Arizona is ranked forty-sixth in the nation in the amount spent per student in the public school system. How can we do worse? Cut even more money from the system and let's get it down to fifty. “Arizona's per-pupil spending continues to be nearly $2,500 below the national average (using Arizona and U.S. fiscal years 2008 for an exact comparison).” (Arizona Education Network http://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2011/03/az-auditor-general-report-az-spend-nearly-2500-less-per-pupil-than-national-avg/) Budget cuts what Arizona brings to the education system will be detrimental in areas such as teachers and classrooms, programs such as the arts and extracurricular activities, and most importantly, by eliminating jobs in the state of Arizona. The cuts that Arizona is making in the education system will be detrimental in many areas. One area that will be hit hard is teachers and class sizes. As a result of these cuts, teachers will be laid off and class sizes will increase. Education cuts have occurred over the past four years. For the past four years, teachers have nervously wondered if they would have a job to return to the following fall, and when they return, they see an increase in their class sizes. I recently spoke to an art teacher at Dysart Platt School, 2nd District, who has been teaching for 5 years. She says: “The budget cuts that schools have to make only hurt children in the long term. With increasing class sizes, there are fewer one-on-one meetings, so students can easily fall through the cracks and are unfortunately left behind. This budget cut for 2012 will require an additional $150 million for K-12, an additional $198 million for universities as well as $70 million for the community...... middle of paper, or lack thereof . Arizona must continue to make education a priority in this state. I fear that if we continue to cut education in our state, our future leaders will experience obtaining a GED and where will we be then? com/2011/03/az-auditor-general-report-az-spend-nearly-2500-less-per-pupil-than-national-avg/AZ Lawmakers adopt budget plan with deep cuts » (Republic of Arizona by Mary Jo Pitzl, March 17, 2011) National Report on College-bound Seniors: Profile of SAT Test Takers. Princeton, NJ: College Entrance Examination Board, 2001Childrensmusicworkshop.com http://www.childrensmusicworkshop.com/advocacy/benefits.htmlhttp://www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com/2011/03/companies-will-shun -arizona-due-to-education-cuts/