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Based on our analysis of fiscal year 2003 data, Arizona
school districts spent 58.6 percent of their dollars in the classroom, a
slight increase from the 58.2 percent for fiscal year 2002. However, the
most recent national average was 61.5 percent, and the ten districts closest
to Arizona in per-pupil spending averaged 61.6 percent. The primary factor
associated with higher classroom spending continued to be larger student
populations. Higher plant, transportation, and administrative costs were
associated with lower classroom percentages.
Within Arizona, higher per-pupil total spending does not
equate to higher classroom dollar percentages. In fact, districts that spend
the most per pupil have lower classroom dollar percentages, on average.
Districts spent Proposition 301 monies almost solely for
instructional staff’s salaries and benefits, complying with the requirement
to spend at least 60 percent of the monies for that purpose. On average,
districts reported that Proposition 301 monies accounted for 10 percent of
teacher pay.
The report also contains alphabetically organized
one-page information sheets on individual districts, summarizing each
district’s classroom spending and administrative costs, its reported
Proposition 301 program results, and other comparative information.
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