Phoenix residents may have noticed some younger faces traveling around their neighborhoods this past weekend with buckets of paint and landscaping equipment.
Students at the Grand Canyon University (GCU), a private Christian university based in Phoenix, volunteered on Saturday morning to spruce up local neighborhoods.
The GCU students partnered with Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona to provide nine families with exterior painting and landscaping. The university and the local chapter of the nonprofit organization have entered into a partnership to engage in neighborhood revitalization.
The home renovation service on Saturday was the latest effort of that partnership. So far, GCU and Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona have reported contributing 630 home renovations and more than 1,500 home repairs across nearly 40,000 volunteer hours over the past decade together.
That averages out to around 75 to 80 hours of community service per week — essentially, the same number of hours it would take two individuals to work full time in a regular workweek.
GCU stated in a press release that this volunteer opportunity represented their students putting “faith into action” in order to “make a difference” for the neighbors of their campus.
In addition to charitable work, the university has recently made headlines and earned federal recognition for its efforts to impact workforce shortages in key sectors.
The Arizona Supreme Court recently granted GCU a unique, unanimous approval to launch its law school prior to receiving American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation. The court clarified that it issued its approval to address the nationwide shortage of attorneys.
GCU’s College of Law is scheduled to open by the fall of 2027; its graduates will be eligible for bar admission even without ABA accreditation.
The court advised in its announcement of the approval that it wouldn’t approve similar requests from non-ABA-accredited law schools during GCU’s evaluation period.
“Arizona faces a significant shortage of attorneys, and we are optimistic that GCU will provide an excellent legal education and help meet the need for more lawyers in communities throughout our state,” said Chief Justice Ann Timmer. “We look forward to getting to know the school’s faculty and students and watching the GCU College of Law grow and thrive.”
Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited the GCU campus last month alongside Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) to observe the university’s other workforce development efforts in person. Among the main exhibitions of that campus visit were Canyon Ventures, a startup networking and resource center, and Lux Precision Manufacturing, a manufacturing training facility for students.
McMahon called GCU “an incredibly marvelous institution” that stood out as an example of excellence among the schools across the 47 states she had visited.
“I’ve been to many universities and schools. You get a feel pretty quickly from the general vibe and culture of campus, and this is A-1, A-plus,” said McMahon. “Thank you very, very much for being an example for other universities throughout the country and throughout the world.”
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Financial aid forms offered by the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) asked students to disclose their parents’ citizenship status.
Discovery of this detail drew the ire of those seeking to apply who have noncitizen family members.
The citizenship disclosure questions were part of an affidavit that dependent domiciles were directed to fill out.
One student, Penelope Medina, reportedly declined to complete the form out of fear that her parents could face adverse consequences over their immigration status. Medina attends Mesa Community College.
Medina took her complaint to The Mesa Legend, Mesa Community College’s student-run newspaper where she works as an editor. The college issued its first $5,000 grant this year to graduating student journalists who work with the paper.
The original form from MCCCD required students to disclose their citizenship status: whether they were a citizen, refugee, permanent resident, or “other.” It also required students to divulge details about when their residency in the county and the state began, where in the state they reside, and their most recent state or country of residence prior to moving to Arizona.
MCCCD has since revised the form to make those disclosures optional, and directed the student journalists to contact the administrators at Mesa Community College for further questions about it.
Mesa Community College officials advisedThe Mesa Legend that the citizenship disclosure doesn’t factor into determinations of whether a student receives in-state tuition.
Citizenship isn’t a requirement for in-state tuition in Arizona — though that could change, depending on the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against the state in August.
Arizona voters approved in-state tuition and state-funded financial aid for noncitizens in 2022 through Proposition 308. The proposition came before voters through a Democratic-led effort helped along by several Republican state lawmakers, all of whom have since left the legislature.
The DOJ argued in its filing that the law illegally favors illegal aliens over U.S. citizens, and that federal law preempts such treatment.
“Arizona law rewards an illegal alien with eligibility for in-state tuition, based on residency within Arizona, while explicitly denying eligibility for resident tuition rates to U.S. citizens who are not Arizona residents,” stated the complaint.
The DOJ estimated that the total cost of attendance for noncitizen students represented more than $10 million in reduced tuition. The agency also sued New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington for granting similar financial incentives to noncitizens not available to citizens.
