Arizona Department of Education
[3] Kathy Hoffman was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2018, replacing Diane Douglas.[5] Douglas has a background in finance and served two years on the Peoria Unified School Board.Her term was marked by various conflicts with both the state Board of Education as well as Governor Doug Ducey.Many have called for an increase in funding, which led to a week long teacher strike that took place in 2018, following the Red for Ed movement.[11] Although newer budgets are being proposed and passed the majority of those cuts have yet to be restored today despite a sharp incline in the economy.The Red for Ed movement originated in West Virginia in February 2018, when educators there went on strike in response to a 2% pay raise.[13] Following the protest, hundred of teachers did not show up to work, which forced the closure of 9 schools in Arizona's west valley.Senate Bill 1014, introduced in 2019, would change the amount of English education these students receive throughout the school day.[17] However, Doug Ducey recently signed legislature into place that allows teachers in Arizona to be hired without formal training, as long as they have at least 5 years of experience in relevant fields.