Arizona Senate Considers Bill To Cut Desegregation Funding For Schools

By Kate Sheehy
February 11, 2015

TUCSON -- On Wednesday, Arizona’s Senate Finance Committee heard arguments on a bill that would phase out desegregation funding in schools. The legislation was moved forward with a 3-2 vote.

The funding was put in place in the 1980s to ensure equal education opportunities for minority students. 

19 school districts receive funding based on court orders to desegregate or agreements with the federal Office of Civil Rights. Arizona law mandates taxpayers and the state to foot the bill.

Kevin McCarthy with the Arizona Tax Research Association testified in support of cutting the funding, which he said creates inequality.   

"Having a system in place that allows a school district to spend 30 percent more in some cases than a neighboring district that they’re competing against, I think breaks any system of fairness," McCarthy said. 

Senator Debbie Lesko introduced the bill. She and McCarthy claimed during the hearing that school districts with the funding have the unfair advantage of hiring more teachers and spending more on students. 

Phoenix Union High School District had a 20-year court order lifted in 2005, but by state law can still receive funding. More than $50 million is earmarked for 2015. Kent Scribner is the superintendent and he argued his district needs the money. 

"Our spending is on transforming our culture from one of high school graduation culture to college and career preparedness," he said. "And to do that with low-income and language minority students does require extra programming and extra investment."

Scribner said without the funding the district would be forced to close schools and would be in danger of being placed back under court supervision. Tucson Unified is the only school district with a desegregation court order still in place.Senator Lesko said she will consider an amendement for TUSD.

TUSD's Superintendent H.T. Sanchez also testified regarding the importance of continuing the funding.