Attorney General Kris Mayes has fought against the lawsuit. Mayes previously stated through a spokesman that the DOJ’s interpretation of the law was flawed. The case is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona.
“Proposition 308, as written and approved by Arizona voters, doesn’t condition eligibility on residence, which is what the government alleges,” stated Mayes’ office. “It conditions eligibility on whether a student attended and graduated from an Arizona high school (or homeschool equivalent). That’s the standard the voters wrote into law — tied to where a student attended school and where they graduated, not their residency.”
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A new report from the state indicates that school districts have declined to invest their record funding into their teachers.
Instead, critics analyzing the report say, school districts have opted to pay more for their superintendents, unused buildings, and trips for administrators.
The Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee issued a report earlier this month estimating that Arizona public schools receive a record high of nearly $15,600 per student annually. Yet, estimates reflect the average Arizona teacher’s salary adjusted for inflation is more than $6,400 lower than it was in 2001.
Average teacher pay was more than $37,000 for the 2000-2001 school year, which would be more than $72,000 in today’s dollars; however, teachers made around $65,600 in 2025.
The auditor general’s office has reported on multiple occasions that districts are disproportionately allocating classroom site funding intended for teachers on non-instructional expenses.
Proposition 320 would require public school districts to spend at least 60% of their operational budget on direct instructional expenses. If passed, the proposition would allow districts below that 60% threshold to increase their instructional spending by 0.5% each year.
Districts who fail to comply would lose money from the classroom site fund at a rate of 25% in the first year, 50% in the second year, 75% in the third year, and 100% in the fourth and all future years of noncompliance.
The proposition allows the superintendent of public instruction to waive those penalties twice every 10 years, or up to three times if a district requests a second waiver more than four years after the first waiver.
School districts impacted by Proposition 320 would include those that serve at least 7,500 students and exist in a county of at least 500,000 people. Only Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties qualify for the latter criteria.
Approximately 94 out of 207 school districts in the state would be impacted by Proposition 320 if passed, according to an analysis by the Common Sense Institute of Arizona.
Organizations have polar opposite views on how the proposition would impact public school funding.
The Goldwater Institute, a Phoenix-based public policy and litigation organization and a supporter of Proposition 320, claims the proposition will improve teacher salaries by shrinking administrative costs.
“Simply put, Arizona taxpayers deserve better stewardship of their education dollars,” stated the Goldwater Institute in a press release.
Goldwater cited instances of what it called administrative “bloat,” such as the Dysart Unified School District spending nearly $500,000 to send nearly 200 employees to a luxury resort casino in Las Vegas for three-day training events three years in a row. The district then undertook what it determined to be a necessary cost-saving measure by eliminating bus routes to save the district around $500,000.
In another instance, the Arizona auditor general found that Baboquivari Elementary School District was spending wastefully, including its decision to spend $300,000 on a single two-day, out-of-state conference for employees.
The organization also cited the high salary of the Tolleson Union High School District superintendent who attempted to push through an $80 million taxpayer-funded football stadium.
Save Our Schools Arizona, a Phoenix-based education advocacy organization and opponent of Proposition 320, claims the proposition will cut funding to schools. Opponents of the measure maintain that current administrative spending trends are not problematic, and that a one-size-fits-all approach to district spending would impose pressures on districts and jeopardize student support and school operations.
“[This is] a deceptive ballot measure aimed to defund critical public school services like transportation, sports, food services, and special education,” posted Save Our Schools Arizona on social media.
The debate over Proposition 320 centers on whether requiring districts to devote a larger share of their budgets to classroom instruction would improve educational spending or limit districts’ ability to fund other services. Arizona voters will have the opportunity to decide whether to adopt the proposed spending requirements in the November election.
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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix on last week, highlighting the university’s commitment to workforce development, affordable higher education, and preparing students for careers in high-demand industries.
McMahon was joined by Arizona Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) during the visit, which included discussions with university leadership, faculty, and students, along with a tour of GCU’s campus and business incubator.
The visit provided an opportunity for GCU President Brian Mueller to showcase the university’s academic programs, Christian mission, and efforts to address workforce shortages in Arizona and across the country.
During her visit, McMahon praised the university’s campus culture, educational approach, and emphasis on preparing students for employment in critical industries.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon visited GCU yesterday, praising the university's servant leadership and Christ-centered worldview. Read more: https://t.co/8Roquzy2Oc
“I’m coming away from Grand Canyon really understanding servant leadership,” McMahon said. “But also the understanding that there is certainly a very Christ-centered theme that you hear throughout the university, which I think is incredibly refreshing.”
