Arizona Proposition 320 would require districts with at least 7,500 students, or districts operating a school in a county with at least 500,000 residents, to devote at least 60% of operational spending to direct instructional expenses. The Auditor General would define the relevant spending categories. Districts below the threshold would have to increase their instructional share by at least half a percentage point per year beginning in fiscal 2027–28 until compliant. Continued noncompliance could reduce Classroom Site Fund allocations in 25% increments, subject to limited waivers. The debate is whether a statewide spending ratio improves classroom priorities or oversimplifies legitimate district costs. Families want school dollars reaching students, but percentages can hide real differences among districts. A large district with transportation, security, special programs, or aging buildings may have costs that do not fit neatly under “instruction” even when they support learning.
Should Arizona require large and urban school districts to put at least 60% of operational spending into direct instruction?