverty schools. • Requires schools that receive funding for specified areas of replication to show steady improvement after three years to remain eligible for funding. Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Summary What does it mean for Arizona Educators? By AEA Lobbyist Stephanie Parra D uring the State of the State address, Governor Doug Ducey promised a big commitment to Arizona public education. He stated he would be making a significant investment in Arizona education to tackle the teacher shortage and improve outcomes and results. The Arizona Legislature took the Executive's proposal and negotiated a final budget package for the state. In the end, the governor and legislature fell short in their investment of teachers to resolve the teacher shortage crisis. AEA pushed to have a 4% increase in base level funding for all teacher salaries to be installed in FY18, but the legislature resolved for 1% in FY18 and 1% in FY19. The total 2% salary increase would result in anywhere from approximately $800 to $1,000 per teacher over the two years, depending on the individual teacher's annual salary.