What are details of the new citizen-led “Invest in Education” initiative? What are the rules for collecting signatures? In the wake of the recent #RedforEd actions, how does one get involved in supporting practical and effective reform in education funding in Arizona?
An information and training session will be hosted at The Fountains on Wednesday, May 16th at 4 pm.
The Invest in Education Act increases the classroom site fund by raising the income tax rate by 3.46% on individual incomes over a quarter million dollars (or household incomes over half a million dollars), and by 4.46% on individual incomes over half a million dollars (or household incomes over a million dollars); designates 60% of new funds for teacher salaries and 40% for operations; adds full day kindergarten and pay raises for student support services personnel as permitted fund uses; requires governing boards seek teacher and personnel input on fund use plans; defines teacher and student support services personnel.
The initiative is being promoted by a broad-based coalition including Valley Interfaith Project (of which The Fountains is a member), the Arizona Education Association, Children’s Action Alliance, One Arizona, the Arizona Interfaith Movement, and the Center for Economic Progress. If enough signatures are gathered, the Invest in Education Act will appear on the November ballot.
The training will be led by a Valley Interfaith Project volunteer and will include details on how education funding in Arizona fell to below 49th place in the nation, how the initiative will collect tax revenue, and train volunteers in how to collect valid petition signatures.
Teachers, interested parents, and other allies are encouraged to attend. 220,000 valid signatures need to be collected by the end of June to appear on the ballot in November, so everyone’s help is needed!