The Arizona Department of Education is pleased to provide you with this state report card as a part of our compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law. We are working hard to raise academic standards for Arizona students. We are also holding our schools accountable for how well students perform academically. We are restoring classroom discipline, which is an essential component for achieving academic excellence. We also have an extensive state program to help schools whose test scores show a need for improvement. We are working hard to make sure Arizona students and schools are performing to their absolute potential.

The Strategic Plan comprises an ambitious set of goals and objectives. It is a “living” document that will guide our focus and activities. As such, some objectives and expected results will be subject to change as information and events unfold. Objectives and measures aligned to drive achievement have also been developed in Units, Sections, and Divisions throughout the Department.

This appropriations limit calculation includes a brief history of the appropriations limit, a step-by-step narration of the process used in computing the limit, and the detailed calculation of the appropriations limit. Pursuant to the law, both the Governor’s Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff are required to provide reports. However the ratio of actual appropriations or estimated appropriations to state personal income is likely to differ due to varying methodologies used by the two budget offices with respect to statutory appropriations. Statutory appropriations are grants of authority enacted by the Legislature and approved by the Governor that are continuous in nature and codified in the statutes. No authority is needed (e.g., in the annual appropriations bill) beyond the original enactment for monies to be expended.

Our Plan includes ambitious, innovative goals and objectives focused on developing great schools, excellent teachers, and successful students. We believe that implementing this Plan in partnership with education, business and community stakeholders will help us achieve our mission: To serve Arizona’s education community, ensuring every student has access to an excellent education.

Bullying and violence in K-12 schools have been in the policy spotlight in Arizona for almost a decade. However, current indicators and recent traumatic events show that a range of anti-social behaviors on school campuses remain a major threat to student well-being and learning. This briefing was distributed at panel discussion on bullying and safe school environments, focusing on such issues.