Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas has applauded Gov. Doug Ducey's budget plans. 

“It is great to finally see a path forward to restoring recession-era cuts to Arizona’s school facilities,” she said. “It was most encouraging to see one of the plaintiffs in the pending school facilities lawsuit discontinue its litigation in response to this proposal.

The governor recently released his 2019 budget plan, with $7.4 million going to the Arizona Department of Education. 

Of that, $5.3 million will maintain the department’s student data system, $1.1 million will continue to develop and implement Arizona academic standards, and $1 million will support statewide assessments. The funds will also allow for district and school flexibility to support other needs such as teacher salaries.

“I’m pleased that the proposed budget acknowledges real needs at the department," Douglas said. "Maintaining our IT system is vital to helping state leaders, districts and schools support Arizona’s students. It is also important that we will have the resources to continue building strong Arizona standards, especially since we have gotten rid of Common Core.”