Arizona teacher raises passed after strike shuts schools

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed part of a state budget plan that provides more than $300 million in raises for many of the state’s striking teachers.

The action by the Republican Ducey came Thursday morning after an all-night legislative session amid a weeklong teachers’ strike that shut down school for most of the state’s 1.1 million public school students. Teachers had vowed to stay out until the funding package passed.

Teachers will get an average 9 percent pay boost this fall and 5 percent more in each of the next two years.

The budget package also provides the state’s schools will a partial restoration of nearly $400 million in recession-era cuts.

Many Arizona schools remained closed Thursday for the sixth consecutive day.