Chandler to tech school district: Don’t cut funding
Courtesy of EVIT
A color guard brings in flags for an East Valley Institute of Technology graduation ceremony in May. Chandler, Queen Creek and other districts that contract with EVIT for satellite services are opposed to proposed funding cuts and accountability measures.
East Valley school districts that have career and technical education satellite programs of the East Valley Institute of Technology are beginning to make points publicly about changes proposed for next year.
EVIT has proposed cuts it states would only pay for the costs of service, saying some districts are being overpaid for their services by EVIT at satellite sites and rolling that money over year after year.
At nearly the same time, the Chandler Unified School District and other EVIT-contracted districts have made statements clarifying their relationship with EVIT and how they would like to move forward.
Queen Creek, Chandler, Gilbert, Higley, Cave Creek, Apache Junction, Fountain Hills, J.O. Combs and Tempe Union school districts offer more than 100 satellite programs — 15 of which are available exclusively on high school campuses.
“EVIT is proposing a reduction in funding over the course of the next five years, so instead of receiving 87% of that funding, which we receive now, EVIT is proposing that the first year of the next (intergovernmental agreement) that these satellites receive 83%,” said Erin McRae, director of college and career readiness and career and technical education with the Queen Creek Unified School District.
The cuts will continue at about 2% to 3% each year for the contract.
“Essentially, by the time the five years have passed there will have been significant cuts to each satellite district to run their programs,” McRae said.
Under the satellite program, students can take CTE classes on their high school campuses rather than going to two East Valley Institute of Technology locations in east and west Mesa.
Of concern to Queen Creek and Chandler officials is discussion of an effort by EVIT to alter intergovernmental agreements it has with nine East Valley school districts in Maricopa and Pinal counties that have more than 24,000 students enrolled in satellite programs. Funding for the CTE satellite programs is distributed through EVIT.
Queen Creek has 2,600 students participating in 35 district programs. Though Chandler has more than twice as many, a spokesperson said CUSD’s goals with career and technical education haven’t changed.
“Our goal is to preserve equitable access to high-quality, on-campus or satellite CTE programs that serve students’ best interests,” CUSD’s Stephanie Ingersoll wrote in an email. “Currently, high-level discussions are underway to continue the funding and support structure for satellite CTE programs.”
At issue seems to be actual dollar totals, in terms of how much funding needs to move from EVIT to districts to pay for programming. One EVIT board member, in the Aug. 11 meeting, said a Tempe district has a balance of more than $15 million in a relevant account, showing districts are receiving more than the cost of service and don’t need the funding levels they’ve been receiving.
EVIT documents show an account for Chandler Unified shows a year-end balance of more than $9.85 million at the end of fiscal 2023-24, and almost $11.6 million at the end of 2022-23.
Ingersoll echoed Queen Creek leaders’ sentiment in CUSD not wanting to change formulas currently in place.
“We believe our data highlights the benefits of maintaining the system that already exists,” Ingersoll wrote.
Ingersoll said it appears there may be misinformation from the county superintendent and EVIT board members regarding satellite CTE programs that she and CUSD want to clarify. She then pointed out the high success rates of Chandler’s CTE programs, such as 100% compliance with regulations, 99% of district CTE programs designated as distinguished or proficient by the Arizona Department of Education Quality and Compliance review.
Chandler’s CTE students earned 3,645 industry-recognized credentials in 2024-25, its programs received high ratings, students perform well in interscholastic CTE competitions, and 100% of its CTE teachers have had industry experience and/or have relevant current industry credentials, Ingersoll wrote.
Ingersoll wrote that if EVIT were to cut funding for all or specific satellite CTE programs, it’s unclear how the board would allocate the money it already receives from districts.
In a letter sent to parents, EVIT said funding and structural changes to the satellite program would be the result of an audit by the Arizona Auditor General’s Office.
According to the letter, the audit “emphasized the EVIT governing board is ultimately responsible for the quality and content of all CTE programs within our district, both at EVIT and in our district’s high schools.
Our previous method of calculating costs and allocating funds does not align with best practices used statewide. We’re asking to adopt the same funding structure used by other large career technical education districts in Arizona. To be clear, this isn’t about EVIT wanting more money.”
EVIT is proposing to add more “accountability measures” to the intergovernmental agreements, measuring program persistence, student-completion rates, and the number of certifications earned by students.
“(EVIT has) been calling out that they’re responsible for the quality and the content. They don’t feel that the quality and the content at the high schools is the same as the quality and content at EVIT — which is not true,” McRae said. “We have a lot of certifications and quite a number of award-winning programs. So, that part of their messaging is not accurate.”
Janet Perez contributed to this article..She can be reached at can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here