Mitzi Epstein Calls Arizona School Spending Measure a Punishment, Not a Policy

Arizona State Senator Mitzi Epstein (D-AZ) has been vocal about her concerns with a proposed ballot measure she believes is designed not to help students, but to penalize the schools that serve most of them.

HCR 2007, introduced by Representative Matt Gress (R-AZ), would ask Arizona voters to approve a measure tied to school spending thresholds. Under the proposal, school districts that fail to direct at least 60 percent of their operating budgets toward classroom expenses could lose access to classroom site funding, money specifically designated to support instruction.

For Epstein, the problem isn't the concept of accountability. It's who gets held to it.

"This will only punish school district schools," Epstein said in an interview with KTAR. "It will not punish private schools. It will not punish charter schools, and it will not punish those who use an ESA at home or anywhere else."

Epstein argued that the measure's selective nature reveals its true intent. In her view, the proposal isn't designed to improve students' education; it's meant to put traditional public schools at a disadvantage compared to alternatives.

"The goal is to punish school district schools," she said. "It's the opposite. It's so wrong. This is such a wrong way to go."

Continued Frustration

The mechanics of the penalty drew particular frustration from Epstein. She noted that the consequence for falling below the spending threshold would be the removal of classroom site funding, money that exists precisely to support classroom instruction.

In other words, a school district deemed to be spending too little on classrooms could lose funding specifically meant for classrooms.

Beyond the spending threshold, HCR 2007 also includes provisions related to teacher pay.

If voters separately approve an increase in distributions from the state land trust permanent funds, the measure would require school districts and charter schools to raise base salaries for eligible teachers, defined as those who spend the majority of their time on direct instruction.

The measure is expected to go before Arizona voters at the next general election.