Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1543950
AT THE CAPITOL 2 SPRING 2026 | ADVOCATE Educators Use Union Power to Drive Change AEA Launches Protect Education, Accountability Now Ballot Initiative A er months of conversations with members and community leaders, our union officially filed paperwork in March for a ballot initiative to restore accountability to Arizona's out-of-control voucher program and bring critically needed funding back to public schools. e initiative delivers straightforward, common-sense reforms: stronger safeguards to protect students from unscrupulous voucher operators, an end to the waste, fraud, and abuse that have become hallmarks of the voucher program, and a renewed focus on directing funds to students with disabilities. Just as importantly, the initiative reflects a simple reality: more than 90 percent of Arizona students — including 91 percent of students with disabilities — attend neighborhood public schools. By reining in unsustainable voucher spending, this measure will help protect funding for the local classrooms that serve the vast majority of Arizona families. Between now and July, we must collect hundreds of thousands of signatures to qualify for the ballot. To learn how to sign the petition or get involved, visit ProtectEdAZ.com. Glendale Educators Win Retention Stipends Earlier this year, Glendale Education Association (GEA) started an organizing campaign around concerns about compensation. For months, GEA gathered input from hundreds of staff members, and the message was clear: employees want to stay in GESD — but they also need to pay their bills and be recognized for their years of service. GEA amplified this message through board meetings, conversations with district leadership, connections with colleagues, a petition statement, and social media. e district heard these concerns and, in February, announced 8-10% stipends for returning employees and $500 for new employees. As educators across the state grapple with budget cuts and school closures, this accomplishment demonstrates the power of working together and using grassroots organizing to advocate for educators. Flagstaff Educators Launch Campaign for Higher Pay In February, Flagstaff Education Association (FEA) members launched a campaign to raise salaries for all educators in their district, where teachers earn $7,403 less than the state average despite Flagstaff 's high cost of living. Member-to-member organizing is the heart of FEA's strategy. e campaign launched during an all-member meeting, where potential speakers for upcoming school board meetings were encouraged to sign up on the spot to build collective courage and solidarity. Site leaders have registered their sites to attend specific board meetings, ensuring each meeting is attended by union educators who can keep the momentum going. FEA is viewing this strategy as a structure test, aiming for 50% of all members to attend a board meeting by the end of the school year. is strategy will keep pressure on the administration and board, and when FEA wins this pay campaign, everyone who participated will own their collective success.