| Arizona Schools are slightly above average and | | | | index, the numbers fall apart when looked at by |
| that is pretty good news. When Superintendent | | | | race and ethnicity. Passing rates drop to about |
| Tom Horne released the state's 2006 report card, | | | | 60% for African-American students, 50% for |
| it was with the news that Arizona Schools are | | | | Native American students, and 40% for children |
| usually placed either average, or slightly above, on | | | | of migrant workers. When assessed using the |
| indicators used to compare schools nationwide. | | | | national Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) marker, |
| The college entrance exams, the SATs and | | | | 1,249 of Arizona Schools passed, while 608 did |
| ACTs, and the National Assessment of Educational | | | | not reach their goals. |
| Progress (NAEP) all place Arizona Schools in the | | | | Concerns over the achievement gap effect the |
| upper half of the nation's public schools. | | | | nation, as well as Arizona Schools. Where Arizona |
| What's even more interesting is that Arizona | | | | Schools has a special concern is in the area of |
| Schools are reaching this above average status | | | | educating children who do not speak English as a |
| while spending less money per pupil than every | | | | native language. Funding for English Language |
| state except for Utah. Superintendent Tom Horne | | | | Learner (ELL) programs have come under heated |
| has stated that increasing state spending to the | | | | debate as the nation battles over border control |
| national per pupil average would propel Arizona | | | | and immigration policies. Whether complete |
| Schools into the top ten. The state has yet to | | | | immersion is providing non-English speakers with |
| approve that funding. | | | | the skills to succeed, if and how to pay for |
| According to numbers from Education Week | | | | children of undocumented immigrants, and |
| magazine, Arizona Schools spend $6,010 per pupil | | | | instruction time devoted to these students are all |
| annually. Compare this to the top spender New | | | | topics of heated debate in Arizona Schools. |
| Jersey with $11,269, mid-ranker Virginia at $ | | | | Some legislators feel that the state should not |
| 7,751, and bottom-of-the-barrel Utah at $5,132. | | | | foot the bill for what they see as the federal |
| The fact that Arizona Schools still manage to | | | | government's inability to enforce immigration laws |
| achieve above average rankings indicates that | | | | and border control. Others insist that those issues |
| Horne could be correct in his assumption. Studies | | | | don't take away the state's responsibility to meet |
| have shown a positive correlation between a | | | | the educational needs of every child in Arizona |
| state's per student spending and its achievement. | | | | Schools. Given the state's above average rankings |
| Arizona Schools appear to be doing something | | | | (21st on the NAEP) in many areas despite |
| right. | | | | concerns over minority and immigrant education, it |
| That's not to say that all is rosy with Arizona | | | | will be interesting to see if the state does fund |
| Schools. Student results on the statewide AIMS | | | | higher per pupil spending for the coming school |
| test consistently report passing rates of 70% or | | | | year. And if Arizona Schools do make a higher |
| less. While this places Arizona schools squarely in | | | | investment, it will be exciting to see the results. |
| the "expected performance zone" of the NAEP | | | | |