I have to vent about our "school system". My daughters are both in GATE, gifted and talented education. You would think that meant they were in great schools, but no. TUSD installed the GATE programs in the worst schools to boost the scores and get more funding. My eldest is starting 8th grade next year. We just got a letter from her school telling us that they have cut 1/3 of the staff. Gone: Art, Music, Drama, Film, Yearbook, Cultures, and Orchestra. All these teachers were laid off because of lack of students and funding. PE is safe, of course, although you can keep yourself fit. You can't teach yourself how to play the violin. My daughter has been studying the violin for years and her work is now for nothing. TUSD wonders why parents are removing their children in droves? This is why. Cut the school year, shorten the days anything but taking all art from children. All I can say is, my daughters won't spend another year attending a TUSD school.

TUSD is a mess, always was a mess and always will be a mess.
You cant fix corruption that runs that deep.

All true, my mother was a teacher and she never understood the cut backs

I have heard great things about some (free) magnet schools in particularly Southwest Tucson and Marana areas.  Are there any magnet schools nearby? That may be an option for you.

Our only option is Basis which is nearly impossible to get into. I don't want to sound snobby, but my daughters have very high IQ's and nothing but the best will suit us. I will homeschool if I have to. I forgot to mention, the principle of my daughter's school was so disgusted that he quit. So they lost numerous teachers and now the principle. I remember TUSD saying that they were going to find places for all those laid off by the school closings. Instead they're laying off more. It's disgusting. Arizona has one of the highest cigarette taxes in the nation. It's in a fund for 0-5 education and development. One or two million has been used out of a 500 million fund. Why the hell can't that be used for K-12 education?

What upsets me about the cigarette tax is that it's not being used! Arizona has done nothing for 0-5 education. Millions of dollars are sitting in a fund, unused, while teachers are being laid off and schools are being closed. You're right, we need to vote these morons out of office.

Yes, TUSD is a sad, sad, sad institution. And it is the kids who suffer because of it. I do not know where you live, but if your k-8 kids could attend C.E. Rose Elementary, they are an exception. TUSD got smart and left this school and its dynamic principal alone. This school was recognized as one of the top 7 urban schools in America. Another award they received this year was the coveted A+ rating. I think they were only the 3rd TUSD school since 2008 to get the rating. They have received numerous other awards and recognition. Their math scores were higher than the math magnet school. They believe in high standards, high expectations, and good behavior--and they get it! I know they will have art, pretty sure they will have music of some kind next year, but not orchestra. But as far as an excellent education, it's there. All at a school that has 97% qualified for free lunch.

I agree the schools are bad here in Arizona, that been said.  Parents should spend some extra time with their children reading to them and helping them study.

Parents are very important, but there's only so much that parents can do. Children need strong schools which sadly TUSD doesn't have. My daughters are straight A students, but the education they are receiving is terrible. We cannot supplement all that they are missing as much as we try.

Jennifer, typical TUSD M.O. Totally pathetic. School boards are the weakest link in public education. And in TUSD's case, it is the most destructive link.

Sorry you're going through this. I never had any experience with TUSD other than the awful things I heard about it. Is Vail an option for you? I know they do open enrollment at a lot of their schools. My kids went to Vail the whole time we lived in Tucson and I loved, loved, loved it. They have the same curriculum whether you're at a charter or not, so really any school you go to would be good. I worked for the district as well. Send me a message if you need more info.

Thanks Yvette. How far away is Vail, exactly? I've heard great things about the schools there. Right now we've been looking into charter schools in Tucson and trying to fit violin lessons into the budget. Jennifer, I've heard about the candidate for superintendent, but no real details. Another winner, huh?