For embargoed release: Jan 21, 2025
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Newsrooms: EMBARGOED UNTIL 2 p.m., Jan. 21, 2025

Horne State of Education speech calls for expanded school safety program after near tragedy in Tucson

Highlights academic successes, teacher pay and use of AI for tutoring

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction opened his 2025 State of Education speech praising the actions of a Tucson Police Officer who arrested an armed suspect making threats on a school campus last week. Horne said the incident proves the importance of having armed law enforcement officers on school grounds and he urges lawmakers to expand the program.

Horne stated, “This brave police officer prevented the nightmare I have often talked about. 20 students and additional adults would have lost their lives, and the student’s parents would have had their lives ruined by uncontrollable grief. I know about this because I have lost a child. Those who have been opposing police in the schools need to rethink this issue. Think of the unimaginable tragedy that would have occurred if that School Resource Officer had not been there, or if he had been hired a little later.”

Horne talked of the need to keep biological boys out of girls’ sports and to ensure classroom time is devoted to academics and eliminating distractions such as Critical Race Theory. 

He commented, “I have required the districts and charter schools to answer questions about these kinds of philosophical issues and published their answers on the school report cards. Parents will be informed if the schools are serious about teaching academics or promoting woke ideology. This is important now that parents have choices.”

He added, “Biological males have no business in girls’ sports, showers, or locker rooms. I am fighting this battle in court as we speak and pledge to never stop fighting for the right of girls under title IX to compete, excel, and take their rightful place on the winner’s podium.”

The bulk of Horne’s remarks address specific initiatives that concentrate on classroom instruction and supporting educators.

Horne called for legislative funding for higher teacher salaries and the renewal of Prop 123, a voter-approved measure that adds school funding from the increased payout of the State Land Trust. He noted that higher salaries and passage of legislation to bolster administrative support for teachers will help recruit and retain teachers, which he noted is at a crisis point where more teachers are leaving the profession than are coming in.

Using AI as a tool is a top priority for Horne. On this he told legislators the Khanmigo program is, “the best program we have found for education application of artificial intelligence… It does not substitute for teachers; it helps them... Studies show the most effective means of teaching is one on one tutoring. We cannot afford to hire a million tutors for our million students, but Khanmigo gives every student a tutor. This is the future, and we are making the tools available today.”

Horne is seeking a requirement that high school students not be allowed to graduate unless they pass a graduation test with a reasonable cut off level with multiple chances to pass, or alternatively be certified for a trade in a career technical education program.

He spoke about each one of his 15 initiatives to improve academics in the schools. 

In the elementary grades, he pointed to the success of Move on When Reading, where Horne initiated the effort to close a loophole that formerly allowed Third Grade students who were not proficient in reading to be promoted to the Fourth Grade anyway. 

In the same vein, he also touted the formation of the Arizona Education Economic Commission (AEEC), a huge expansion of Career and Technical Education, with the goal of helping students who do not chose college obtain a skill that will enable the student to get a well-paying job out of high school.

Department efforts in the success of school intervention teams, data-driven instruction, creating the Arizona Digital Education Library, reducing red tape, Character Education, leadership training in all Arizona counties, and the defense of the voter-approved law that requires English to be the language of instruction were also highlighted by Horne. 

The full speech, 15 initiatives and a slide deck are attached.

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Work of School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce, (STOPIT)

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is praising the efforts of the School Training Overdose and Intelligence Taskforce (STOP-IT) for its success addressing the epidemic of drug use among school-age children.

Horne said, “Today, more than 4,000 lifesaving Narcan kits are in Arizona schools because of the efforts of the STOP-IT taskforce, with more on the way. The results have been excellent and represent my ongoing commitment to the health and safety of school-aged children. They are to be congratulated for doing a tremendous amount of work in a short time and getting tangible results that will help protect children. We are grateful to the 20 medical societies, government agencies and state programs that have signed a letter of support promoting the integration of STOP-IT resources into our schools.”

To date, just under 4,400 kits have been distributed to 144 education agencies in Arizona through the Narcan request process, with 210 kits in the process of packaging for distribution to education agencies. An additional 2,000 kits have been allocated to school staff who attend trainings hosted by the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Unit or regional school safety consortia and to schools for subsequent distribution at community events.

STOP-IT co-chair, Dr. Holly Geyer, MD, FASAM Hospital Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine Specialist at the Mayor Clinic said, “Thanks to the incredible collaboration between STOP-IT members, this initiative has been able to complete the nation’s first comprehensive survey evaluating opioid overdose prevention/management practices completed in a state school system; secure a long-term, replenishable supply chain for naloxone in schools; hand-deliver thousands of naloxone doses across the state; create a resource-rich, evidence-based toolkit to help schools achieve regulatory compliance; build out best-practice mock overdose policies for schools to adapt; and create workflows for statewide reporting of opioid-overdoses on school campuses.”

