The Bills That Got Away
Every year, Arizona Legislators introduce hundreds of bills, and very few of them go through the entire process to end on the Governor’s Desk for a signature. And each year, many bills never get a hearing at all. There are many good proposals to help children and families in Arizona thrive that deserve…
The Countdown Begins - AZ Students Need a Permanent Fix to the School Spending Limit
Arizona voters approved into law a limit on what public schools can spend in a year based on the needs in 1980. If schools exceed the limit in a school year, as they did last year and again this year, the law allows the legislature to provide an “expenditure override” to allow districts to spend…
News you can use: CAA Priority Bills
Arizona’s state legislative session is in full swing. So far this session 1625 Bills, Memorials and Resolutions have been introduced for consideration. Each year, Children’s Action Alliance selects bills a dozen or so bills that we give our top priority. They are introduced by both Republicans…
Child Uninsured Rate Could Rise Sharply if Arizona Doesn’t Act to Protect Children’s Coverage
KidsCare successfully brought down the child uninsured rate and proved to be a critical lifeline for more than 50% of Arizona’s children during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report by the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families at the McCourt School of Public Policy. The…
SAVE THE DATE: March 8 - Support oral health for the whole family at the Capitol
Research has shown that oral health is a core part of overall health, shaping well-being at every age. Dental disease can harm heart, and lungs, complicate diabetes, and even impact cognitive abilities as everyone gets older. Good oral health is also important in ensuring healthy pregnancies and thriving…
15,000 Arizona kids gained health coverage during the pandemic – but we’ve still got work to do.
Health insurance is a long-term investment for children. It helps families get the care they need, when they need it, without fear of expensive health bills. And it helps kids learn, grow, and play at their best. Racial and ethnic disparities in coverage rates persist, but a new report by Georgetown…
National academic progress report is out - See how AZ students performed
As expected, the COVID pandemic had a significant impact on our nation’s children. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) recent report shows students’ NAEP scores have decreased in math and reading competency. Although Arizona students fared better overall than most...
The Importance of Federal Spending for Children
A new report released last week underscores the importance of federal investments on issues that impact children and families. It is often said that your priorities are reflected in where you spend your money, and it seems children are. An afterthought when budgets are created. The 2022 Children’s...
Big Win! Final Public Charge Rule Announced
Last week, the Biden Administration announced changes to immigration rules that disproportionately harm low-income people of color. The changes repeal and replace extreme and discriminatory changes to the Public Charge determination process, which we and so many other Arizona advocates and allies…