Office of Communications

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.

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:

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

District supports Black Lives Matters and other political signage on campus

PHOENIX – State schools chief Tom Horne says the Osborn school district in central Phoenix is allowing race and gender politics to distract from academics by displaying signage promoting Black Lives Matter and other politically-charged causes on school grounds.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Education has sent a letter to the State Auditor General updating that agency on measures the Department took in 2023 to implement key internal controls over Empowerment Scholarship Account program functions and processes.

The ADE letter addresses two concerns that arose in 2023, and that were immediately addressed publicly.

A copy of the letter is attached.

PHOENIX – The highly successful Achievement Tutoring Program initiated last year by Superintendent Tom Horne is being extended through the end of the 2024-25 school year, allowing more students to take advantage of this free program that has resulted in academic gains for students throughout Arizona.