For immediate release: February 7, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne informs schools of Governor’s halt to already-approved grant funds for art supplies
Action threatens millions of dollars in payment to arts teachers statewide

PHOENIX – The majority of a $10 million state grant that provides schools money to buy arts supplies has been put on hold by the Governor’s office, threatening payments to teachers and vendors. The funds are used to buy items such as paints, brushes, sheet music, dance props, theatrical costumes, and pay for repairs.

With payments delayed by the Governor’s action, schools had begun asking the Department of Education about the status of these dollars. Superintendent Tom Horne has sent an email to schools explaining the hold and its impact on schools and vendors who are relying on grant payments that are now delayed.

Horne stated in his email, “Pulling this funding, if it is not immediately corrected, would create a deep scar on arts education.”

He further explained, “Of the $10 million available, $2.54 million has been approved and paid. We have pending requests that we have internally approved for another $4.7 million.  Based on experience, we expect to get meritorious requests for that full $10 million. We were about to authorize the $4.7 million when we got word that the governor’s office put a hold on the funding. The total grant of $10 million had been part of the budget that she approved in the compromise budget with the legislature.”

The grant was being disbursed in phases over several state fiscal year quarters. This hold affects money allocated for the second and third quarters, the period from October of 2023 to March of 2024. Another $2.8 million has been set aside for the fourth fiscal quarter, which is this coming April through June.

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For immediate release: February 5, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne extends deadline to schools for Holocaust instruction reporting
Failure to respond will be added to school report card

PHOENIX – On the same day that state legislators have introduced legislation - prepared at the department and submitted at Superintendent Tom Horne’s request - to strengthen the Arizona law that requires Holocaust education in public schools, Horne is announcing an extension of the deadline to February 23 for schools to report their compliance with the current law.

Horne has sent an updated email to district superintendents and charter school representatives to ensure all schools report on whether or not they are complying with current Arizona law,  A.R.S. § 15–701.02, that requires students to receive instruction in the Holocaust and other genocides at least once in middle school and once in high school. The existing law does not specify the amount of time for that curriculum and the requested changes solve that problem.

Horne said, “Since we first requested that schools attest to their compliance with the state mandate for Holocaust education for middle and high school students, we have received many responses, but not all districts and charters have replied. Arizona law is clear that this is a requirement for middle and high school students.  As Superintendent, I have the legal authority to make sure that laws pertaining to education in Arizona are being followed. Therefore, my enforcement action will be that for the online ADE School Report Card we will indicate in red letters any school’s failure to respond to the Holocaust education verification by February 23.”

Horne added that Representatives David Marshall, a Republican, and Democrat Alma Hernandez have co-sponsored legislation to bolster the current law requirements for Holocaust education. The bill will require that students in grades 7-12 will have to twice complete a three-day program on the Holocaust and other genocides.

Horne noted, “After the horrific events of October 7, there was a one-sided pro-Hamas presentation at Desert Mountain High School that produced antisemitism among students and made Jewish students uncomfortable and fearful. If Holocaust studies are presented, students will be less gullible to antisemitic presentations and this legislation will strengthen that effort. I am grateful to Representatives Hernandez and Marshall for their bipartisan work to strengthen this law.”

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For immediate release: January 30, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne: State funding for education, including ESAs, has multi-million-dollar surplus
Source of state budget crunch lies elsewhere

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has released a report for all state education funding, including the Empowerment Scholarship Account Program, that shows a projected total surplus of more than $28 million through the remainder of the 2024 state Fiscal Year that ends June 30.

Horne stated, “The myth that the ESA program is doing damage to the state’s budget is thoroughly demolished. Importantly, 59 percent of current ESA students come from public school or are Kindergartners or preschoolers with disabilities who would normally be in public school, which would be a major cost to the state. Whatever budget issues state lawmakers are facing this year, they have not been created by the ESA program or any other aspect of basic state aid for education.”

