For immediate release: July 31, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne answers inquiries about schools and COVID

Notes health agencies now treat COVID as common respiratory virus

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 stated, “I have been asked about how schools should address a recent surge in COVID cases in Arizona. My unequivocal answer, based on guidance from national and state public health agencies, is that schools absolutely need to operate normally because the threat of COVID, especially among school-age children is extremely minimal. By contrast, extended closures of schools during the pandemic had a debilitating and long-lasting effect on learning. We see that in lower test scores nationally and the cost to the education of millions of children is incalculable.”

The Centers for Disease Control guidance on respiratory viruses now describes COVID as a “common respiratory viral illness such as RSV or the flu.” Former Arizona Department of Health Services Director Will Humble was quoted in a recent news item as saying COVID is “working its way into becoming a common cold.” The current state Department of Health Services website states that both that agency and the CDC “recognize that students benefit mentally, emotionally, and physically from in-person instruction.”

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For immediate release: July 22, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

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

Controversial changes face multiple legal hurdles

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.

The new regulations are set to take effect on August 1 and face multiple legal challenges.

In a letter sent to district and charter school administrators, Horne said, “This is your choice, but you may wish to delay implementing the new regulations until the legal situation is clarified. If the regulations are implemented and then later overruled by the courts, students may suffer damages in the meantime.”

Horne added, “In the past I’ve been asked by districts, as a policy matter, about their consideration of rules, permitting biological boys who have male genitalia being allowed in girls’ bathrooms, locker rooms, and showers. My response was that there should be unisex bathrooms available, and if there was no room for them, the faculty bathroom should be used for that purpose. That would preserve the dignity of biological boys who identify as girls. But if they were allowed in girls’ facilities, I thought parents might well remove the girls from the school and send them to another district, Charter School, or private school. So, this rule could significantly injure public education.”

He notes that a Louisiana federal court ruling outlines the potential consequences to students if these news regulations are applied: “In Louisiana v. USDOE, the federal court described the impact of the August 1 rule as follows: ‘…requires students to be allowed access to bathrooms and locker rooms based on the gender identity [chosen, not at birth] requires schools to use whatever pronouns the student requests; and imposes additional requirements that will result in substantial costs to the school.’”

Horne concluded, “This is not legal advice. The Arizona Attorney General may disagree… We are a local control state, and it will be up to districts and charters to determine how to proceed in this situation. You need to consult with your lawyer. I am only providing information I think might be useful.”

For example, in an amicus brief to a Texas court considering whether to make its injunction against the new regulation nationwide, it was pointed out that "the Governing Board of the Dysart District in Arizona adopted a resolution on July 11, 2024, affirming its commitment to the pre-Final rule interpretation of Title IX, formally affirming that the Final Rule is contrary to the statutory text."

The full letter and appendix are attached.

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For immediate release: June 18, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne effort to reduce red tape for teachers succeeds with lawmakers

Budget moves completes reform initiated by Horne in 2023

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 said, “One of my 16 initiatives to raise academic results is to reduce paperwork for teachers. Last year, I had the department reduce the administrative burden of the KEA assessment by more than 80 percent. If I had the legal authority to eliminate it, I would have. Over time, the KEA had ballooned into an endless morass of paperwork that meant teachers had to spend too much time on bureaucratic requirements versus time with students. Now the legislature has taken the welcome step of entirely removing the legal requirement for the KEA, which frees up more time for teachers to spend on classroom instruction.”

There is positive reaction from educators in the field.

Dysart Unified School District Superintendent John Croteau said, “Superintendent Horne reviewed our feedback on the KEA in our Kindergarten classes. The KEA duplicated many of our current practices and took away valuable instructional time. This decision prioritizes student interests by focusing on maximizing valuable classroom time to enhance student learning opportunities.”

Challenger Charter School CEO Wendy Miller said, “Superintendent Horne and his department sought feedback directly from kindergarten teachers and families about the time, student privacy, and resources lost to KEA and we appreciate the swift and effective action taken to eliminate this program in the best interests of Arizona kids!”  