McMahon also emphasized the importance of making higher education more affordable while ensuring academic programs align with the nation’s workforce needs.
“We certainly want to make sure that more and more colleges are affordable, and that we really are addressing the needs of the country,” McMahon added.
The visit highlighted workforce shortages in nursing, education, construction, manufacturing, semiconductor production, and electrical trades.
As part of the visit, McMahon met with university deans and students at GCU’s nearly completed Sheila and Mike Ingram Honors College building. Students discussed their academic experiences and opportunities to gain practical skills through university programs.
McMahon also toured Canyon Ventures, GCU’s business incubator, and Lux Precision Manufacturing, where university representatives highlighted entrepreneurship initiatives and opportunities for students to gain hands-on industry experience.
According to GCU, student-founded businesses associated with the incubator have generated millions of dollars in revenue while providing students with professional development and employment opportunities.
Canyon Ventures Director Connor Vicary, CityServe Director Nathan Cooper, and Lux Precision Manufacturing founder and CEO Weston Smith participated in the tour, explaining how the university supports business development and workforce training.
Mueller said the visit allowed federal education leadership to better understand the university’s growth and the impact of its educational model.
“You can’t explain that to people when you’re 2,000 miles away. You have to be here, and you have to experience that,” Mueller said. “For her to take the time to do this and then to recognize us the way that she did at the end, we’ll always remember that.”
GCU Vice President of Government Relations Dana Drew Shaw also emphasized the significance of having a senior federal education official observe the university’s programs firsthand.
McMahon concluded the visit by commending the university’s educational environment and its approach to preparing students for the workforce.
“I’ve now been to 47 states. I’ve been to many universities and schools. You get a feel pretty quickly from the general vibe and culture of campus, and this is A-1, A-plus,” McMahon said.
“This is an incredibly marvelous institution,” she added. “I’m very happy. Thank you very, very much for being an example for other universities throughout the country and throughout the world.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s first law school with graduates eligible for bar admission without American Bar Association (ABA) accreditation will be rooted in the Christian faith.
Grand Canyon University (GCU) recently received unanimous approval from the Arizona Supreme Court to open its College of Law in Phoenix by the fall of 2027.
The approval is part of an evaluation period subject to certain performance conditions. The court advised that it wouldn’t approve similar requests from non-ABA-accredited law schools during GCU’s evaluation period.
Chief Justice Ann Timmer based the court’s decision on the shortage of attorneys. According to the ABA, more than 40% of counties nationwide qualify as legal deserts, which means they have fewer than one attorney per 1,000 residents.
“Arizona faces a significant shortage of attorneys, and we are optimistic that GCU will provide an excellent legal education and help meet the need for more lawyers in communities throughout our state,” said Timmer. “We look forward to getting to know the school’s faculty and students and watching the GCU College of Law grow and thrive.”
There are dozens of law schools without ABA accreditation in the nation.
ABA accreditation takes years to earn, and law schools may not enter the accreditation process until after operating for at least one full year.
Even so, GCU stated in a press release that it would seek ABA accreditation once it becomes eligible. The recent Arizona Supreme Court approval allows the university to begin producing bar-eligible attorneys years in advance.
Graduates of GCU’s forthcoming College of Law will be eligible for admission to the State Bar of Arizona, provided that they meet standards and pass the bar examination.
GCU President Brian Mueller said in a statement that their law school will draw influence from that which strengthens our nation, citing a Christian worldview and free-market principles.
“Free markets unleash human ambition, creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship,” said Mueller. “The Christian worldview provides the moral foundation that reminds us those gifts are not simply for personal gain, but should also be used to love our neighbors, serve others and improve the communities in which we live.”
Mueller added that the American justice system was founded on a common understanding of the inherent dignity of every individual and significance of justice, moral accountability, and the rule of law.
“Our nation’s founders understood that liberty cannot flourish without virtue, that individual rights must be accompanied by individual responsibility, and that a just society depends on people of character,” said Mueller. “We are not interested in simply creating another law school. We want to help shape a generation of legal professionals who will strengthen the institutions of our country, defend the freedoms that make opportunity possible and use their education to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
James Williams, the dean of GCU’s College of Law, expressed gratitude for the Arizona Supreme Court’s willingness to innovate to meet the state’s need for attorneys.