Horne added, “Critics who falsely claimed ESAs were the cause of the budget deficit erroneously counted the gross cost for each student without adjusting for the cost that would be incurred if those students were in public school. While approximately 75,000 students are in the ESA program, 1.2 million are in public schools, which means the ESA students are not a threat to those schools. ESAs give choice to parents at any income level whose child’s needs are not being met in local schools, an ability rich parents have always had.”

He continued, “Since taking office a year ago I have required that every expense request, no matter how small or large, be reviewed. Unlike my predecessor, we do not approve frivolous requests that have no educational purpose. I hired an auditor to oversee the finances and he is now the director of the entire program. In recent months we reviewed more than 250,000 orders, rejecting more than 12,000 of them. The fact there is a surplus in basic state aid, including the ESA program, demonstrate our commitment to good financial stewardship.”

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For immediate release: January 23, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne: State Board upholds ADE rejection of inappropriate ESA expense requests
Demonstrates ADE commitment to strict oversight

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is applauding this week’s unanimous action by the State Board of Education to uphold the Department of Education’s rejection of questionable Empowerment Scholarship Account expense requests.

Horne said, “In recent months much has been made of supposedly extravagant ESA expense approvals. But our policy of reviewing all requests is far different from that of my predecessor who did allow a number of inappropriate expenses to be approved and which ESA opponents continue to falsely claim as alleged abuses today. The department and State Board have again shown this week that we take these expense approvals seriously and will not tolerate attempts to go beyond what the law permits. We allow only what public schools provide at reasonable cost.”

In Monday’s Board meeting, two expense requests that had been rejected by the department were brought to the Board on appeal by the parents. Those appeals were rejected by the Board.

One request was for a $2,300 commercial freeze dryer, which serves no educational purpose, and is therefore not allowable under state law. The other rejected request was for car seats, which are also not a legitimate educational expense. State law already mandates that every child be secured in a car seat, and parents do not have the right to use ESA funds to buy something they are already required to provide.

In coming months, the department expects to defend against an appeal from a parent requesting a $500 dune buggy, an expense clearly not allowed under the law.

Horne added, “Despite the claims we hear from opponents of the ESA program, under my watch we review every expense request regardless of dollar amount. Things such as commercial freeze dryers and dune buggies that might be approved under the previous administration are being rejected now.  In recent months, ESA staff reviewed 252,000 orders and rejected 12,200 of them. This work takes extra time and effort, but it is necessary to make sure ESA taxpayer funds are spent for valid educational purposes and are in line with state law.”

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

Horne’s calls on lawmakers to support bill with School Safety Task Force Recommendations

More safety enhancements suggested

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has joined forces with Arizona Representative Matt Gress in pursuing legislation that would allow the implementation of recommendations made by the 2023 ADE School Safety Task Force.

The Task Force consisted of both Democrat and Republican lawmakers, representatives from law enforcement, health care providers and community leaders who collaborated over a period of months to provide the proposals that form the basis for the legislation, HB 2400. 

Horne said, “Making sure schools are safe for students, educators and staff is one of my highest priorities. It would be an unspeakable tragedy to have a maniac storm a campus and harm people, so it is vital to have armed officers at schools.  Under prior legislation, districts could choose either officers or mental health professionals.”

Arizona Representative Matthew Gress said, “Schools must be places where all students, teachers and staff feel safe. This bill is the product of collaboration between educators, certified mental health professionals, law enforcement, legislators, and Superintendent Tom Horne to implement meaningful, common-sense school safety enhancements. I urge my fellow lawmakers to support this vital legislation.”

As introduced, the bill would add School Safety Officers and School Psychologists to the grant program, allow for retired officers to be eligible for the grant program, and permit schools to apply for the purchase of safety technology, safety training, and infrastructure improvements.

School Safety Officers are law enforcement professionals who are assigned to schools on an as-needed basis to provide full-time coverage at a school. School Resource Officers are assigned full-time to one campus.

In addition, the bill requires that schools must demonstrate they are unable fill a School Resource Officer position before they can receive funds for a School Safety Officer and submit a detailed plan to ADE to approve.

A school must submit a plan to ADE on how officers will be trained on FERPA, civil rights, and adolescent mental health issues.

