Q. Arizona is ranked 50th in the United States for college aid for high school graduates. What are your plans to change this?
Alison Koehler, Ironwood Ridge High School
Doug Ducey (R): As governor, my goal is to ensure that Arizona is a state that embraces opportunity for all. One important opportunity is higher education that is both accessible and affordable. One way could be freezing tuition at our state universities for first-year students for a capped number of semesters so they can better plan to finance their degree. Another way to decrease college cost is to ensure that high school graduates are adequately prepared for college and career, so that they don’t have to spend time and money on remedial courses.
Fred DuVal (D): The doors of higher education must stay open to anyone willing to work hard. When I was on the Arizona Board of Regents, which oversees Arizona’s public universities, the recession hit. Some politicians wanted to close campuses. I told them, “No way.” We increased financial aid so that more middle- and lower-income students could have the opportunity to go to college. I also led the creation of AZTransfer.com, which lets students transfer credits from community colleges and universities to bring down the cost of a degree. Supporting students so they can afford higher education is a priority for me.
Q. You say that children in Arizona are not getting a good education; could you specifically pinpoint the flaw in the education system, and how would you change things?
Marley McCurry-Stultz, Ironwood Ridge High School
Doug Ducey (R): It’s easy for people to say what’s wrong with education in Arizona. As governor, I will focus on what we’re doing well and maximizing the impact of what we know works. We have three of the top 10 high schools in the nation — no other state has that bragging right. We should look to our best schools, and replicate and expand what’s working for them across the state. I also must emphasize the importance of teachers and principals who make personnel decisions, both of whom are critical to our children’s success. In addition, they set the culture and expectations, which is imperative to our children meeting and exceeding expectations in the classroom.
Fred DuVal (D): For too long we’ve balanced our budgets on the backs of our schoolchildren. That will end when I am governor. That’s why I’ve made stopping the cuts to our public schools the centerpiece of my campaign. Money is only part of the solution. Next, we need to spend wisely and direct money to the classroom. We need to pay teachers better and improve standards and accountability. Parents shouldn’t have to pay extra for sports or music and art. Poverty is part of the problem here, and that’s why we need to rebuild our economy.
Q. Quality of education differs from one school to the next. What can you do as governor to restore balance to our educational system?
Allison Lopez, Ironwood Ridge High School
Doug Ducey (R): Our current A-F grading system is an excellent way to hold schools accountable and to know how each school is performing. I believe that school choice and open enrollment is incredibly important because parents get to choose which school is best for their child regardless of their zip code; and knowing the quality of the school makes choice even more effective. The pressure on the system will require that schools continue to improve in order to be competitive. I want all of our schools to be operating at the highest level, for the best opportunity for all students.
Fred DuVal (D): Teacher retention is a huge problem in Arizona, and it disproportionately impacts underperforming schools. One-third of our teachers leave the classroom every year and there are more than 500 open teaching positions across the state. This means that many students are taught by a shifting group of substitute teachers. We have to stem the tide of teacher flight and make sure that every classroom in every school has an excellent teacher. To do this, we must improve pay, offer promising teachers loan forgiveness and expand training opportunities for educators.
