Chapter 3: Arizona

According to Article 11 Section 1 of the Arizona State Constitution “requires the legislature to establish a ‘general and uniform’ public school system” and Section 10 of that same Article requires,

The language is mostly clear, however, the words in the last sentence are subject to interpretation. Arizona has had an equalization formula since the 1970s. According to Chuck Essigs, Director of Governmental Relations for the Arizona Association of School Board Officials (2018), prior to 1980 (Laws 1980, 2nd S.S., Ch. 9), there was unlimited overrides with no time limits, no limit on transportation spending, the county paid employer’s retirement and social security for certified employees, 7% annual increases in regular education and special education per pupil formula, separate budgets for regular and special education transportation, and districts were allowed a $.30/.60 levy. However, in 1980 and beyond, revenue control limits (RCLs) were set, equalization of budget limits occurred for 1981/82 through 1985/86 81-82 minus 20% of variation removed each year, and transportation was not included. Regarding the transportation formula(TSL) there was no equalization and no serious movement to revise it since then and students could travel to any district and count towards state funding. However, in 1994 open enrollment became mandated with required policies.²