Education A State Capitals Roundup

Early-Childhood Advocates Seek Ariz. Ballot Measure

By Linda Jacobson — August 08, 2006 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

Early-childhood-education advocates in Arizona hope to qualify a measure for the November ballot that would raise tobacco taxes to pay for a variety of preschool services.

Backed by the owners of the Bashas’ grocery-store chain, Eddie and Nadine Basha, the Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Initiative would increase tobacco taxes by 80 cents, raising the total tax on cigarettes to $1.98 per pack.

The proceeds, expected to be roughly $150 million a year, would be spent on local and regional services for young children, including health screenings, early development, and preschool. Information and training would be made available to Arizona parents, and grants would be distributed to existing private and faith-based providers to improve programs.

State election officials last week were still counting signatures from the petitions turned in by the proposal’s sponsors.

A version of this article appeared in the August 09, 2006 edition of Education Week

Events

Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Boosting Student and Staff Mental Health: What Schools Can Do
Join this free virtual event based on recent reporting on student and staff mental health challenges and how schools have responded.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Curriculum Webinar
Practical Methods for Integrating Computer Science into Core Curriculum
Dive into insights on integrating computer science into core curricula with expert tips and practical strategies to empower students at every grade level.
Content provided by Learning.com

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: October 11, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Briefly Stated: September 27, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Briefly Stated: September 20, 2023
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education From Our Research Center What's on the Minds of Educators, in Charts
Politics, gender equity, and technology—how teachers and administrators say these issues are affecting the field.
1 min read
Stylized illustration of a pie chart
Traci Daberko for Education Week