Pandemic accelerated Arizona’s years-long decline in childhood vaccination rates
The impact of missed preventative medical care during the pandemic is beginning to emerge in the form of drastic declines in childhood vaccination rates among Arizona youth, now at lower levels than at any point in the past decade. The plummeting rates follow a years-long decline in immunizations among Arizona students overall—one that has put…
Youth access to mental health care improved under Jake’s Law, but persistent barriers hamper its reach
Jake’s Law has covered behavioral health services for students who otherwise may not have received treatment. But provider shortages and other challenges have made it difficult for some children and their families to access care.
Report: Child care woes cost Arizona economy $1.8 billion a year
Arizona parents representing various geographic areas, income levels, and racial and ethnic backgrounds reported changing jobs, turning down jobs, decreasing their hours, forgoing promotions or leaving the workforce entirely as a result of inconsistent or unaffordable care.
State leaders’ decade of neglect imperiled fragile child care system. The pandemic nearly made it collapse.
A $1.2 billion infusion of federal funding has kept an already fragile Arizona child care sector from failing, giving state leaders a shot at reforming a broken system of their own making, and perhaps bringing hope for the stability that parents and providers have craved for years.
Public information lacking as COVID-19 surges in Arizona classrooms
School districts are required to report COVID-19 infections to county health officials, who in turn must submit data to the state. But the information is seldom relayed back to parents—or the public at large—in a clear and thorough way, an AZCIR analysis has found.
Outbreaks, quarantines and closures: Help AZCIR track COVID-19 in Arizona schools
As state and local officials continue to debate the merits of a statewide ban on school mask mandates, Arizona school districts have reported more than 2,000 confirmed COVID cases since in-person learning started in August. With your help, AZCIR is tracking COVID-19 in Arizona schools. Data updated daily.
“504 plan” disability protection favors students at Arizona’s wealthier, whiter schools
Shortcomings at the federal, state and school level make securing a 504 plan easier for students with disabilities who attend Arizona schools that are wealthier and whiter. The disparity gives an advantage to families that can spend time and money advocating on their children’s behalf, while potentially limiting equal access to education for low-income students…
Hundreds of Arizona schools report inaccurate civil rights data, violate federal law
Hundreds of Arizona’s public schools failed to report accurate civil rights data to the U.S. Department of Education for the 2017-2018 school year, a violation that can result in a loss of federal funding.
AZCIR’s 504 plan analysis: How we found the disparity
AZCIR analyzed federal and state education data to identify statewide disparities in the use of 504 plans, a protection that comes from a federal law designed to help students with disabilities.
Arizona upends school procurement laws in effort to cool cozy relationships with builders
Included in the $10.4 billion budget passed by Arizona lawmakers and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey last week are massive changes to how public schools will be allowed to hire builders for large construction projects, as well as harsh new penalties for malfeasance that occurs during the selection process.
Emails reveal close ties between construction firms, top school officials
Emails obtained by AZCIR from four school districts show the depth of the relationships construction company executives have cultivated with school district administrators. School district officials also regularly sought out the companies to ask for money for various projects, the records show.
GOP legislature sending more money to ‘freedom schools,’ despite existing surplus
Amid a teacher strike over K-12 funding that has closed hundreds of schools, Arizona lawmakers are sending $7.5 million to so-called “freedom schools” designed to teach conservative values. Since 2016, $12 million has been directed to the schools, which still have $9.8 million on hand.
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