AFT President Comes to Arizona on Monday to Support Teachers, More Education Funding

PHOENIX—Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, will be in Phoenix on Monday to support Arizona teachers’ call for additional school funding and to hold a news conference and speak at a rally.

Because of persistent budget cuts, Arizona public schools are short almost $1 billion in yearly funding from what they need to provide a robust, quality education. Restoring the cuts could pay for much-needed textbooks; the creation of a curriculum aligned to standards; 100 percent funding for all-day kindergarten and pre-K programs; the restoration of arts classes, programs for gifted students and alternative programs for special education students; and fixing older school facilities and building new schools to reduce overcrowding.

In the past several weeks, Weingarten has marched with West Virginia and Oklahoma teachers and their supporters to call on the states’ legislatures and governors to stop the decades-long education budget cuts and pass laws to adequately fund public schools and teacher salaries.

WHAT: News conference

WHEN: Monday, April 30, 11 a.m.

WHERE:           Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza (next to the Capitol)

                        1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix

WHO:               AFT President Randi Weingarten

                        Arizona AFT President Ralph Quintana

                        Teachers

 After the news conference, there will be a noon rally of teachers and supporters, including Democratic lawmakers. The rally will be at the same location—Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza.