Why is State Trust Land a high priority for educators?
In 2000, Arizona citizens approved Proposition 301, which dedicated expendable revenue from state trust land in excess of $72 million annually to the Arizona Classroom Site Fund. The Classroom Site Fund (which also includes sales tax revenue for the next 15 years) is administered by the ADE and school districts and is used to supplement teacher pay, fund class size reduction, dropout prevention and other specific programs. The school trust revenue funding formula created in conjunction with 301 is expected to yield from $500 million to $1 billion directly into classrooms over the next ten years. These dollars must supplement funds appropriated by the legislature. Before voter approval of Prop 301, revenue from state trust lands off-set appropriations from the legislature. Since 2000 funds from state trust lands alone have increased spending for public education by nearly $100 million. This last year that amount was $39 million.
