DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT

Special Education Data Updates Webinar: Wednesday, September 18, 2024

The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This session will cover a variety of data topics that will include (subject to change):   

• Reminders 

• Trending topics 

• Top Three Integrity Errors 

• Q&A    

Please register by clicking this link Registration is required to attend. If you have any questions, please email the ESS Data Management inbox.

For immediate release: September 3, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne warns of crisis in attracting and retaining classroom teachers

Administrative support, discipline and pay are top issues

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne has released a teacher retention survey that shows alarming numbers pointing to a crisis in the teaching profession.

A survey of nearly 1,000 teachers who left the profession after 2023 shows large numbers of educators left because of lack of administrative support for classroom discipline and a desire for better pay. Teachers are leaving the profession within the first few years of teaching at an alarming rate, and there are more teachers leaving than are coming into the classroom. If this were to continue, we would ultimately end up with no teachers.

Horne said, “This is a crisis, and it needs to be addressed immediately. In the most recent legislative session, I urged the passage of a bill that would require school leaders to support classroom teachers in discipline matters. Sadly, it did not get passed by the legislature and the crisis will not only persist but will just get worse.”

He continued, “I have also consistently advocated for higher teacher pay, and yet legislative efforts have been rebuffed because of political disputes that do nothing to help improve the salaries of teachers.”

Horne concluded. “In short, just about any classroom teacher can tell you what they need to thrive as educators and lead students to academic excellence. Better pay and robust support from administrators on discipline are vital.”

The department surveyed a final total of 945 teachers statewide. About 67 percent cited low pay. Nearly 64 percent agreed or strongly agreed that they left teaching because of student behavior and discipline problems. Almost 47 percent said they were dissatisfied with their administration and just over 45 percent were unhappy with working conditions.

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DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT 

FY25 October 1 Data Collection Phase I Training 

Annually, the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) is required to report special education (SPED) data to the federal government. The October 1 Data Collection (ODC) is part of that process and is required by all Public Education Agencies (PEAs). ODC has three phases:  

• Phase I: Child Count Verification and Personnel  
• Phase II: Child Count Reconciliation 
• Phase III: Child Count Non-Reconciliation  

During Phase I, PEAs must provide ADE with the number of students participating in their SPED program on October 1, 2024. PEAs will also report Personnel data and Parentally Placed students (if applicable). 

ESS Data Management invites you to attend one of our Phase I training courses, virtually or in person.

Virtual Training:                                                                  

Date:               Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Time:               1:00 – 3:00 pm

Registration:    Zoom, click here to register

In-Person Training:

Date:               Thursday, October 3, 2024

Time:               1:00 – 3:00 pm

Location:         100 N. 15th Ave., Room 101, Phoenix, AZ 85007

Registration:    ADE Professional Learning and Development (APLD)

Please email ESS Data Management with any questions. 

We look forward to assisting you in meeting your data reporting requirements. 

For immediate release: August 26, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

State education funding comes in under budget, demolishes ESA budget myth

Most recent Fiscal Year ended with more than $4 million surplus

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says the myth that the Empowerment Scholarship Program was ever a threat to Arizona’s budget has been thoroughly demolished.

For Fiscal Year 2024, which ended on June 30, the Basic State Aid payments for education programs at district and charter schools as well as the ESA program finished the year $4.3 million under budget.

Horne said, “Having a surplus of more than $4 million is proof positive that the critics who have claimed the ESA program will bust the not only the state’s education budget but the entire budget itself were always wrong. It was always a myth, and that myth is utterly demolished.”

He added, “Budget figures are stubborn facts and they do not stand up to the political posturing that ESA critics have consistently and wrongly thrown at the program. The universal ESA scholarships are a vital part of making sure that parents are able to choose the schools that best fit the needs of their children. For example, we have families with three children.  Two are doing fine in the neighborhood public school, but the needs of the third are not being met.  ESAs enable the parents to find a school that meets the needs of the third child.  How can anyone be so immersed in ideology that they would deny the parents that ability?”