She added, “We are also in the process of constructing the first state-of-the-art, metric-based education delivery platform to ensure standardized student training on the topic of opioids, addiction and overdose prevention.  STOP-IT successes have been recognized at a national level and organizations such as the National School Board Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and other have partnered to broaden public messaging. With minimal to no dedicated tax-payer funding, STOP-IT has proven itself to be an efficient, reproducible model for the many other states in need of overdose prevention planning in schools.”

The group established best practices for Narcan accessibility and use of the kits, created training curricula regarding fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention, developed reporting mechanisms to record overdose events and surveyed schools to get reliable data on the scope of the problem.

Among the most serious problems is the rise in fentanyl. More than 59 percent of all fentanyl trafficked into the U.S. comes through Arizona. Fentanyl in small doses can kill the average adult and the drug has been found to contaminate virtually all other drugs that are commonly abused.

Horne added, “Within the past three years, overdoses rose to the third leading cause of death in youth under age 18.  National studies have identified Maricopa County as having the second highest overdose death rate among youth in the country.  And according to the Department of Health Services, our state has recorded more than 1300 non-fatal overdoses and 224 deaths in our kids since 2017.  Those figures represent tragic situations for children and their families. As a state, we must do as much as possible to combat this scourge, which is why I am so proud of the meaningful progress made by the STOP-IT taskforce.”

More than 60 people representing a broad cross-section of representatives from schools, health care, behavioral health, law enforcement and multiple state agencies were essential to the success of STOP-IT. They include the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona School Resource Officers Association, Arizona Counter Drug Task Force, Arizona School Administrators Association, Arizona Association of School Business Officials, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona Society of Addiction Medicine, Inc., Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, Arizona School Counselors Association, Arizona Chapter of the American College of Physicians, Arizona Association of School Psychologists, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, Arizona Interscholastic Association, Arizona Nurses Association, Arizona Medical Association, Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Arizona Chapter of the National Safety Council, National Association of School Nurses, School Nurses Association of Arizona and the Substance Awareness Coalition Leaders of Arizona.

Remarks made at State of the State

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne issued the following reaction to Governor Hobbs’ criticism of the state Empowerment Scholarship Program during her State of the State remarks.

Horne said, “Under my leadership, the department has done a full-court press against waste and fraud. I hired both a program auditor and an investigator, which had not been done before. I require that every expenditure be for a valid educational purpose and have been attacked for doing that.

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The Governor needs to pay more attention to what is going on. She gets an ‘F’.”

Proposed changes threatened safety of girls

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says today’s ruling by a federal judge striking down proposed Biden administration changes to Title IX is sensible and protects the dignity of girls and women competing in interscholastic sports. It is also a victory for common sense and free speech.

Last summer, Horne issued a letter to schools urging them to get legal advice before implementing the proposed new regulations. He cited a Louisiana federal court ruling that outlined how the proposal “…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.” Today’s ruling striking down the changes noted that the proposed requirement regarding use of pronouns violates free speech.

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 have significantly injured public education and today’s judicial decision is a victory for common sense and free speech.”

 Statement responds to Hobbs’ letter

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne issued the following statement in response to Governor Hobbs’ letter critical of the risk-based auditing approach for Empowerment Scholarship Program reimbursements:

“The method we are instituting, known as risk-based auditing, is specifically provided for in the budget statute that the Governor signed last session. Maybe she should start reading what she signs.

Equally startling, is that she herself created the problem we are trying to solve by signing a bill to permit private school tuition to be paid under the reimbursement method, rather than going through our vendor, Class Wallet, which was previously required. This played a major role in increasing the delays and reimbursements from 30 days a year ago to over 100 days now.

The Governor played a major role in creating a problem that we now must solve by using a method provided for in a Bill that she signed.

Part of the problem appears to be that staff in the Governor’s office are slow learners.”

Arizona law (A.R.S. 15-2403 (B)), that was signed in the most recent legislative session, states: The department shall conduct or contract for annual audits of Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts to ensure compliance with section 15-2402, subsection B, paragraph 4. The department shall also conduct or contract for random, quarterly and annual audits of Arizona empowerment scholarship accounts as needed to ensure compliance with section 15-2402, subsection B, paragraph 4. The department, in consultation with the office of the auditor general, shall develop risk-based auditing procedures for audits conducted pursuant to this subsection.

