Page 38 - The Edge - Back to School 2017

CONFUSION ABOUNDS It could be tough for schools to add new teachers using the
results-based funding this year, considering teacher contracts
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 37 are typically signed in the spring. And since the funding is

assessed based on the letter grade they receive in the state’s based on performance in a given year, districts are wary of
rating system. including it in teacher salaries.
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Districts are relying on a Districts are relying on a Low-income schools, defined as ow-income schools, defined as
list of about 250 schools t those with 60 percent or more hose with 60 percent or more
compiled by the Joint s students qualifying for the free tudents qualifying for the free
Legislative Budget o
or reduced lunch program, r reduced lunch program,
Committee in the would get $400 per student ould get $400 per student
w
if t
spring, but the official if they score in the top 10 hey score in the top 10
percent of all low-income ercent of all low-income
list of schools that will p
s
receive money, and how schools.chools.
much they receive, has H i g h - i n c o m e
not been finalized by the s schools,chools, m
meaningeaning
Arizona Department of Arizona Department of t those with less than 60 hose with less than 60
p
Education. percent of students on ercent of students on
Districts, which adopted Districts, which adopted f free or reduced lunch ree or reduced lunch
plans, would get $225 lans, would get $225
their budgets in July, haven’t their budgets in July, haven’t p
been told when to expect payments been told when to expect payments per pupil if they score er pupil if they score
p
from the results-based funding from the results-based funding in the top 10 percent of he top 10 percent of
in t
all schools.ll schools.
initiative. They haven’t been directed, initiative. They haven’t been directed, a
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beyond what’s in the approved budget, on where beyond what’s in the approved budget, on where Several districts that everal districts that
were identified on the JLBC ere identified on the JLBC
they can use the money. w
“This budget item and this funding was “This budget item and this funding was li
list put the anticipated money st put the anticipated money
i
really well-intended, but it wasn’t thought really well-intended, but it wasn’t thought into their official budgets, but nto their official budgets, but
s
out as well as it should have been,” said out as well as it should have been,” said still don’t have firm plans on how till don’t have firm plans on how
James Lee, superintendent of Paradise James Lee, superintendent of Paradise to spend it.o spend it.
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Valley Unified School District. “Districts Valley Unified School District. “Districts For example, five schools in the or example, five schools in the
are scrambling to figure out how to use are scrambling to figure out how to use W
Washington Elementary School District ashington Elementary School District
q
it.” qualified for the additional $400 per ualified for the additional $400 per
All this as students are getting ready All this as students are getting ready student, based on the JLBC list.tudent, based on the JLBC list.
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to begin the school year in the coming to begin the school year in the coming Th
The district’s business manager, Cathy e district’s business manager, Cathy
Th
days and weeks. Thompson, said a school could spend the ompson, said a school could spend the
money on professional development programs oney on professional development programs
The Department of Education The Department of Education m
f
will provide additional information, will provide additional information, for teaching math, mentoring, training or or teaching math, mentoring, training or
including the dates and amounts of including the dates and amounts of addi
additional small-group learning opportunities tional small-group learning opportunities
payments, to schools on the results-payments, to schools on the results- f for students.or students.
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based funding program within the based funding program within the Matt Strom, the assistant superintendent at att Strom, the assistant superintendent at
next month, department spokesman next month, department spokesman the Chandler Unified School District, said he Chandler Unified School District, said
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Stefan Swiat said in an email.Stefan Swiat said in an email. he’s not concerned about the timing of the e’s not concerned about the timing of the
h
p
Swiat said the schools should Swiat said the schools should payments since he knows the program is ayments since he knows the program is
receive results-based payments receive results-based payments f funded. Chandler Unified will treat the unded. Chandler Unified will treat the
in September and May, though in September and May, though m
money as one-time funding, as it has with oney as one-time funding, as it has with
multiple school districts told the multiple school districts told the previous governor-initiated programs, revious governor-initiated programs,
p
Arizona Capitol Times they have they have Strom said.trom said.
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not yet been told when they will ot yet been told when they will “ “Sometimes these things are here this Sometimes these things are here this
n
get the money. y
year and gone the next,” he said.ear and gone the next,” he said.
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The majority of the money The majority of the money The additional money could be used for e additional money could be used for
should be used to hire more teachers should be used to hire more teachers operating costs like teacher salaries or on perating costs like teacher salaries or on
o
or pay them better, or for teacher or pay them better, or for teacher e expanding access to the successful schools, Strom xpanding access to the successful schools, Strom
professional development, the law creating professional development, the law creating s said. Chandler Unified’s legal counsel has reviewed aid. Chandler Unified’s legal counsel has reviewed
the performance funding plan said. Some of the performance funding plan said. Some of the budget language to make sure the school spends the he budget language to make sure the school spends the
t
the money can be used to expand or replicate the successful money as allowed by law, but Strom said the district would
schools’ models, including adding more spots for students
at those schools, physically expanding schools, or mentoring
other schools. CONTINUED ON PAGE 39
38 THE EDGE
THE EDGE | BACK TO SCHOOL 2017