The proposal also exempts school blueprints and floor plans from public records requests and adds a requirement for a school mental health professional guidance manual like the manual for School Resource Officers. The manual must be consistent with the Parents’ Bill of Rights.

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Click here to view HB 2400.

For immediate release: January 12, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Supt. Horne statement on today’s English Language Learner hearing

Court does not issue a timeline for decision

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has issued his reaction to today’s Maricopa County Superior Court hearing on English Language Learner instruction.

Today’s Declaraty Judgement Action was brought by the defendants in a motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Horne to require public schools to follow the voter-approved Arizona constitutional amendment that requires that “…all children in Arizona public schools shall be taught English by being taught in English, and all children shall be placed in English language classrooms.” Schools that do not follow this model are in violation of the law.

The defendants in this case include Governor Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes and ten Arizona school districts.

Horne stated, “My attorney, Dennis Wilienchik, did an excellent job in court. He demonstrated that the language of Proposition 203, the English immersion law that was overwhelmingly passed by voters, is clear. The actions of the Governor, Attorney General and ten school districts that are party to this lawsuit are in violation of that law by pursuing dual language programs, which Arizona voters overwhelmingly rejected. The lawsuit I have filed only seeks to have a declaration from the court of what the law states. There is no attempt to pursue any other legal remedy from anyone.

Conversely, if the Governor, Attorney General and the school districts persuade the judge in this matter to find in their favor, based on the technicalities that they asserted, the legal consequences for school district board members and superintendents are draconian.

The language of Proposition 203 allows for parents of public-school students in any Arizona district to sue any district – including other districts - in violation of this statute. If such a lawsuit is successful, the school board members and superintendent of a district found to be in violation of the law are removed from their positions and cannot run for any public office in education for five years. There are parents prepared to file such a suit, but I have asked them to wait for the decision of this court so that such a draconian penalty could be avoided.

What I cannot understand it why ten districts joined the Governor and Attorney General in urging a judge to dismiss this lawsuit on highly technical grounds. If that happens, board members and superintendents at districts violating Proposition 203 will be subject to those draconian consequences. By their position against my attempt to get clarification of the law, without any further consequences, they are seriously hurting themselves.”

The court did not suggest a timeframe for a decision.

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

Horne requiring districts and charters to report on state-mandated Holocaust education

Sets late January deadline

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is asking that all Arizona district and charter schools report their compliance with state law that requires students to be taught about the Holocaust and other genocides. Horne set a deadline of January 24 for the information to be sent to the Department of Education.

Horne said, “During the past three months we have learned all-too-well how many people are ignorant about the realities of the Holocaust and other genocides of history. We have heard about pro-Hamas and anti-American propaganda being spread in a high school student club, students being intimidated because of their ethnicity, and we have seen pro-Hamas protests on college campuses.”

He added, “Expressions of hatred like this are unacceptable in an educational setting and a powerful way to combat this scourge is with learning. Students would not be vulnerable to antisemitic propaganda if they had received proper Holocaust instruction. I’m grateful state law exists to require instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides, and it is important to ensure that districts and charter schools are in compliance.

Here is the text of the email:

Please report us by close of business on January 24th, 2024, what you are doing to implement ARS section 15–701.02 regarding instruction on the Holocaust and other genocides. Please indicate how much time is devoted to the subject and what you use for curriculum.

The Arizona Department of Education provides resources, training, and support for educators in meeting House Bill 2241 requiring students to receive instruction in the Holocaust and other genocides at least once in middle school and once in high school through our Arizona Holocaust and Genocide Education Resource webpage - /standards-practices/holocaust-and-genocide.

This assistance is optional, but compliance with state statute is obligatory.

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Note: Holocaust photo credit: Eisenhowerlibrary.gov

For immediate release: January 2, 2024
Contact: [email protected]
 

Superintendent Horne’s response to Governor’s ESA proposal

PHOENIX - State schools chief Tom Horne has issued the following statement in response to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ proposal for potential changes to the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program:

“My job is to administer the ESA program in line with state law, and if changes are made the Department of Education will follow them.