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For immediate release: May 29, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne responds to Save Our Schools criticism

Says parents should be able to choose the schools that best meet their children’s academic needs

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 said, “Statewide approximately 75,000 students are in the ESA program compared to 1,250,000 in public schools. ESAs are not a threat to public schools, but the competition they provide causes public schools to perform better as opposed to being a government monopoly which SOS prefers.”

He added, “Here is an example of why SOS is absolutely wrong on this issue: We have families that have three children. The needs of two of the children are met at the neighborhood school, but the needs of one of the children are not being met. The parents now have the ability to choose another school that meets that students’ academic needs. No one could rationally be against that unless they are so immersed in ideology like SOS is and it has made them coldhearted with respect to students’ academic needs.”

He continued, “SOS pointed to Phoenix Union losing funds because of ESA’s. Any time they lose students, they also lose the cost of educating the student, so they’re resulting funding per student in their district remains constant. In the case of ESA students, only 40 students left Phoenix Union schools for that reason during the last school year. The 1,137 cited in the department’s Quarterly Report are children who live within Phoenix Union boundaries but have either never attended a Phoenix Union school or had not in recent years. If there are students in private or charter schools who would otherwise be attending Phoenix Union, it is because the parents concluded that Phoenix Union was not meeting the child’s academic needs. This is even more so in the case of Phoenix Union for not providing the safety that the parents want for their children.”

Horne concluded “Historically, some Phoenix Union board members have been so immersed in ideology, that they neglected the academic and safety needs of students and of staff. A few years ago, when unruly students invaded in Phoenix union in School, board meeting demanding that the school eliminate School Resource Officers (police officers there to protect the safety of students and staff) the school board surrendered and eliminated those officers. That was irresponsible and undoubtedly affected some parents’ choices. However, the trend has been positive in that Phoenix Union now does have SROs.”

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For immediate release: May 22, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne points to academic gains from Achievement Tutoring Program

State effort directs $40 million for tutoring in math and reading

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.

Horne initiated the program late in 2023 using federal dollars earmarked to address learning loss due to the COVID pandemic. So far this year, student registrations total 17,324 over three six-week sessions.

Horne said, “So far, more than 20 percent of those students tested have seen academic gains representing half a school year of learning within six weeks of tutoring. This helps these students to be better prepared for success at the next grade level. Other students have seen smaller gains, and some have exceeded a half-year’s progress, but every increase in the proficiency rate is important.”

He added, “I urge parents of public-school children to take advantage of this opportunity. It is available at participating schools or through private tutoring services at no cost to the parents. A child who is struggling in reading or math deserves this chance to be more successful in the classroom and children already doing well can do even better.”

Among the responses the department has received are a parent who reported her first-grade son received tutoring at his elementary school and is “now the fastest reader in his class… This program is revolutionary…very, very powerful and successful! Keep it up!”

A tutor said her student faced “just the right amount of challenge. He is so cute, he said 'There is no stopping me' - and his mom said she can really see his confidence growing!”

A parent commented “I just want to take a moment to thank you all for this amazing program! Our oldest child was at risk of failing this year math and thanks to the tutoring program is now scoring at 82% (was at 23%)! The impact has been tremendously positive!”

For more information about the Achievement Tutoring Program: azed.gov/achievement-tutoring

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For immediate release: May 16, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne cites antisemitism in call for two districts to remove Amnesty International from campus

Pro-Hamas materials at issue

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has sent letters to the Superintendents of both the Cave Creek and Chandler Unified Districts alerting them to the potential distribution of antisemitic materials on campuses where Amnesty International has a presence.

Horne said, “Amnesty International was once a well-regarded organization but is now in the thrall of antisemitic interests. Its presence on high school campuses poses a serious concern to Jewish students because of the organization’s blatantly antisemitic reaction to the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. This is why I am alerting these district superintendents to get Amnesty International off their campuses. No one would hesitate to remove an anti-black Ku Klux Klan club from a high school campus and the same standard should be applied here.”