The ESA program is among the most accountable program in the State. It’s responsible for demonstrating accountability through reporting that is required by statute, rules, and ad hoc requests from seven government agencies and bodies, including: Governor’s Office; Legislative Leadership; Joint Legislative Budget Committee; Attorney General’s Office (multiple units); Auditor General’s Office (multiple divisions); State Board of Education and the State Ombudsman.

Frees up accumulation of earlier funding

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne is announcing the release of nearly $48 million in accumulated school safety funding that will now be used to fund schools that request armed campus officers, counselors, and social workers. In compliance with state law, all requests for law enforcement officers are granted with remaining monies used for counselor and social workers.

The additional monies come from a buildup of dollars that the Department of Education had granted to schools but were not fully utilized resulting in a carryover from year to year. The State Board of Education, which includes Superintendent Horne, voted today to release those carryover funds so schools can apply for them.

Horne said, “It is unfortunate that in some cases, previously granted dollars were not utilized because of the ongoing shortage of law enforcement officers in many communities. In most cases where there has not been a single full time law enforcement officer available, the position was filled by multiple officers rotating overtime on their day off to ensure coverage for the full school week. Of course, we cannot afford to allow this vital funding to go unused, which means schools should contact the Department immediately to participate in this program.”

He added, “Making sure schools have armed officers on campus to protect students, educators and staff is one of my highest priorities. The sad reality is that we must ensure that if an armed maniac attacks a campus, there is a trained law enforcement officer on site to respond.”

Approximately $39.4 million of the funding will pay for 198 School Resource Officers or School Safety Officers and $8.5 million will pay for 66 new counselor or social worker positions.

Resource Officers are assigned to a campus on a full-time basis. Safety Officers utilize multiple personnel to ensure full-time coverage of a campus.

Schools throughout the state are eligible to apply.

47 schools to benefit

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne has announced that Arizona has received a $34.8 million federal grant to establish high-quality charter schools to serve educationally disadvantaged students throughout the state.

Horne said, “I am extremely pleased that we have received this federal grant that will create 24 new high-quality charter schools and help another 23 existing schools with models and practices that result in academic growth. I want to commend the department staff who competed for this funding. Their work has resulted in the state receiving the largest recipient of this grant, per capita, in the country.”

He added, “Arizona is the leader in the country on school choice and charters are a major component of that. These dollars will serve a vital purpose in making sure that an estimated 10,000 students in traditionally underserved areas will have a chance to select a high-quality charter school. Every student in every part of our state, urban or rural, rich or poor, deserves this opportunity and I am very pleased to be a part of this effort.”

The department is already working on the project, which aims to increase the number of high-quality charter schools focusing on educationally disadvantaged students. Such students are identified as those who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, English Language Learners and other demographic groups.

The grant also seeks to close achievement gaps in academic scores, provide technical assistance to educators to improve teaching and learning and encourage dual or concurrent enrollment in college level courses. The expectation is that students will experience at least one year of academic growth on state tests for math, reading and language arts with a long-term measurement of cumulative three-year growth.

Funding continues through September 2029.

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has issued the following statement regarding today’s announced indictments of two people accused of fraudulent actions against the Empowerment Scholarship Account program.

Horne stated, “The Department of Education submitted this matter to the Attorney General‘s office and submitted all the other matters currently under criminal investigation, except one, which was discovered by a credit union.

As a former Arizona Attorney General, I am determined as Superintendent to eliminate any fraud within the ESA program. Upon taking office, I hired an auditor who had been in the Auditor General’s office for 15 years, and who is now in charge of the ESA program as well as an investigator. Those two positions had not existed under my predecessor.

I am pleased that prosecutions are following in the cases we sent to The Attorney General’s office.”

Funding is tied to federal law, not existence of bloated bureaucracy

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says the potential closure of the U.S. Department of Education (USDoE) would not mean a loss of federal education money for Arizona because that funding is attached to education laws, not the existence of an inefficient federal agency.

Horne stated, “Shutting down the U.S. Department of Education would not result in a loss of federal formula funding for Arizona. Those dollars are appropriated by Congress and tied to federal education laws for special education, disadvantaged students, English language learners and others. The money for competitive grants could also be directed back to states. There is no reason to filter funds through a federal bureaucracy.”

He added, “I have seen comments saying that the federal department is needed because national test scores in reading, writing and math have gone down over the past 40 years. That just proves the USDoE is useless since those declines happened under its watch. The money used to operate this bureaucracy should go to local schools instead.”

