Proposition 320 Information
What is Prop #320?
If passed, Proposition 320 would require certain Arizona school districts, including FUSD, to spend at least 60% of operational spending on direct instructional expenses, with a phased compliance process beginning in FY 2027-28.
Understanding How School Spending Is Coded
Proposition 320 focuses on how district expenditures are categorized and coded, not simply whether a service supports students.
Under Prop 320, only expenditures classified as “Instruction” would cound toward the proposed 60% percent.
- Operational spending: Day-to-day spending is grouped into seven categories including Instruction, Student Support, Instruction Support, Administration, Plant Operations, Food Services, and Transportation.
- Classroom spending is broader: The Auditor General’s “classroom spending” measure combines Instruction + Student Support + Instruction Support. Prop 320 references only Instruction.
- Important distinction: Some services that directly serve students are not coded as direct instruction under the current definitions.
What Counts as Direct Instruction?
The 60% requirement includes classroom instruction and certain related expenses, while many essential student and school services fall outside the direct-instruction code.
FUSD FY 2025 Spending
Important note: The proposed 60% requirement applies to Instruction only (50.9%), not FUSD’s 69.1% total classroom spending, which also includes Student Support and Instruction Support.
FUSD Potential Budget Impact
Using financial data from FY25, moving from 50.9% to 60% represents a 9.1%, or $9,796,347, shift in operational spending.
What This Means for FUSD
If Proposition 320 passes, FUSD would need to make a significant shift in how operational spending is allocated and coded over time while continuing to provide services to students, staff, and families.
