PHOENIX – State schools superintendent Tom Horne says a new Arizona Department of Education survey of public schools shows the teacher shortage remains in a catastrophic state. More than 1,000 Arizona teachers quit the profession since July of this year. In excess of 4,000 teaching positions are vacant and being covered by long-term substitutes or other part-time methods, with almost 1,400 completely unfilled.

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says he strongly disagrees with postponing the effort to remove Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) language from state teaching standards, saying the federal government may withhold an estimated $866 million and this issue must be addressed immediately. Following today’s board action, the matter will be placed on the December agenda.

(PHOENIX) - Arizona is first in the nation in the percentage of students using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, according to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. More than 170,000 Arizona students are now using AI-powered tutoring to enhance their academic performance. That figure represents 16 percent of all public school students and it is expected to grow.

PHOENIX - State schools chief Tom Horne, who is also a member of the Arizona Board of Regents, says the Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education is aligned with his philosophy of fighting against racial entitlements, and he is pleased that the University of Arizona and Arizona State University are in talks about implementing the agreement.

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says promotion of woke ideology is a significant reason behind potential school closures in several school districts. He points to the latest effort by the Scottsdale Unified District to promote the transgender agenda among elementary and middle school students.

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says today’s anniversary of the horrific Hamas attack on Israel is a potent reminder of the continuing need for Holocaust instruction and he is praising Arizona’s law that requires such teaching.

PHOENIX – Arizona schools now have more training options for helping school mental health professionals better identify, screen, and refer students who may be at risk for suicide, according to state schools chief Tom Horne.

HOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne is rebutting a denial by Treasurer Kim Yee that her office was unaware of its duty to review and approve a cash advance for the Nadaburg Unified School District northwest of Phoenix.

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says a new report issued by the Helios Foundation shows tough measures need to be taken to address catastrophic levels of chronic high school student absenteeism in Arizona. Chronic absenteeism is defined as nine absences in a semester or 18 absences in a year.

PHOENIX – State schools superintendent Tom Horne is calling on State Treasurer Kim Yee to reconsider her denial of a justified cash advance to the Nadaburg school district, calling her current actions irresponsible.