Office of Communications

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne issued the following statement supporting today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that schools must provide an opt-out for parents excusing their children when their religious beliefs conflict with course material.

PHOENIX – State schools superintendent Tom Horne says he is very pleased that nearly 2,400 Arizona public school students received the Seal of Arts proficiency during the 2024-25 school year, the highest amount ever awarded.

PHOENIX – After more than a year of gathering input from parents, lawmakers and other interested stakeholders, the updated Arizona Department of Education Empowerment Scholarship Account Parent Handbook has been approved in an 8-1 vote by the State Board of Education. State Superintendent Tom Horne made the successful motion to approve.

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says Governor Hobbs’ veto of bipartisan legislation addressing antisemitism in public school classrooms is a terrible error that does not take into account the growing amount of antisemitism nationwide.

PHOENIX-   Supt Tom Horne is calling for an Arizona law implementing the new United States Supreme Court decision that upheld a Tennessee law banning youth gender affirming care.

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) today announced that it is approving retroactive alternative school status for Primavera for the year 2024. 

PHOENIX - State superintendent of schools Tom Horne today stated that he would report to the federal government that although Scottsdale signed a statement that they would not have DEI in their classes, they adopted a DEI oriented textbook, despite parental objections. If the current injunction against President Trump‘s executive order regarding DEI is lifted, and the federal government indicates that funds to the Scottsdale school District should be removed, Horne said he would enforce that order.

PHOENIX – The Mesa Unified School District’s decision to reverse policy and allow graduating seniors, that have earned the right, to wear military regalia at their graduation ceremony is earning the praise of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne.

PHOENIX - High school graduates who want to wear military regalia as part of their graduation ceremonies should be allowed to do so, says state schools chief Tom Horne.

PHOENIX – State schools’ chief Tom Horne says he is surprised at the governor’s veto of legislation that would have required schools to inform parents when a child requests to use a pronoun other than their biological sex and protect girls from biological boys being in their restrooms, showers and locker rooms on campus.