Story perspectives

Chandler Schools Cut 60 Staff Amid Enrollment Decline

1/18/2026

Summary

Story summary

Chandler Unified School District cut about 60 staff positions after enrollment declined due to competition from charter schools.
Enrollment dropped to just over 4,000 students since 2022, when the state implemented universal school choice, a trend mirrored by Tucson Unified School District.
The program allows parents to use taxpayer funds for alternative schooling options.
Critics, including the Chandler Education Association, say the policy spurred enrollment declines and strain on public schools.

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Story summary

Chandler Unified School District cut about 60 staff positions after enrollment declined due to competition from charter schools.
Enrollment dropped to just over 4,000 students since 2022, when the state implemented universal school choice, a trend mirrored by Tucson Unified School District.
The program allows parents to use taxpayer funds for alternative schooling options.
Critics, including the Chandler Education Association, say the policy spurred enrollment declines and strain on public schools.