He concluded, “Having choices such as charter schools, open enrollment for district schools and ESAs are a valuable tool for Arizona parents. As today’s announcement shows, these choices do not result in any part of the budget deficit.  It resulted from overly optimistic projections of state revenues. ESAs are enabling parents to find the best schools to meet their children’s needs. No rational person should oppose that.”

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For immediate release: August 22, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne announces renewed effort to have statewide school cell phone ban

Legislation approved last year fell to Governor’s veto

PHOENIX – Citing the need for teachers to be able to fully manage their classroom with minimal distractions, emphasize academic performance and create a safer campus environment, state schools’ chief Tom Horne says he will push legislation for a statewide school cell phone ban.

Horne stated, “Imagine being a teacher and trying to teach a class while students were scrolling on their cell phones.  That this has been permitted is outrageous.  It decreases student learning significantly and makes life hard for teachers who already have heavy burdens. No teacher should have to compete against phones for the attention of students. Classroom cell phone use has become so rampant that it is taking away precious instructional minutes and research shows that student academic performance is suffering. This is unacceptable, and statewide legislation is essential to eliminating these distractions.”

He added, “"This legislation passed the legislature last year but was vetoed by the Governor.  That veto was irrational and irresponsible.  People need to contact the Governor's office and urge that it is not vetoed next year.  Leaving this to districts means some teachers will still have to teach to classes of students scrolling on cell phones, which NO teacher should be required to do."

Horne is joined in his support by former Tucson public school teacher, Mitchell Rutherford, who left the profession because so many students were using mobile devices in the classroom that his ability to be an effective teacher was diminished.

Several state legislators, including Sen. Shawnna Bolick, Rep. Beverly Pingerelli, Sen. T.J. Shope, and Rep. Matt Gress are among those who have expressed support for legislation. Horne has also won the support of governing board members Susan Ward of Payson and Apache Junction district Superintendent Dr. Bob Papalardo.

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Fall 2024 Foster Care Education Program Trainings

To keep track of attendance and issue certificates, participants will need to register in the ADE Professional Learning and Development system & also Microsoft Teams.

See the training schedule below:

Spring 2025 Foster Care Education Program Trainings

Please read the AZ State ESSA Plan - School Improvement Amendment

Then respond to any or all of the areas affected by the amendment. Comments will be accepted through Thursday, September 19, 2024.

K-3 Reading 2025 Budget and K-3 Reading 2024 AFR Forms Posted

The FY 2025 K-3 Reading Budget and FY 2024 K-3 Reading AFR zip files have been posted to the LEA Budget Resources page of the School Finance website.

The completed files must be uploaded via the Budget System by October 1, 2024. 

Please note that to upload your FY24 K-3 AFR, select “Last Five (5) Years” using this radio button at the top right-hand corner of the submission dashboard in Budget System:

If you have any questions, please email School Finance at [email protected]

The FY 2024 District and Charter Annual Financial Report packet forms have been posted by the Auditor General’s Office on their website

The completed forms must be uploaded via the Budget System by October 15, 2024. Navigate to this link to access ADE Connect for submission in Budget System.

Please note that to view the “Upload” button in Budget System for the FY24 AFR files, you will need to click on the following radio button in the top right-hand corner of the submission dashboard:

If you have any questions, please email School Finance at [email protected].

ADE/ESS is pleased to release flowchart representations and reference documents for several evaluation processes: initial evaluation, reevaluation, and independent educational evaluation (IEE). These guidance materials have incorporated feedback from various special education stakeholder groups. ADE/ESS hopes these visual resources will aid all constituents in understanding these complex processes.  An upcoming ESS Professionals Check-In will provide a guided overview of these resources.

Please contact your PEA’s assigned Program Support and Monitoring specialist or email [email protected] for questions.