Office of Communications Blog

Horne announces renewed effort to have statewide school cell phone ban

  • Thu, Aug 22 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – Citing the need for teachers to be able to fully manage their classroom with minimal distractions, emphasize academic performance and create a safer campus environment, state schools’ chief Tom Horne says he will push legislation for a statewide school cell phone ban.

Horne blasts “Save Our Schools” leader for supporting biological boys using girls’ locker rooms and showers

  • Thu, Aug 15 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says “Save Our Schools” leader Beth Lewis owes her membership and Arizona educators an explanation for her support for having biological boys with male genitalia shower in girls’ locker rooms and using girls’ restrooms.

Horne announces waiver offer from federal government to avoid reverting funds

  • Mon, Aug 12 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced today the U.S. Department of Education (USED) contacted the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) late last week to offer a waiver to recoup approximately $29 million federal Title I dollars that had been under-utilized during the Hoffman administration. The department has submitted that waiver request that will cover State Fiscal Years 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Horne calls for Azcentral / Arizona Republic to retract false story about federal funds

  • Tue, Aug 6 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has sent a letter to the News Director of Azcentral.com and The Arizona Republic demanding the retraction of a story falsely blaming the Horne administration for the reversion of $29 million in federal funds.

Horne statement on dishonest Azcentral report on grant funds

  • Mon, Aug 5 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne issued the following statement in response to today’s reporting on Azcentral about reverted federal grants:

Horne answers inquiries about schools and COVID

  • Wed, Jul 31 2024  •
    • News

Responding to an inquiry about the status of COVID cases in Arizona and any potential effect on schools, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says public health agencies now consider COVID to be a common respiratory virus and schools should operate normally.

Horne: Schools should get legal advice before following new Title IX rules

  • Mon, Jul 22 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says Arizona districts and charters should consult legal counsel to determine if they should delay implementing controversial new federal Title IX guidelines that may cause students to suffer damages.

Horne effort to reduce red tape for teachers succeeds with lawmakers

  • Tue, Jun 18 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says the newly-passed state budget includes a change that he has long sought: the elimination of the Kindergarten Entry Assessment (KEA) program, which many educators consider an unnecessary bureaucratic requirement and a waste of classroom time.

Horne responds to Save Our Schools criticism

  • Wed, May 29 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne is responding to today’s news conference by Save Our Schools attacking the ability of parents to choose the school that best meets their children’s academic needs.

Horne points to academic gains from Achievement Tutoring Program

  • Wed, May 22 2024  •
    • News

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says the initial results of those students tested as part of the department’s Achievement Tutoring Program show gains in academic progress.