Horne: On DEI, AG Mayes is wrong and risks $770 million
Thu, Apr 17 2025
PHOENIX – Attorney General Kris Mayes is wrong in claiming that the Arizona Department of Education has no legal authority to withhold federal funds to districts and charters that fail to comply with new guidance regarding Diversity Equity and Inclusion programs, according to Superintendent Tom Horne.
Schoolchildren celebrate school nutrition law with Horne, Rep. Biasucci, other lawmakers
Tue, Apr 15 2025
PHOENIX – A new state law that restricts schools from providing harmful foods on campus is being celebrated by schoolchildren joined by state lawmakers and schools chief Tom Horne at a commemoration of the bipartisan bill’s being signed into law by the Governor.
Horne: Schools on notice as Kyrene will lose $1.5 million with vote to defy federal guidance
Fri, Apr 11 2025
PHOENIX – The Kyrene school district in Phoenix will give up more than $1.5 million in federal funds now that the governing board has adopted a policy that further embeds Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) language into district operations, according to state schools chief Tom Horne. He adds that all Arizona districts and charters are on notice to take this matter seriously.
IDEA CONFERENCE INFO: Exciting Opportunities: Secondary Transition Services Award Nominations & Student Call for Artwork
Thu, Apr 3 2025 •
IDEA Conference
Updates
ADE/ESS is excited to announce two fantastic opportunities at the 2025 IDEA Conference: Access Cultivates Opportunities, happening August 20–22, 2025, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Arizona.
Horne: Federal dollars at risk if schools ignore new federal DEI guidance
Thu, Apr 3 2025
PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is forwarding to schools statewide the new guidance issued today by the U.S. Department of Education requiring schools to acknowledge they will follow federal civil rights law and avoid the use of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. Schools that do not comply with the federal guidance risk losing federal funding.
Horne: Feds agree with my position protecting parents’ rights
Wed, Apr 2 2025
PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has forwarded letters from the U.S. Department of Education to Arizona public schools notifying them that they must submit documentation that shows they are following federal privacy law in order to uphold parents’ rights or risk losing federal funds.
DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: FY26 Statement of Assurances Open for Submission
Wed, Apr 2 2025 •
Data Management
Updates
The FY26 Statement of Assurances application is open for submission. All public education agencies (PEAs) must submit the IDEA Statement of Assurances (SOA) through the ESS Portal within ADEConnect. This is required before any FY26 activities in the Exceptional Student Services portal are allowable. The portal will block any PEA that has not completed the SOA effective July 1, 2025, which is when FY26 begins.
DATA MANAGEMENT ALERT: Special Education Data Updates Webinar
Wed, Mar 26 2025 •
Data Management
Updates
The Exceptional Student Services Data Management team will host the next live Special Education Data Updates webinar on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm.
Horne, Maricopa Co. Sheriff Sheridan urge more action to battle truancy, absenteeism
Wed, Mar 26 2025
PHOENIX – in response to the 30 percent statewide chronic absenteeism rate in Arizona, state schools chief Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan are urging law enforcement, the courts, parents and schools to make sure school-aged students are attending school and any violations of state law are promptly addressed by the legal system.
