Horne to US Ed Secretary: Quit threatening to shut down Grand Canyon University

For immediate release: April 22, 2024
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Horne to US Ed Secretary: Quit threatening to shut down Grand Canyon University

Calls comments before Congress unjust and unwarranted

PHOENIX - Arizona schools chief Tom Horne has sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Michael Cardona urging him to abandon his threat to shut down Grand Canyon University and instead meet with school leadership to iron out their differences.

Horne describes Cardona's recent threat made before the U.S. House Appropriations committee as unworthy of his position as a Cabinet secretary who is sworn to uphold the Constitution.

Horne wrote, "In the U.S., anyone accused of wrongdoing is presumed innocent and entitled to their day in court. For a Cabinet-level official, one who is sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, your threat against GCU is contrary to those constitutional guarantees and unworthy of your position."

In his testimony to Congress, Cardona repeated accusations leveled against GCU by the U.S. Department of Education as justification for shutting down the school. In his letter, Horne reminds the Secretary that the federal government has so far failed to provide GCU with evidence to support the allegations and Cardona's refusal to meet with GCU leadership is unreasonable.

Horne reiterates his support for the school, noting that GCU is "a major ally to my effort to raise academics in Arizona schools, and any harm you do to them would do harm to my goal of academic excellence. We also have a severe teacher shortage in Arizona, and the elimination of GCU would be a severe blow."

A copy of the letter is attached.

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