He continued, “Even worse are some of the absurd things the U.S. department has required over the years. During my first term as Superintendent, the federal department tried to require four questions to be asked of English language learners including the first language spoken in the home. A Navajo student who spoke only English answered that his grandmother spoke Navajo, and the federal department nonsensically made him take an English language test that he did not pass for academic reasons. He was erroneously classified as an English language learner and somehow ended up in a Spanish language class. The Navajo Nation complained to me, and I immediately changed the process to determining the dominant language of the student. The federal government made an outrageous and stupid decision that demonstrates how out-of-touch Washington bureaucrats are. I opposed it and dared the USDoE to sue the state. They never did. The same thing happened when I insisted that teachers who did not speak English properly should teach a subject other than the English language. Again, the federal government complained, I dared them to sue and the never did. Unfortunately, my successor later compromised with them on both issues.”

Horne added, “Some of my Associate Superintendents must deal with the obsolete USDoE grants management system, where only one person per state can have an account to upload the information. It is antiquated and when something uploads incorrectly, the problem is almost impossible to fix. There are required data reports that are duplicative and inefficient. There is required out-of-state travel for training that is not tied to any measurable academic outcomes, among other examples.”

Horne concluded, “USDoE is hopelessly ineffective. According to a federal Office of Management and Budget report, more than half of the nearly 4,300 USDoE employees don’t bother to come into the office to work. This, despite the fact they are supposed to serve educators, all of whom leave home to teach in classrooms. This is a waste of taxpayer dollars, shows a poor work ethic and sets a bad example to teachers and students who gather in person to learn. Educators should have a passion for academic excellence, but that is not evident at USDoE.”

Result of efforts of STOP-IT Task Force, partnership with state agencies

PHOENIX – Flanked by representatives from multiple state agencies and members of department’s task force who worked to procure lifesaving Narcan for Arizona schools, state Superintendent Tom Horne today announced more than 16,000 Narcan kits are now available for distribution to school campuses.

Superintendent Horne formed the School Training Overdose Preparedness and Intelligence Taskforce, (STOPIT) in May and it includes representatives from schools, health care, law enforcement and representatives from other state agencies tasked with addressing this growing problem. 

Horne stated, “Lives will be saved because these kits will be in schools throughout Arizona. The STOP-IT Task Force has done incredible work to address the Fentanyl crisis among school-aged children and this is a major step to protecting the lives of students and raising awareness of this terrible scourge.”

The Arizona Department of Health Services procured the Narcan kits at no cost to the state. Staff from the Arizona Department of Education, supported by members of the Arizona National Guard, will deliver the kits to schools, and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) is providing training on using the kits.

Horne added, “I want to thank the Department of Health Service, AHCCCS, the Arizona National Guard, and my staff for their efforts to get Narcan to schools throughout the state and train people on its use. I also want to thank the co-chairman of the STOP-IT Task Force, Dr. Holly Geyer, for her tireless commitment to this process. And to every member of the Task Force, thank you as well for your service to doing this meaningful and lifesaving work.”

STOP-IT Co-Chairman Dr. Holly Geyer, Addiction Medicine Specialist at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale said, “The STOP-IT naloxone distribution initiative could not have materialized without the unprecedented collaboration between the Department of Education, the Department of Health, AHCCCS and the National Guard.  The representatives appointed through these agencies proved themselves strategic problem solvers who prioritized the mission and produced outcomes that far exceeded the taskforce’s original targets.  Because of their resolve, we are proud to offer schools more than just naloxone. We can offer confidence in the safety of our school campuses and parental peace of mind.”

Maj. Gen. Kerry Muehlenbeck, Director, Department of Emergency and Military Affairs stated, “The Drug Demand Reduction Outreach team’s logistical support is just one part in a community effort. Reducing drug demand also means tackling drug overdose incidents. Through this multi-agency initiative, we build stronger communities and support wellness in our future generations.”

Kate Dobler, state opioid treatment authority said, "Providing Naloxone in schools is a critical step in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and communities. By bringing together agencies to distribute the initial 16,200 Naloxone kits, we have laid the foundation for an ongoing partnership between the Department of Education and AHCCCS. This collaboration will support the continual replenishment of Naloxone kits, ensuring that our schools remain equipped to handle opioid emergencies. Our collective efforts underscore the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding our youth and fostering a safe educational environment."

Initial orders of Narcan will be distributed to schools in each of Arizona’s 15 counties this week. Each school order includes flyers on training resources, information on county health agency partners, an announcement of the upcoming comprehensive STOP-IT Toolkit release, and a QR code that will take the user to real-time training on Naloxone Resources provided by AHCCCS.