In his letter, Horne details that pro-Hamas materials that were distributed to a student club at Scottsdale’s Desert Mountain High School last Fall stated that “Palestinians have been subject to killings, torture, rape, abuse, and more for over 75 years.’ This is a ‘blood libel’ similar to the blood libels used in the Middle Ages to get people to go out and kill random Jewish people.”

He adds, “In none of this propaganda is there any reference to what happened on October 7. The fact that 1,400 civilians were murdered does not begin to describe to horror of what Hamas did. They went house to house in the neighborhoods, machine gunning entire families, and sometimes killing fathers in front of their children and children in front of their fathers. They copied the Nazi technique of setting fire to houses so that people would burn to death, or if they came out of the fire house, killed them upon their exit. The actions of Hamas are a repetition of what happened during World War II. Yet the materials make no mention of October 7.”

The schools in question are Cactus Shadows High School in Cave Creek and Hamilton High School in Chandler.

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For immediate release: May 9, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne praises Arizona students named Presidential Scholars

Three high school students honored

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne is applauding the work of three Arizona high school students who were today named as 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars. This program recognizes high school seniors for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

The scholars are, Sruti Peddi of Fountain Hills, who attends BASIS Charter in Scottsdale, Matteo N. Huish, a student at BASIS Charter in Mesa, and Scottsdale Chaparral High School student Vivian M. Saavedra.

Horne said, “These three students represent the best of what Arizona’s public schools offer. They have committed themselves to the pursuit of academic excellence, and their hard work has paid off by attaining the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholarship.”

He added, “This is Teacher Appreciation Week, and the accomplishments of these students remind us of the value of great teachers. Every educator who had a role in influencing these scholars deserves a great deal of praise.”

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964. It has honored more than 8,000 top-performing students in the U.S. The program was expanded in 1979 to recognize students’ performance in the visual, literary and performing arts. In 2015, the program extended recognition to students in career and technical education fields.

For more information: www.ed.gov/psp.

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For immediate release: May 8, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne sets up task force to take on Fentanyl crisis

Lays groundwork for getting Narcan into schools

PHOENIX – Citing the growing incidents of Fentanyl deaths and overdoses among Arizona school-aged children, schools chief Tom Horne has announced an initiative to supply schools with the anti-overdose drug Narcan and the creation of a statewide task force to address this growing crisis. He has also endorsed an effort to get free anti-drug awareness materials into all Arizona schools.  

Among all age groups, Arizona recorded more than 1800 opioid-related deaths and more than 4000 overdoses in 2023.

The School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce, (STOPIT), is being formed and will include representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders. Among the first organizations to lend their support are Terros Health and the Mayo Clinic.

Horne also supports the work of the Sold Out Youth Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides interactive online materials warning of the dangers of illegal drugs, proven Accredited Fentanyl Education Curriculum and online platform and promoting health and wellness and fitness education.  These materials are provided at no cost to schools.

Horne said, “Sadly, overdoses are a reality for school-aged children throughout Arizona. Fentanyl can kill students within minutes of an overdose.  It is vitally important that all schools have Narcan available to help save student lives if it should happen on campus. With the establishment of the STOPIT task force, we will work to get Narcan into schools and assist with training for its use. I am also endorsing the work of The Sold Out Youth Foundation, which has excellent resources to address this ongoing crisis.”

Dr. Holly Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale said, “There has never been a greater need to prepare the next generation with the knowledge and tools necessary to combat the opioid epidemic. With more than 50 percent of U.S. fentanyl being trafficked directly through our state, we are ground zero.  It’s time to bring solutions as big as the problem to the table. This taskforce has assembled a wide array of proven thought leaders whose collective expertise can and will change the landscape of our state’s opioid overdose trends.”

Dr. Karen Hoffman Tepper, president and CEO of Terros Health said, "Terros Health is honored to join the STOPIT task force.  Too many young people are being impacted by the harmful effects of fentanyl. Our team has been on the front lines, educating thousands of Arizonians on when and how to use Narcan and we have seen it save lives. We look forward to working collaboratively to make this life-saving tool available in every school and community."

