Special Edition - May 13, 2026

Special Edition, May 13, 2026

Dear EVIT Stakeholders,

A recent ruling by a Maricopa County Superior Court judge in the legal dispute between EVIT and nine East Valley school districts represents an important step toward ensuring that taxpayer dollars dedicated to career and technical education (CTE) are used responsibly, transparently, and in ways that directly benefit students and teachers.

In the ruling issued last Friday, the court agreed with EVIT that it cannot force the parties to enter into an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) or dictate how EVIT Career Technical Education District (CTED) funding should be divided. The judge also affirmed that all parties must follow state law and that school districts are not entitled to receive funding beyond the actual cost of the services they provide.

We agree with what the judge is saying: Taxpayer dollars intended for career and technical education should not exceed the actual cost of the programs being provided. When tens of millions of those dollars are sitting unused instead of supporting satellite CTED students, classrooms, and teachers, it raises serious concerns about whether the current funding structure is serving students as effectively as it should.

A Call for Greater Accountability
Under Arizona law, school districts must maintain IGAs with their regional CTED in order to receive CTED funding for satellite CTE programs offered at local high schools. These satellite programs are EVIT CTED programs.

The nine districts involved in the lawsuit — Apache Junction, Cave Creek, Chandler, Fountain Hills, Gilbert, Higley, J.O. Combs, Queen Creek, and Tempe — filed suit against EVIT last fall after negotiations over updated agreements stalled.

At the center of those discussions was EVIT’s proposal to retain a slightly higher percentage of CTED funding in order to provide additional oversight, instructional support, and services to satellite programs, recommendations aligned with guidance from the Arizona Auditor General.

The court’s ruling reinforces EVIT’s longstanding call for greater financial accountability and transparency. It also brings renewed attention to the fact that the districts have accumulated more than $50 million in CTED-related funds received through EVIT for CTE programs.

EVIT believes those funds should be actively invested in career education programs, classrooms, instructional support, and student success initiatives. The ruling further requires districts to itemize how those funds are being spent to ensure accountability to students, taxpayers, and the broader community.

The court also directed EVIT to itemize the services it intends to provide to district satellite programs, something EVIT has consistently stated it is willing to do.

Supporting Students Through Oversight and Investment
EVIT’s responsibility extends beyond simply distributing funding. As the East Valley’s Career Technical Education District, EVIT is also responsible for ensuring students have access to high-quality programs that deliver strong educational outcomes.

Current data shows that many satellite CTE programs in East Valley high schools are producing outcomes that lag behind other programs statewide, despite EVIT passing through a higher percentage of funding to member districts than any other CTED in Arizona.

While every district and program can point to individual student success stories, EVIT believes long-term program effectiveness must ultimately be measured through student outcome data and overall program performance.

For that reason, EVIT is seeking the ability to provide greater instructional support and financial oversight to satellite programs. EVIT believes that increased accountability, combined with targeted support, will better position these programs to serve students effectively and improve educational outcomes.

Providing more money has not resulted in improved outcomes. That is not a reflection on the dedication of CTE teachers in East Valley high schools. Rather, it reflects broader funding decisions made at the district level that have limited the resources reaching classrooms and programs.

Looking Ahead
EVIT appreciates the clarity provided by the court’s ruling and remains committed to working collaboratively with member districts to ensure CTE funding is used as intended — to support students, teachers, and high-quality career education opportunities.

Most importantly, this ruling represents progress toward ensuring that every student within the EVIT CTED — whether attending classes at a central campus or participating in a satellite program at their high school — receives the support, instruction, and opportunities they deserve.

Sincerely,
Dr. Chad Wilson
Superintendent

Thank you for your support in helping EVIT change lives.