The Arizona Education Association, which represents teachers’ statewide, has sent Governor Ducey a scathing letter requesting a meeting with him on ideas for a statewide school reopening plan. Arizona teachers and staff feel they and their students’ safety are being put at increased risk after the state changed its guidance on benchmarks for transitioning between in-person instruction and distance learning, the association said in a Friday letter.
"Enough is enough. COVID-19 cases are on the rise again here in Arizona, and it is well past time for you to act in the best interest of our children and educators," the letter states.
Ducey has said education leaders were included in this decision, but the AEA and others say that is not true.
The AEA wants Ducey to meet with educators who work directly with students to learn what needs to be done to provide a safe learning environment during this time. The AEA said it made a similar request in an August letter, but it has yet to hear back.
The Governor's Office issued this statement:
From the very beginning of this pandemic, our office has worked closely with public health officials and the Arizona Department of Education. This partnership has resulted in a plan that provides sound guidance and resources to schools to help them respond to the pandemic and keep students and staff safe. This plan was developed after many meetings and in consultation with school leaders and superintendents. It is statewide, and has been in place for some time now. More information about where to find information about the guidance and resources that have been made available is below.
ADE's Roadmap for Reopening Schools ( more info)
- Provides guidance to schools and LEAs to conduct safe, in-person instruction.
ADHS's Guidance for Safely Returning to In-person Instruction ( more info)
- Provides public health guidance, tools and benchmarks to inform local decisions about when to conduct virtual, hybrid or in-person learning.
Governor's Office "Open For Learning" ( more info)
- Provides maximum options for Arizona families, ensures students receive a full academic year of education and invests a total of $440 million in schools to address budget instability and cover the additional costs of in-person learning.