Sold Out President Roman Gabriel III said, “Sold Out is committed to partnering with K-12 public schools attacking our countries current youth drug, alcohol, and mental health crisis. The SOYF Program is saving lives by equipping school staff, parents and students with a comprehensive program that includes a PLA Accredited Fentanyl Education Platform. The emphasis is on education and awareness for parents and students to understand the grave dangers that this deadly poison poses, and in turn saving lives.” 

Horne concluded, “The American Medical Association reports that overdose deaths nationally among adolescents has doubled since 2019. Fentanyl is responsible for more than three-quarters of those deaths and Arizona is not immune from this scourge. The rise of illicit fentanyl and its trafficking via social media is having a disproportionate impact on our children. This is a tragedy beyond words, it shows no sign of abating and schools are a vital resource to educate children on these dangers.”

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For immediate release: April 29, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne cites ASU, UArizona response to protests as template for K-12 schools

Urges K-12 schools to be vigilant

PHOENIX – State schools superintendent Tom Horne is praising University of Arizona president Robert Robbins and Arizona State University president Michael Crow for their handling of student protests and says K-12 schools that may be confronted with similar unrest should follow those universities’ model.

Horne stated, “Robert Robbins and Michael Crow deserve exceptional praise for standing up to antisemitism on their campuses. This stands in stark contrast to how many colleges, universities and ideological faculty members have kowtowed to disruptive pro-Hamas demonstrations. It is also an excellent template for K-12 schools in Arizona to follow should any attempt be made by students to copy the type of protests that have shut down portions of college campuses and caused Jewish students to feel unsafe.”

He added, “We already saw some examples of antisemitic behavior at some high school club events shortly after the October 7 attack on Israel where students and faculty piled on to attack the victims of October 7. Therefore, I urge schools to ensure students are using valuable classroom time for academic instruction and not for protests that can promote a climate of fear or intimidation.”

Horne notes Jewish students at Columbia University report having rocks thrown at them, and a Jewish student at Yale was stabbed in the eye with a pole holding a Palestinian flag.

Horne stated, “Our DNA is no different from the DNA of Germans in the 1930s, and Nazis started with young thugs attacking people on the street. We need to be vigilant.”

He concluded, “President Robbins wrote an eloquent letter in which he encourages students ‘to embrace your First Amendment rights and make your voices heard, but please do so peacefully, safely, and civilly.’ His words were bizarrely described as ‘inflammatory’ by leaders of the planned protest. Notwithstanding that kind of response, a protest this past weekend was peaceful. ASU experienced more disturbing behavior that required multiple arrests, but President Crow’s decisive action made sure that calm was restored. Their courage and conviction in the face of potentially disruptive protestors should be applauded and emulated.”

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For immediate release: April 22, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne to US Ed Secretary: Quit threatening to shut down Grand Canyon University

Calls comments before Congress unjust and unwarranted

PHOENIX - Arizona schools chief Tom Horne has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Michael Cardona urging him to abandon his threat to shut down Grand Canyon University and instead meet with school leadership to iron out their differences.

Horne describes Cardona's recent threat made before the U.S. House Appropriations committee as unworthy of his position as a Cabinet secretary who is sworn to uphold the Constitution.

Horne wrote, "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."

In his testimony to Congress, Cardona repeated accusations leveled against GCU by the U.S. Department of Education as justification for shutting down the school. In his letter, Horne reminds the Secretary that the federal government has so far failed to provide GCU with evidence to support the allegations and Cardona's refusal to meet with GCU leadership is unreasonable.

Horne reiterates his support for the school, noting that GCU is "a major ally to my effort to raise academics in Arizona schools, and any harm you do to them would do harm to my goal of academic excellence. We also have a severe teacher shortage in Arizona, and the elimination of GCU would be a severe blow."

A copy of the letter is attached.

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