State schools chief Tom Horne has expressed his disagreement with the State Board’s decision to delay removing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) language from teaching standards in Arizona. Horne warned that the federal government might withhold approximately $866 million if the issue is not addressed promptly. The board’s action means the matter will be revisited in December.
Horne emphasized, “I respectfully but strongly disagree with the vote to postpone opening the rule-making process. The president issued an Executive Order requiring DEI language to be removed from programs funded by federal dollars.” He added that non-compliance could lead to a significant funding cut for Arizona schools.
The teaching standards under scrutiny include terms like “equitably” and focus on cultural responsiveness and understanding students’ social, emotional, and cultural needs. Horne argued these elements should not be part of teaching standards, stating, “Every instructional minute is precious, and DEI efforts distract from that essential mission.”
The State of Arizona Department of Education is at the center of this discussion about potential changes to educational guidelines.
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