PHOENIX — Today, Arizona Education Association (AEA) President Marisol Garcia sent a letter on behalf of more than 20,000 Arizona educators urging Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and members of the State Board of Education (SBOE) to reject a proposal that would cut funding for school-based Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs across Arizona.
Under the proposal currently scheduled for Board consideration on April 28, 2025, Arizona CTE programs risk significant funding cuts unless students are pushed to complete multi-track course sequences within a given area of study. In today’s letter, President Garcia expresses concern that the SBOE plan will penalize school districts that allow students to explore various career pathways at a critical stage in their development as young adults.
“In the experience of our members, students who excel and those who struggle in traditional academic settings find pathways to meaningful careers within school-based CTE programs. AEA is deeply concerned that reducing CTE flexibility will have a negative effect on our state’s graduation rate and the future earnings of Arizona workers. As a union representing many CTE educators, we are also alarmed at the potential for significant job losses among teaching and support staff if CTE programs shrink as a consequence of the State Plan,” President Garcia wrote. “If the current funding formula is approved, school districts will face a choice between locking students into rigid coursework sequences or risking their funding and the livelihoods of their CTE staff. Every school and community is different, and school districts must retain the flexibility to meet the needs of the populations they serve. We urge you to revise the funding formula and avoid future proposals that push students away from the career exploration opportunities they deserve,”
Today’s letter includes testimonials from more than 70 Arizona educators and community members who support protections for school-based CTE funding in Arizona. The full letter is available here.