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.

Horne stated, “The United States Supreme Court decision allowing parents to have their children opt out of inappropriate sexual classes is needed.

While scientific education regarding reproduction at an appropriate age is perfectly proper, there has been a trend to subject young children to sexual lessons which are inappropriate to their age.

Defenders of these programs say they want to be welcoming and inclusive. The proper way to do that is to include all students in education about reading, writing, math, science, history, and the arts. The inappropriate lessons about which parents are complaining are a distraction from these crucial academic subjects. My principal goal has been to bring back academic focus into the classrooms. Many of these age-inappropriate sexual lessons are distasteful, damaging to young children, and are a distraction from the academics teachers ought to be teaching.”

Horne touts work of schools to promote fine arts

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.

The Dysart Unified School District had the highest number of recipients with 249 students.

Horne stated, “I am a passionate supporter of the arts. Not only do disciplines such as music, theatre, art and dance have intrinsic value, but studies have proven that students who pursue the arts often do better academically. There is tremendous value in arts education, and I am extremely pleased to see the highest number of students in the history of this program receiving the Seal of Arts Proficiency. I also offer my congratulations to the Dysart district and its leadership for having the most students receiving this recognition.”

The program began in 2019 with the goals of celebrating students who demonstrate elevated levels of proficiency in arts standards; identify pathways of artistic literacy that cultivate life skills; prepare students for college and career readiness and promote increased access to arts education statewide.

The arts and culture jobs sector in Arizona represents nearly 80,000 jobs. The Seal of Proficiency provides a pathway to prepare students with the skills needed to succeed in creative industries and flourish in their personal and professional lives.

2,366 students achieved a Seal. The total number of Seals is 2,400 since some students received more than one.

Supt. Horne sides with 8-1 majority

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.

Horne said, “I am very pleased that the board has endorsed the updated handbook. The changes reflect the needs of parents to have clarity in how ESA expenses are reviewed, allow the department to continue its efforts to ensure the program is well-managed and that taxpayer dollars are used for appropriate educational purposes. Anything less would potentially damage the ESA program. I am committed to its long-term sustainability because it is a vital way for parents to have the freedom to choose the best education for their children.”

He added, “More than a year ago, in response to concerns some parents and legislators had about the proposed updates to the handbook, I made the motion, which the board accepted, to delay implementation so that we could gather more input for proposed changes. My department established an advisory group of parents that did tremendous work over many months to develop changes. More recently, we expanded that process to include more town halls and responded to requests from lawmakers. Today those many months of work have culminated in the updated handbook.”

Effort aimed at combating problems in schools

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.

Horne said, “This is a terrible error in judgment on the part of the Governor. This bipartisan legislation was vital for ensuring that public schools cannot infect students with antisemitic propaganda and her veto is a slap at the Jewish community and those who fight every day against racism. Representative Michael Way worked tirelessly to shepherd this bill through the legislature, getting support from both parties. This bill should have been signed into law.”

He added, “Our country has been witnessing a large and steady increase in antisemitism. Studies show that it is much more so among young people than among the older generation. It is not true that there are no instances of teachers in Arizona schools teaching antisemitism. At Desert Mountain High School, the sponsor of UNICEF and the sponsor of Amnesty International, both teachers, brought to the school a totally one-sided pro Hamas anti-Israel presentation which caused some impressionable students to develop antisemitic feelings, which made Jewish students uncomfortable. The antisemitism has become more and more violent, as illustrated by the murder of two Jewish people in Washington and an attempt to murder by burning alive Jewish people in Colorado.”

Sponsored by Rep. Michael Way, HB 2867, the Antisemitism in Education Act was passed on a bipartisan basis by the state legislature. The measure was designed to prohibit a public school, teacher, principal, school administrator or volunteer or contractor for a public school and a faculty member, administrator, employee, contractor, or volunteer of a higher education institution from:

• Teaching, instructing or training students in any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct that constitutes harassment or discrimination and that creates a hostile education or work environment.
• Promoting or providing professional development in any antisemitism or anti-Semitic conduct that constitutes harassment or discrimination and that creates a hostile education or work environment.
• Calling for genocide of any group or persons or for the murder of members of a particular group, among other provisions.

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.

