Arizona’s public education system operates under distinct funding formulas for both charter and district schools. The funding formula for public districts was developed over 40 years ago, and over the years has been amended time again, creating an overly complex and increasingly inequitable system of school funding. With the introduction of charter schools in 1994, Arizona was introduced to radical new approach to education. At that time, the legislature adopted a simplified system of funding for charter schools that provided funding comparable to that of their district peers. Over time, however, the disparity between charter and district funding has grown and reform of the overall system of funding schools has not occurred. While public charter schools have experienced 30 years of success, they are doing so against the odds with increasingly less funding. Arizona is overdue for a school funding reform.
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