Know the Facts

A "Yes" vote would:

• Require certain school districts to spend at least 60% of operational spending on direct instruction.

• Direct the Arizona Auditor General to define relevant terms.

• Reduce certain state funding for districts that do not comply with the requirement.

A "No" vote would keep current law in place. The proposed 60% spending requirement and related funding penalties would not be adopted.

Every school district in Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal county, plus those with 7,500 or more students outside of the three counties. This currently includes Yuma Union, Yuma Elementary and Flagstaff Unified, along with small and rural districts within the three counties. It does not apply to charter schools. Whether it applies to Career & Technical Education Districts (CTEDs) has not yet been determined.

By dividing total spending in the instruction category by total day-to-day operational spending, using dollars actually expended.

By dividing total spending in the instruction category by total day-to-day operational spending, using dollars actually expended.

The Auditor General uses definitions aligned with the National Center for Education Statistics. Changing them would require new legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor.

As defined by the Arizona Auditor General "direct instruction" includes:

• Teachers

• Teachers' aides

• Substitute teachers

• Graders

• Guest lecturers

• General instructional supplies

• Instructional aids

• Field trips

• Athletics

• Co-curricular activities

• Tuition

The following operational categories are identified as not counting toward direct instruction:

Student Support

• Counselors

• Psychologists

• Nurses

• Speech, occupational and physical therapy services

• Social workers

Instruction Support

• Teacher training

• Instructional coaches

• Curriculum development

• Librarians

• Media services

• Information technology

Administration

• Superintendents

• Principals

• Clerical services

• Business services

• Human resources

• Governing Board costs

Plant Operations

• Maintenance

• Custodial services

• Utilities

• Security

• School Resource Officers

• Crossing guards

Food Services and Transportation

• School meals

• Buses

• Drivers

• Mechanics

Beginning in fiscal year 2028, districts below the 60% threshold would be required to increase their direct instruction share by at least 0.5 percentage points per year until they reach 60%. Increases greater than 0.5 percentage points in a year may be credited toward future years.

If a district is determined to be out of compliance, the Arizona Department of Education would reduce the district's Classroom Site Fund distribution according to the following schedule:

• Year 1: 25% reduction

• Year 2: 50% reduction

• Year 3: 75% reduction

• Year 4: 100% reduction

A fund administered by the Arizona Department of Education and supported by a half-cent sales tax. Districts and charters may use it for class-size reduction, teacher compensation, intervention programs, teacher development, dropout prevention, teacher liability insurance and student support services. It cannot replace existing school funding.

Withheld funds return to the Classroom Site Fund and carry forward into the next budget year, becoming part of the following year’s statewide allocation.

No. Prop 320 does not change the sales-tax rate. Any reduced allocations remain in the Classroom Site Fund for the next year’s statewide distribution rather than being returned to taxpayers or another fund.

FY28 (the 2027–28 school year) is the first year the 60% requirement applies. A reduced Classroom Site Fund allocation for noncompliance would first apply in FY30 (2029–30).

The full ballot language is published by the Arizona Secretary of State, and the definitions of “instruction” and “operational spending” are maintained in the Arizona Auditor General’s glossary.

Official ballot information, including ballot language and voting information, is available through the Arizona Secretary of State at www.azsos.gov and www.arizona.vote.