Being in the school system is hard enough.  With limited resources, teachers having low salaries and even still pulling money from their own pockets to benefit education, the last thing schools need is a budget cut.  However, because of Governor Doug Ducey that is precisely what will be happening.

On March 12, Governor Ducey signed the legislation to give the state a $9.1 billion spending plan. Governor Ducey’s plan is that more students will be committed to completing their education, which will prepare them for a higher education.  “Between federal, state, and local dollars, Arizona is spending approximately $10 billion to educate just over one million school children in our K-12 schools.  Now it’s time to focus on how we best use these sources we have” said Governor Ducey.

This plan will essentially stop all funding for K-12 schools.  The legislation will have schools cut $123 million from funding that is not related to K-12 outside of the classroom spending.

With this passed, it is not only going to affect the teachers and the schools, but it will also affect high school seniors preparing for college. According to azcentral reporters Ronald  J. Hansen and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez“Community colleges in Maricopa [County] and Pima [County] lose all state support, [which is] about a combined $15.6 million, but lawmakers opted to keep $2 million flowing to the Pinal County Community College system.”

Governor Ducey’s plan will also affect the bill signed by Obama, which gives all students two free years of Community College.  Arizona’s government is completely abandoning the idea of giving students two free years.  Republican legislators are planning on raising tuition rates and charging more for classes offered.  Students who were hoping to take their general education credits at a cheaper price before transferring to a four-year university will be disappointed, and still be paying the same price for classes. The three-in-state universities do not get out of this either; the universities will lose $99 million in funding from the federal funds.

How is this a smart move to help our educational system? The simple answer: it’s not. Not only will we be forced to use our new $0 budget for the upcoming school years, but we will continue using outdated textbooks and lower resources. Rather than benefiting our school system Governor Doug Ducey and other Council Members are benefiting themselves.