Skip Navigation
We use cookies to offer you a better search experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
Press Release

2023 Educators' Budget

Our 2023 Educators' Budget highlights the investments needed to address Arizona's educator retention crisis.
Published: March 20, 2023

Every year, thousands of experienced, passionate educators leave our state or the profession because of low wages, underfunded schools and a lack of respect. As a result, our state faces a shortage of teachers and education support professionals every single year.

In 2023, this crisis has only deepened:

  • As of January, Arizona schools still had 2,890 teacher vacancies.
  • Of the vacancies that have been filled, 45% were filled by people who don’t meet standard teacher certification requirements.
  • Arizona also has high numbers of vacancies among education support professionals—for instance, the state has 1,640 vacancies for special education paraprofessionals.

We are calling on our state lawmakers to address this crisis through investments in this year's state budget. Download our Educators Budget to learn more.

Logo

Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education

With more than 20,000 members, the Arizona Education Association (AEA) is the labor union for public school employees in Arizona. AEA members are teachers, community college professors, counselors, speech pathologists, bus drivers, secretaries, retired educators and student teachers and they belong to more than 150 local affiliates across Arizona.