CLICK HERE for Downloadable Letter To The Community: Proposition 320

 

October 8, 2026

Community Information Regarding Proposition 320

Dear Warrior Families, Staff, and Community Members,

As we approach November 3, 2026, General Election, I want to share important information about Proposition 320, a statewide ballot measure that will appear on ballots here in Tuba City and throughout Arizona.

 

Understanding Proposition 320

 

Proposition 320 would require certain Arizona school districts to spend at least 60% of their operational expenditures on direct instructional expenses.
 

The proposed requirement would apply to school districts that enroll 7,500 or more students, regardless of location, or operate schools in counties with populations of 500,000 or more residents. For districts subject to the measure, implementation would begin during the 2027– 2028 fiscal year, with a phased approach to meeting the spending requirement.
 

What Does 60% for Direct Instruction Mean?
 

Simply put, for every $100 a qualifying school district spends on operations, at least $60 would need to be classified as direct instructional spending. Under current Arizona school accounting classifications, direct instructional expenses generally include classroom teachers, instructional aides, substitute teachers, instructional materials, classroom supplies, and certain instructional activities.
 

However, there is an important distinction between expenditures classified as direct instruction and expenditures that support student learning. Not every service that contributes to a student's education is classified as direct instructional spending.
 

What About the Other 40%?
 

Operating a school district involves much more than classroom instruction. Schools must also provide transportation, maintain facilities, support student health and well-being, and ensure campuses are safe and ready for learning. Under current school accounting classifications, many of these services fall outside the direct instructional category, including:

 

• Student Support: Counselors, psychologists, nurses, health services, and other student support personnel.
• Instructional Support: Instructional coaches, teacher professional development, curriculum development, and library services.
• Transportation: Bus drivers, mechanics, fuel, and transportation operations.
• Safety and Security: Campus security personnel and school safety operations.
• Facilities and Maintenance: Custodians, maintenance personnel, utilities, and building operations.
• School Operations: Principals, administrative personnel, payroll, human resources, and other district services.

 

 

What Happens if a District Does Not Meet the Requirement?

 

Proposition 320 includes a phased compliance process for qualifying districts that do not initially meet the proposed 60% requirement. Under the proposal, affected districts would be required to increase their direct instructional spending percentage by at least half a percentage point annually until reaching compliance. The measure also establishes potential reductions in Classroom Site Fund distributions for districts that fail to meet applicable requirements. These reductions could increase over consecutive years of noncompliance:

• Year One: 25% reduction

• Year Two: 50% reduction

• Year Three: 75% reduction

• Year Four: 100% reduction

 

What Does Proposition 320 Mean for TCUSD?

 

Tuba City Unified School District currently serves approximately 1,400 students. Our district consists of 6 schools, with five currently operational. Based on our current enrollment and Coconino County's population, TCUSD would not currently be subject to Proposition 320's proposed 60% direct instructional spending requirement.

 

However, Proposition 320 is a statewide ballot measure, meaning eligible voters in our community will still have the opportunity to vote on it. Although the proposed requirement would not currently apply to our district, I believe it is important that our community understands the measure and its potential implications for public education across Arizona.

 

What Does a YES or NO Vote Mean?

 

A YES vote would establish the proposed 60% direct instructional spending requirement for qualifying Arizona school districts, including its phase-in and compliance provisions.

 

A NO vote would maintain Arizona's existing laws governing school district operational spending.

 

Our Continued Commitment to Students

 

Regardless of the outcome of Proposition 320, our responsibility at TCUSD remains the same. We must continue to be responsible stewards of public resources while providing strong classroom instruction, supporting our teachers and staff, maintaining safe and welcoming schools, and ensuring students have the opportunities and services they need to succeed.

 

Throughout my time as superintendent, I have emphasized one simple question that should guide our decisions:

 

How does this decision impact our students?

 

That question remains at the center of our work.

 

I encourage families and community members to review the official 2026 Arizona General Election Publicity Pamphlet from the Arizona Secretary of State for additional information, including the ballot language and arguments submitted regarding the measure.

 

Additional information is available at HERE (Click for information).

 

Thank you for your continued partnership, your commitment to public education, and your support of the students we have the privilege of serving. At the end of the day, our work is about students. It always has been, and it always will be.

 

Stronger Together,

 

Scott Nedrow

Superintendent

Tuba City Unified School District #15

#KidsComeFirst