State of Arizona Department of Education
Recent News About State of Arizona Department of Education
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Arizona begins distribution of over 16K Narcan kits to combat school overdoses
Superintendent Tom Horne announced the distribution of over 16,000 Narcan kits to Arizona schools as part of efforts to combat the Fentanyl crisis among school-aged children.
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Horne urges focus on academics over race and gender politics in schools
Tom Horne, the Superintendent of Public Instruction, has raised concerns about the academic performance in the Osborn school district.
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Arizona extends free Achievement Tutoring Program through 2024-25 school year
The Achievement Tutoring Program in Arizona, launched by Superintendent Tom Horne last year, will continue through the 2024-25 school year. This extension allows more students to benefit from the free program, which has shown positive academic results across the state.
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Arizona launches new online educator certification system
The Arizona Department of Education has launched a new online certification system aimed at improving the efficiency and accessibility for educators seeking certification in the state. The system went live on Monday and has been described by initial users as easier and faster than its predecessor.
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U.S. Department of Education grants $29 million waiver for Arizona schools
The U.S. Department of Education has granted a waiver that will return $29 million in federal Title I school improvement funds to the state of Arizona, as announced by State Superintendent of Schools Tom Horne.
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Arizona plans more armed officers in schools amid rising threat levels
Tom Horne, Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction, announced plans to use additional funds to increase the number of armed officers in schools. The decision follows a rise in threats to school campuses both in Arizona and nationwide.
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Horne comments on Goldwater Institute lawsuit over ESA curricula
Horne stated, “The Department of Education concedes the argument of the Goldwater Institute. When this issue first arose in July, my concern was that the Attorney General could force Empowerment Scholarship Account holders to return funds if they did not comply with her office’s interpretation of the law. This lawsuit will settle the issue in court and my sincere hope is that the arguments made by Goldwater will prevail.”
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Arizona extends statewide school safety partnership through 2026
State schools superintendent Tom Horne has extended the Department of Education’s agreement with Off Duty Management through 2026, covering multiple schools in six counties. This extension is part of Horne’s initiative to ensure that students, educators, and staff are protected by armed and uniformed School Safety Officers.
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Survey reveals crisis in attracting and retaining classroom teachers
PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne has released a teacher retention survey indicating a crisis in the teaching profession. The survey, involving nearly 1,000 teachers who left the profession after 2023, reveals significant numbers departing due to lack of administrative support for classroom discipline and a desire for better pay.
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State education funding finishes under budget
PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne has stated that the notion of the Empowerment Scholarship Program (ESA) posing a threat to Arizona’s budget has been thoroughly disproven. For Fiscal Year 2024, which concluded on June 30, Basic State Aid payments for education programs at district and charter schools, as well as the ESA program, ended $4.3 million under budget.
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State schools chief pushes for statewide ban on classroom cell phone use
PHOENIX – State schools’ chief Tom Horne has announced a renewed effort to push for legislation banning cell phones in classrooms statewide. Horne emphasized the need for teachers to manage their classrooms with minimal distractions, improve academic performance, and create safer campus environments.
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State schools chief criticizes "Save Our Schools" leader over Title IX guidelines
PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne has called on “Save Our Schools” leader Beth Lewis to explain her support for policies allowing biological boys with male genitalia to use girls' locker rooms and restrooms. This follows a social media post by Lewis criticizing three grandmothers who had shared concerns with Horne about new federal Title IX guidelines.
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Arizona seeks federal waiver for $29 million in unused education funds
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced today that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) has offered a waiver to the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to recoup approximately $29 million in federal Title I funds that were under-utilized during the Hoffman administration. The department has submitted the waiver request, which will cover State Fiscal Years 2021, 2022, and 2023.
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Horne demands retraction from Azcentral.com over claims about federal fund mismanagement
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has issued a formal request to Azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic, calling for the retraction of a story that he claims falsely attributes the reversion of $29 million in federal funds to his administration.
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Horne addresses allegations regarding grant fund mismanagement
Horne stated, "The mishandling and failure to notify districts of correct allocations with time for them to properly plan and spend the money resulted from an error by an employee of my predecessor before I took office. This person told the schools they had smaller allocations than they had. We were constantly on the phone urging districts to spend as much of the money properly as they could.
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Horne addresses inquiries about schools' response to COVID-19
Responding to an inquiry about the status of COVID-19 cases in Arizona and any potential effect on schools, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne stated that public health agencies now consider COVID-19 to be a common respiratory virus and that schools should operate normally.
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Horne advises schools on legal consultation for new Title IX rules
PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has advised Arizona school districts and charter schools to seek legal counsel before implementing new federal Title IX guidelines, which are set to take effect on August 1. These regulations have sparked controversy and face multiple legal challenges.
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State budget eliminates Kindergarten Entry Assessment program
PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne announced that the newly-passed state budget includes the elimination of the Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) program, a move he has long advocated. Many educators have viewed the KEA as an unnecessary bureaucratic requirement that detracts from classroom time.
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Tom Horne addresses Save Our Schools' criticism on education savings accounts
PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne has responded to criticism from Save Our Schools (SOS) regarding the ability of parents to choose the school that best meets their children’s academic needs.
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Achievement Tutoring Program shows early signs of academic improvement
State schools chief Tom Horne reports that the initial results from the Achievement Tutoring Program indicate academic progress among participating students. The program, initiated in late 2023 with federal funds aimed at addressing COVID-19-related learning loss, has seen 17,324 student registrations over three six-week sessions this year.