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Arguments about improving K-12 education in Arizona usually start with spending more money, and since the state's economy sunk into recession and balancing the budget meant extreme deep cutting, those who favor significantly higher spending have a lot of catching up to do. Since 2010, public schools have lost at least $189 million, and in the last legislative session, lawmakers repealed a requirement that the state provide money for so-called soft capital expenses like books and computers.

Jonathan Butcher is the education director for the Goldwater Institute, and  Chuck Essigs is director of governmental relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials.