Grand Canyon Times

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne, has penned a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Michael Cardona, urging him to reconsider his stance on the potential shutdown of Grand Canyon University. Horne's letter comes in response to Cardona's recent threat to close down the institution, a move Horne deems as inappropriate for a Cabinet secretary.

Horne criticized Cardona's approach, stating, "In the U.S., anyone accused of wrongdoing is presumed innocent and entitled to their day in court. For a Cabinet-level official, one who is sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, your threat against GCU is contrary to those constitutional guarantees and unworthy of your position." The Arizona schools chief emphasized the importance of upholding constitutional rights in such matters.

Moreover, Horne highlighted the significance of Grand Canyon University in the education landscape of Arizona, referring to it as "a major ally to my effort to raise academics in Arizona schools." He expressed concerns about the potential consequences of the university's closure, particularly in light of the existing teacher shortage in the state. Horne warned, "We also have a severe teacher shortage in Arizona, and the elimination of GCU would be a severe blow."

Horne's letter to Secretary Cardona calls for a collaborative approach to addressing the issues raised by the U.S. Department of Education against Grand Canyon University. The Arizona official stressed the need for evidence to support the allegations and urged Cardona to engage in dialogue with the school leadership to resolve the differences amicably.

The communication from Tom Horne serves as a plea to safeguard the future of Grand Canyon University and its role in enhancing academic standards in Arizona, emphasizing the detrimental impact that the university's closure could have on the state's education system.