State Supt. of schools Tom Horne issued a press release calling on the state legislature to pass legislation banning youth gender care in conformity with the United States Supreme Court decision that was just issued. The Supreme Court stated:

“This case carries with it the weight of fierce scientific and policy debates about the safety, efficacy, and propriety of medical treatments in an evolving field. The voices in these debates raise sincere concerns; the implications for all are profound.”

Horne stated: “Because we have been in court vigorously defending Arizona’s law banning biological boys from competing in girls’ sports, we have thoroughly researched the evidence on the harm that such medical procedures do to young people.”

Horne added: “European countries allowed gender affirming care prior to the United States and therefore have become more familiar with the long-term negative effects. As we pointed out to the Court of Appeals in the girls’ sports case, England actually banned youth gender affirming care due to the dangers and scientific uncertainty. Sweden‘s national Board of Health and Welfare found that the risks of puberty blockers and hormones currently outweigh the possible benefits pretty heavily.”

Horne stated further: In upholding the Tennessee law, the United States Supreme Court stated that such treatments can lead to the minor becoming irreversibly sterile, having increased risk of disease and illness, or suffering from adverse and sometimes fatal psychological consequences.’ The Court also stated that ‘minors lack the maturity to fully understand and appreciate these consequences.’

Horne concluded: “20 states have banned this procedure from being inflicted on immature minors. As the Supreme Court noted, the implications for our children are profound. It is long past time for Arizona to act.”

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) today announced that it is approving retroactive alternative school status for Primavera for the year 2024. This is an issue for the decision of the department under historic practice.  ADE provided 4 reasons for the decision:

1. Calculations that the department performed show that Primavera does serve the type of demographics that alternative schools are designed for.
2. For the years that Primavera did apply for alternative status, it was always granted.
3. One of the key factors for alternative status is the mission statement. During the years that Primavera applied, such as 2019 and 2025, Primavera’s mission statement was approved for purposes of alternative status. That mission statement has not changed, so there is no reason why the mission statement should be a barrier.
4. Where in all years that Primavera applied for alternative status, it was approved, it did not make sense to deny this request given that the demographics of the student body and the mission statement both remained the same.

This action does not change Primavera’s grade from a D during the last three years to a higher grade.  Any such change would be up to the State Board. While ADE has no way to predict State Board action, if it does approve, then the issue will go to the charter board.

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.

Horne was joined at the news conference this morning by Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, who also expressed serious concerns about the curriculum at Scottsdale Unified School District complaining that is anti-law enforcement.

“At a time when law enforcement agencies are expanding their focus on community outreach and de-escalation of conflicts, it is counterproductive for schools to push a misguided and inaccurate narrative that will make students fearful or suspicious of their local law enforcement officers,” said Sheriff Sheridan. “The men and women who wear the uniform in Arizona, are among the bravest and most noble public servants in this great state. Many are first responders, who put their lives on the line each day to keep our youth and our communities safe.”

Also present to voice their concerns about the curriculum, were Jim Hill, the president of the Maricopa County Colleges Police Association and a concerned parent whose children attend school in the Scottsdale district. 

Horne gave a substantial list of examples from textbooks (see below) adopted by the woke majority of the Scottsdale school board. He also identified propaganda techniques found throughout the books, such as presenting a one-sided biased point of view about an incident that “many people are saying,” without articulating other, and often more popular points of view. In other cases, the information presented is misleading or simply inaccurate.

Horne concluded, “I commend the parents who bought these issues to our attention. We must all work together to ensure that school textbooks and curriculums are based on sound academics and historical facts, and not on unbalanced political propaganda.”

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Some examples provided by Supt. Horne:

US History Interactive – Savvas Learning Company

At page 1033: “ many people, including Black Lives Matter activists argued that these separate events as Well, as well as the death of many Black people in earlier years was the result of deeply embedded racism.” Nothing was said about what other people may be saying. Other people do not believe that racism is deeply embedded in the United States.

On the same page referring to the 2020 riots: protest marches were generally peaceful“ Horne pointed out that “we’ve all seen the video on television of a reporter saying that surrounded by burning buildings and attacks on police cars.”

