The black and white checkerboard backpack sits next to a pale pink and purple floral print, while a solid turquoise nylon pack with a gray zipper leans against both.
The packs are stacked on desks, shelves and the floor and ready to be filled with school supplies including highlighters, pencils, notebooks, folders and more.
Those free school supplies along with back-to-school clothes, including uniforms and shoes will be available Saturday, July 25 as the Tucson Unified School District expands its annual Impact Tucson event. The district is growing the event from one site to four this year to serve about 35,000 students in 88 schools across Southern Arizona’s largest school district.
Family resource centers
| Catalina 3645 E. Pima St. 520-232-8684 | Palo Verde 1302 S. Avenida Vega 520-584-7455 |
| Menlo 1100 W. Fresno St. 520-225-2172 | Southwest 6855 S. Mark Road 520-908-3980 |
Four family resource center sites across Tucson aim to help TUSD families from 10 to noon with supplies, consultations with dentists and pediatricians and help with transitioning into the district or a new school.
“We’re all looking to give out over 300 backpacks at each site and spread the word,” said Yvonne Nelson, program coordinator at Menlo Family Resource Center in Menlo Park. “We want to make sure that every kiddo is ready for school to start and even though they may need a little bit of help, that’s what we’re here for.”
The centers on the west, east, midtown and southwest sides of town are open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and offer free clothes, food, hygiene supplies and classes.
All TUSD families are welcome and no IDs are required.
Protection Education Act backers sue over descriptions
The Protect Education Act, a November ballot proposition to reform Empowerment Scholarship Accounts in Arizona, is suing over the potential wording of its initiative.
Protect Education filed a lawsuit saying the ballot language is heavily biased and misleading and is intended to discourage voters from voting to add restrictions to ESAs.
The language would be used for the November election’s publicity pamphlet, which is sent to 4.3 million Arizona voters to help them decide how to vote.
ESAs help families pay for school with taxpayer funds. The accounts began in 2011 for students with special needs, in military families and those who lived on Tribal Lands. In 2022, the accounts were made available to all families in Arizona — no matter the household income level. Over 100,000 Arizona students — almost 8% of all learners here — now use the accounts with an average of about $7,400 a year.
The Protect Education Act was created by public school supporters to create some ESA guardrails, including a $150,000 income cap, eligibility restrictions and mandatory background checks for school staff.
Republicans in the Legislature oppose these provisions and crafted opposing amendments and created the ballot language.
A hearing has not yet been set.
Read the whiteboard
🗳️ Vote in Arizona’s primary election on Tuesday, July 21 at one of 120 vote centers in Pima County. Go to pima.vote to find an interactive map of early/emergency voting sites, 24-hour ballot drop-off boxes, locations for the mobile voting unit and 120 vote centers.
🎓 The Pima County jail GED program has been funded by the board of supervisors after Sheriff Chris Nanos canceled the contract with Pima Community College saying the cost exceeded the benefits.
🛝 Register for two Pima County Parks & Recreation after-school programs that begin in August for students age 5-12. Choose from a reading program, sports, board games, homework help and arts and crafts. Days and times vary by center but the programs are from the end of school day until about 6 p.m. at most locations. Cost is $50 per student per month and discounts are available. The Next Level teen program is for students ages 11 to 14. Sessions are 2-6 p.m. and include sports, arts and crafts, and leadership development. Register online.
📆 Sound off about the school calendar for the 27-28 TUSD school year. The district seeks input on the calendar structure, including school breaks, professional learning days and school year start and end dates. Find the survey here in Spanish and English.
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