Arizona Department of Education

Students across Arizona are preparing for the Statewide Math Challenge! Sharpen your skills, supercharge those brain cells and have some fun!!!

Superintendent Tom Horne has signed this attestation that says Arizona will not have anything to do with race-based programs, diversity, equity, or inclusion programs, etc., and we'll be sending this form out to all schools to commit to these guidelines. Federal funds are at risk if a commitment is not made.

Federal dollars at risk if schools ignore new federal DEI guidance

Will forward updated information to schools

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is forwarding to schools statewide the new guidance issued today by the U.S. Department of Education requiring schools to acknowledge they will follow federal civil rights law and avoid the use of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs. Schools that do not comply with the federal guidance risk losing federal funding.

Horne stated, “Title VI of federal civil rights law is clear that no person shall be discriminated on the basis of race, skin color or ethnicity, and this aligns completely with my philosophy. The 14th amendment to the Constitution says the same thing. By contrast, the use of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programs does just the opposite and promotes racial discrimination. That has no place in education or society, and I have been working diligently to get it out of schools in Arizona. For example, the department requires every public school to attest on their School Report Cards that they respect all students as individuals, avoiding concepts like Critical Race Theory that promote racial division. We are all individuals entitled to be judged by what we know, what we can do and our character, and not by our race. I agree with this guidance from the U.S. Department of Education because it upholds the 14th amendment to the Constitution and the laws that protect people from discrimination. Schools need to follow those laws and our Constitution.”

By the close of business today, the department will forward the document provided by the U.S. Department of Education that requires all public schools to attest that they will comply with the guidance in order to continue to receive federal dollars. Schools will have until April 14 to respond.

For more info: https://www.azed.gov/communications/horne-federal-dollars-risk-if-schools-ignore-new-federal-dei-guidance

Horne: Feds agree with my position protecting parents’ rights

Updated U.S. Dept. of Ed. privacy requirement in line with Arizona law

PHOENIX – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has forwarded letters from the U.S. Department of Education to Arizona public schools notifying them that they must submit documentation that shows they are following federal privacy law in order to uphold parents’ rights or risk losing federal funds.

At issue is the concern that some local education agencies have misapplied the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) to withhold information from parents regarding their own children. The federal guidance generally aligns with Arizona law (A.R.S. 1-602) that states, “All parental rights are exclusively reserved to a parent of a minor child without obstruction or interference from this state, any political subdivision of this state, any other governmental entity or any other institution…”

Horne stated, “The Secretary of Education is right to be concerned about schools that have misapplied privacy law to prevent parents from being fully informed about their children’s time at school. Misinforming parents or withholding information is an outrageous abuse of a school’s authority.”

He added, “When my department established the Empower Hotline in 2023, we learned about a spreadsheet distributed in the Catalina Foothills school district with a list of pronouns chosen by students. Students were given the option of withholding information from their parents, and I publicized this matter. In the Chandler district, a lunch time Gay-Straight Alliance Club was created to discuss gender issues but also included the distribution of emancipation paperwork, which a parent only knew about because parents found it in their student’s backpack. Both examples are contrary to Arizona law. The new federal guidance requires schools to verify that such misapplications of federal privacy law are not permitted, and I fully support that effort.”

The federal guidance requires schools and the Arizona department to provide documentation assuring the U.S. Department of Education of compliance with this directive by April 30.

Tom Horne explains the critical role of the Arizona Department of Education.

The mission of the AZ. Department of Education The primary role of the AZ. Department of Education is to help public schools to excel academically. Superintendent Tom Horne explains how we do that.

Superintendent Tom Horne explains partnership with Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan to combat radical truancy and absenteeism in AZ schools.

Superintendent Horne & Sheriff Sheridan urge more action to battle truancy, absenteeism. In response to the 30 percent statewide chronic absenteeism rate in Arizona, state schools chief Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan are urg...

Horne, Maricopa Co. Sheriff Sheridan urge more action to battle truancy, absenteeism - Arizona Department of Education
PHOENIX – in response to the 30 percent statewide chronic absenteeism rate in Arizona, state schools chief Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan are urging law enforcement, the courts, parents and schools to make sure school-aged students are attending school and any violations of state law are promptly addressed by the legal system.
https://www.azed.gov/communications/horne-maricopa-co-sheriff-sheridan-urge-more-action-battle-truancy-absenteeism

The Arizona Department of Education announces essential standards guidance for the 2025-2026 school year. Through stakeholder workgroups and public comment, the Department of Education announces the completion of the essential standards project. Essential Standards are individual standards selected to receive a greater proportion of questions on the AASA exam beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. The AASA exam, administered in grades three through eight, is developed based on a standards blueprint approved by the State Board of Education that includes individual standards grouped into clusters and identifies an allocation of questions for each cluster. Identified Essential Standards will receive the maximum number of questions allowed by the standards blueprint. The state assessment will retain the same length and duration. ALL STANDARDS remain valid and subject to inclusion in each year’s AASA. For more information and to find details on Essential Standards for ELA and math in grades three through eight, please visit the ADE Essential Standards website: https://www.azed.gov/standards-practices/english-language-arts-and-math-essential-standards

Attention Superintendents and School Board Members!
Join us for the School Board School training event to learn how to boost student achievement in your schools!

As a legislator in the 90s, Tom Horne made sure the public charter movement would grow and thrive!

Arizona Department of Education He served in the legislature and was chairman of the academic accountability committee. He was the State Superintendent of Schools from 2003 to 2011 and was elected State Attorney General. While Attorney General, he argued in every court: Superior Court, Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and US Supre...

School choice empowers parents! Find the best district school and apply for open enrollment. Choose a public, charter school or the Empowerment Scholarship program. Parents are empowered!

Arizona Department of Education He served in the legislature and was chairman of the academic accountability committee. He was the State Superintendent of Schools from 2003 to 2011 and was elected State Attorney General. While Attorney General, he argued in every court: Superior Court, Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and US Supre...

Did you know? Charter schools are public schools and one might be the best choice for your child!

Arizona Department of Education He served in the legislature and was chairman of the academic accountability committee. He was the State Superintendent of Schools from 2003 to 2011 and was elected State Attorney General. While Attorney General, he argued in every court: Superior Court, Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, and US Supre...

Tom Horne salutes State Charter Board member Wendy Miller and her excellent public charter school, Challenge Charter!

AZ School Report Cards | School Information View school information, location, contact and school letter grade. This page also gives a breakdown of student enrollment, teacher qualifications and proficiency on english language arts, math, and science for a school.

Tom Horne gives a shout out to Vista Prep public charter in downtown Phoenix for their great work! https://www.vistacollegeprep.org/

Tom Horne has great friends at American Leadership Academy and they have great public charter schools!

AZ School Report Cards | District Information View school district information, location, contact and list of schools. This page also gives a breakdown of student enrollment, teacher qualifications, graduation rate, drop out rate and proficiency on english language arts, math, and science for a school district.