Rachel Walden, vice chair of the Arizona Corporation Commission, said on April 2 that school curriculums have shifted away from core instruction in reading and math, while a vast majority of students perform below grade level.
The topic is significant as recent data show persistent challenges in student proficiency across Arizona. According to Walden, “I’m frustrated at a lot of the curriculum that schools use, where they actually aren’t that focused on the core instruction. They’re trying to teach kids anything and everything, and that’s very idealistic. We’ve got a vast majority of our students that are below grade level that can’t read the basics that can’t do math.”
Walden highlighted concerns about curriculum priorities during public discussions on Arizona education outcomes. The vice chair said stronger alignment with foundational reading and math skills is needed to address persistent performance shortfalls. Statewide literacy initiatives have been implemented, but proficiency rates have shown limited gains, according to Read On Arizona.
Arizona Department of Education data showed that only 39% of third graders were proficient in reading in 2024, a decline from 41% the previous year. State assessments indicate that many students continue to struggle with essential reading skills needed for academic progress, according to Read On Arizona.
The 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) found that 26% of Arizona fourth graders and 25% of eighth graders reached reading proficiency. Math proficiency rates were 34% for fourth graders and 26% for eighth graders, placing Arizona near or below national averages in core academic subjects, as reported by The Arizona Republic.
Arizona students continue to score below the national average in fourth-grade reading and show mixed results in mathematics, according to NAEP data. Statewide literacy efforts have produced only modest improvement, and education advocates emphasize the need to focus on foundational instruction to improve long-term outcomes, according to The Arizona Republic.