However, one proposal stands out because it’s already in place: The governor recommends a manual review of ESA purchases over $500. My office already reviews all expense requests regardless of amount, unlike the previous superintendent who approved many frivolous requests. In 2023, we rejected several thousand ESA applications for lack of adequate documentation and suspended almost 2,200 accounts totaling $21 million because the student was enrolled in a public school. We’ve also rejected more than 12,000 ESA purchase order requests.”

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For immediate release: December 21, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
 

Horne refutes inaccurate claims about ESA spending and upcoming report

Governors office and ADE in discussion for weeks

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne issued the following response to a news release from the Governor’s office making inaccurate claims about the Empowerment Scholarship Program and a report due her office:

Horne stated, “The Department of Education has been in contact with the Governor’s office for nearly three weeks regarding this issue. They are fully aware that we are preparing the report she has requested. Nothing is being withheld.

The report is in addition to the ESA quarterly report submitted to the State Board of Education and contains much of the same information. It is also a new report that was authorized in legislation earlier this year.

The frivolous ESA spending approvals occurred under the administration of the Governor’s friend, Kathy Hoffman. By contrast in the first quarter of Fiscal 2024 alone, this department reviewed more than 15,000 ESA applications, rejecting thousands that were incomplete. We also suspended 2,200 accounts because the child was enrolled in public school, saving $21 million. Also, the latest figures show that current overall public education spending has a surplus of no less than $57 million, proving the ESA program has not impacted the state budget.

Finally, and most importantly, Merry Christmas!”

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For immediate release: December 20, 2023
Contact: [email protected]
 

2023 in review: Horne promotes school safety and tackles legal issues facing students and parents

Leveraging prior experience as Attorney General

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne, who also served as Attorney General from 2011 to 2015, used his considerable legal experience to protect the interests of Arizona students, parents and educators in 2023.

Horne said, “When I announced I was running to be superintendent, many friends told me I was going backwards since I had once been Attorney General. But I told them the state’s biggest problems are in education. This has manifested itself several times in 2023 as I have had to go to court to protect girls’ sports and the English language law. I’ve also made it a priority to make schools safe from attack and hired a highly experienced school safety director to spearhead that effort.”

In early 2023, Horne began implementation of the nearly $100 million school safety grant program that places armed police officers on school campuses. He urged schools to prioritize this, noting that any delay in implementing this goal would leave schools more vulnerable to a tragic catastrophe. The number of law enforcement officers in schools has nearly doubled.

Later in the year, Horne unveiled a new program that will make it possible for every available campus law enforcement officer position to be filled, despite ongoing shortages of officers in many communities. As a result, more positions in the already-funded School Safety Program will be filled with armed law enforcement officers with no new funding required.

Additionally, Horne recommended, and the State Board of Education approved, just over $45 million to pay for 566 counselors and social workers.

The safety of girls’ sports has also been a priority of Superintendent Horne in 2023.

In April, he warned that a proposed Biden administration change to Title IX, the federal law that creates a level playing field for women’s sports, would decimate the law.

A short time later, Horne was named a defendant as a lawsuit was filed challenging the state law that prohibits biological boys from playing on girls’ teams. Horne is the only remaining defendant in the case since the other named parties declined to defend the law.

The filing explains that the disruption and the unfairness caused to others by Plaintiffs insisting on unfairly competing against biological girls is undeniable. This would be devastating to girls who hope to excel but cannot because they are competing against biological boys and being deprived of scholarships.

This court action is ongoing.

Protecting the will of Arizona voters became the argument of another court matter as Horne responded to Attorney General Kris Mayes’ threat against the voter-protected English language law.

Horne argues that the initiative specifically states that ‘all children in Arizona public schools shall be taught English by being taught in English, and all children should be placed in English language classrooms.’ The voter-protected initiative is not subject to being overruled by anyone. Horne subsequently sued the Governor and Attorney General in a case that is proceeding through the courts.

In autumn, the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel became an issue in Arizona as student clubs at a Phoenix-area high school distributed antisemitic materials. Horne stands squarely with Israel and has urged district superintendents to remove organizations that foment hatred from campuses.

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