Issue Position: Improve Education

Issue Position

Education is vital to the future of our state. As of Sept 2015 Arizona has 3 schools graded in the top ten nationwide, with a fourth school at number 17. This is a great start and one we can build on to obtain success in all of our schools. Education is the largest expenditure in the Arizona budget. In traditional public schools, we spend, on average, $7,200 per capita with public charter schools spending an average of $1,000 less.

Our children are our future so it is extremely important that we provide a strong educational environment for them. Education is important to businesses, both the ones that are already here and the ones looking to relocate. Their current employees won't relocate here if their children won't receive a good education. Their future employees will more than likely come from the local schools.

Arizona is one of the leading states in parent choice for educating children. Parents can choose between traditional public schools, charter public schools, private schools and home schooling. This is good for the parent and the child creating competition between the schools which creates better schools when they compete for your business.

Teachers pay should be based on their job performance and not seniority. When a teacher does a great job they should be rewarded accordingly. Administration, buildings and maintenance are important, but we need to ensure that the majority of our education dollars go to the classroom.

Education is mainly funded by property taxes on private lands. Arizona's schools could be better funded without raising taxes providing we could get more of our land from the federal government. Currently the average land in Maricopa County is taxed at 47 cents per acre while the federal government only pays about 14 cents per acre. Increasing private ownership could triple our education tax revenue.

In summary I favor school vouchers so that the money follows the student to whatever school they are enrolled. Teachers pay should reflect the teachers performance and not seniority. Arizona's trust fund land should be sold and much of the land in Arizona is controlled by the federal government and should be given back to the state to be sold and the money put in the trust fund to be spent on education.

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