At page 1025, referring to the incident at Ferguson: “one witness claimed that before being shot, Brown had raised his hands and said “don’t shoot!“ Horne pointed out:

“To his everlasting credit, Eric Holder, the first African American United States Attorney General in history, conducted an objective investigation, and concluded that officer Wilson shot Ferguson in self-defense. Limiting the discussion to what one witness said was extremely misleading.“

At page 1026: “a basic tenet of democracy is that power should belong to the people. But what can people try if they feel they’re not being heard or if they live under an authoritarian system? Civil resistance, encompasses a broad range of lawful and nonviolent action aimed at returning power to the people. Use this video as a brief introduction.“

Horne pointed out: “the United States is a Democratic Republic. We do not have a monarch. Officials are elected by a vote of the people. This gives everyone the opportunity, if they disagree with what the government is doing, to campaign for the election of someone else. That is the solution to disagree with government policy. Students are being encouraged by the video to engage in civil resistance to a democratically elected government. The suggestion in this quotation that the United States is an authority system is a woke lie.“

From Page 167: “renovations and improvements conforming to middle-class preferences has driven up the demand for housing and the cost of living in these neighborhoods, making it difficult for less affluent more vulnerable LGBTQUI plus populations to live there”. 

Horne replied: I will not comment on what QUIA plus means, but the suggestion that LGBT people are financially oppressed is extremely misleading. Many LGBT People are quite prosperous. The median income for men in same-sex marriages is $149,900. The median income for men in opposite sex married couples is $124,900.

• From a human geography book also used by the Scottsdale USD: APHUG 5: Human Geography: A Spatial Perspective, Bednarz et al., Cengage, 2022

Republican lawmakers in some states have packed African-American voters into a single district or small number of districts there by creating majority Republican districts in the rest of the state.”

Horne responded: this was a civil rights project of the Democratic Party. The goal was to assure minority representation in Congress. The Republican Party had nothing to do with it.”

Urges schools with similar rules to follow suit

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.

Earlier today, Horne urged the Mesa district to change their policy, and the district is in the process of doing that while allowing the Class of 2025 to wear military regalia.

Horne said, “I want to praise the Mesa school district for reversing this policy and urge any district or charter in the state who has such a restriction to do the same thing. Students who have worked very hard to prepare for service in the U.S. armed forces should be honored for their dedication and commitment to protecting the freedoms that often come at a very high cost. Allowing them to wear officially recognized military stoles is appropriate and should be a universal practice for Arizona schools.”

Says students should be honored for service

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.

Horne is responding to reports that the Mesa Unified School District has a policy barring graduates from displaying military service stoles. A Mesa High School student, Daniela Rascon-Rivas, has drawn attention to the issue since she is being prohibited from wearing the added regalia. 

Horne said, "This country owes its existence to the bravery of people willing to fight for our freedoms. Miss Rascon-Rivas has done a tremendous amount of extra work to prepare for service in the Arizona National Guard, which she will join after she graduates. This goes above and beyond the efforts required to graduate high school and deserves praise and recognition. I respectfully urge the Mesa district and all schools throughout the state to join students and their families in recognizing their hard work to prepare for military service."

He added, "This is clearly not a matter of students trying to show off or distract from the importance of the ceremony. Graduation is one of the most meaningful events in a young person’s life and schools should acknowledge when students show the initiative to excel and serve our nation."

Bill would address pronoun usage, protect space for girls

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.

Legislation sponsored by Sen. John Kavanaugh (R) - Fountain Hills, would have prohibited a public school employee from knowingly addressing a minor student by a pronoun different from the child’s biological sex or a first name not listed on school records without first getting permission from the parents. The measure would also have limited access to restrooms, locker rooms, showers, and hotel rooms on overnight trips to students of the same biological sex.

Horne said, “It’s surprising to me that the governor did not recognize the legislation’s value in promoting common sense, girls’ privacy, safety, and the rights of parents to be fully informed about what their children are doing while at school or related activities. Public schools are entrusted to educate children, not to interfere with the rights of parents to raise their children as they see fit. This veto is contrary to overwhelming public support for protecting girls and parental rights.”

He added, “The vetoed legislation would affirm those rights and would have codified protection for girls who deserve to have private spaces such as restrooms and locker rooms where they are not exposed to biological males. In the past several years parents have made it clear they do not want schools to override their role as parents, and they have also made it clear that girls have the right to privacy without the presence of biological boys in places like locker rooms and restrooms.”

Under the Arizona Parent’s Bill of Rights (A.R.S. 1-602) schools are prohibited from keeping information from parents.