Arizona Teachers Protest At Capitol For 5th Straight Day

PHOENIX, AZ – For the fifth day in a row Arizona educators donning red T-shirts demonstrated outside the Capitol as part of a statewide walkout to call for more money for schools and teachers. Organizers of the #RedForEd movement say they'll resume teaching on Thursday if lawmakers pass a budget that satisfies their demands — something the GOP-led Legislature wasn't expected to do.

The bill being considered provides more money for both schools and for raises – though not nearly to the extent that teachers had demanded when they walked out late last week.

The teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the country, had been asking for 20 percent raises. Even that level would leave Arizona teachers making below the national average.

Many teachers hold two, three, or even four jobs so that they can pay their bills.

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The ten percent hike that the legislature is poised to deliver, however, is significantly higher than Gov. Ducey's original proposal of 1 percent pay increases for teachers.

The downside is that the proposal only provides raises for teachers who have their own classes. Other educators, such as reading specialists and counselors, are left out.

The current plan also restores $100 million in funding for schools – well below the $400 million that has been cut over the past ten years. Teachers had demanded the full amount be restored.

Tens of thousands of teachers have gathered for four days outside the capitol to bring awareness to what they say are the substandard working conditions that they teach in.

Since 2009, the state has cut almost $400 million in payments to school districts that they use for expenses such as new textbooks and repairs to schools.

The state legislature recently determined that because of the cuts, the state spends more than $900 less per student than it did ten years ago. The state spends nearly $4,000 less per student than the national average of $11,392.

Patch recently reported on teachers sharing pictures of outdated textbooks and classrooms in need of repairs.

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