“This is a historic moment for Grand Canyon University, for legal education in Arizona and, most importantly, for students who have dreamed of entering the legal profession by attending a Christian law school,” said Williams. “We are grateful for the Arizona Supreme Court’s willingness to consider an innovative approach to legal education and for the opportunity to demonstrate that a new pathway to licensure can maintain the highest standards of academic excellence, professional preparation and ethical responsibility. We recognize the significance of being the first institution to operate under these standards and the responsibility that comes with it.”
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Fountain Hills Unified School District (FHUSD) imposed a 10-day unpaid suspension on an art teacher after determining that her classroom remarks about Charlie Kirk’s death violated district policies, according to disciplinary records provided to Councilman Allen Skillicorn through a public records request.
The records identify Marisa Colon as an art teacher at Fountain Hills Middle School and Fountain Hills High School. In a Sept. 22, 2025, formal reprimand, Principal Dr. Kimberly Weeldreyer wrote that Colon acknowledged telling students, “If you live by the sword, you die by the sword,” during a Sept. 11 art class, one day after the assassination of Kirk.
The district’s account states that a student reported interpreting Colon’s remarks as expressing support for Kirk’s death. Colon denied intending to condone his death and told administrators that a student had misinterpreted her words.
In a Sept. 12 email responding to questions from Human Resources Coordinator Kailey Brown, Colon explained that she intended to point out what she considered irony between Kirk’s advocacy for bearing arms and the circumstances of his death.
The final reprimand acknowledged Colon’s explanation while finding that the impact of her remarks was unprofessional and inappropriate in a school setting.
“It was confirmed through investigation that you made statements that were interpreted as expressing support for the death of an individual, Charlie Kirk, when students inquired about him. Specifically, you acknowledged, stating, ‘If you live by the sword, you die by the sword,’” Weeldreyer wrote.
“While you clarified that your intent was not to condone such a viewpoint and indicated these conversations are more appropriately addressed with parents rather than in the classroom, the impact of your remarks was deemed unprofessional and inappropriate in the school setting.”
“Following the investigation, including student interviews and consultation with legal counsel, it was determined that disciplinary action is warranted,” Weeldreyer wrote. “In accordance with District Policy GCQF, you are hereby issued a ten-day unpaid suspension due to this breach of professional conduct.”
The district set the suspension period from Sept. 23 through Oct. 15, 2025. The reprimand directed Colon to stop the conduct immediately, warned that repetition could result in dismissal, and stated that the letter would be placed in her personnel file. It gave her until Sept. 29 to submit a written appeal to Dr. Cain Jagodzinski.
In his September 2025 post to X, he wrote, “Fountain Hills Unified School District middle and high school art teacher Marisa Colon is on leave for saying ‘Live by the sword, die by the sword’ in reference to Charlie’s assassination in a classroom full of students. It’s disgusting she has not been fired yet.”
Fountain Hills Unified School District middle and high school art teacher Marisa Colon is on leave for saying “Live by the sword, die by the sword” in reference to Charlie’s assassination in a classroom full of students. It’s disgusting she has not been fired yet. pic.twitter.com/3o1ww9Boqm
The district’s account describes an investigation that initially resulted in Colon being cleared to return to work before additional concerns prompted administrators to reopen it.
After the initial student report, an administrator identified in the records as “Dr. J” contacted Colon. She acknowledged the remark and was directed to meet with HR. In a written statement described in the district’s account, Colon denied that she intended to condone Kirk’s death and said such conversations should be addressed with parents rather than at school.
The district stated that the primary student was absent Sept. 12 and could not immediately be interviewed. After that interview and consultation with legal counsel, administrators initially cleared Colon to return Sept. 16. Additional concerns from students and parents subsequently prompted further investigation.
A Sept. 16 email and accompanying form placed Colon on paid administrative leave pending the investigation’s outcome. Brown directed her to remain off district property and refrain from accessing district systems or files unless authorized by administrators.
On Sept. 18, Brown issued notice of the proposed unpaid suspension and scheduled a Sept. 22 meeting at which Colon could provide information or context. The final reprimand was dated Sept. 22.
The district cited violations of Policy IMB, governing instruction on controversial or sensitive issues, and Policy GBEBB, governing staff conduct with students.
IMB permits instruction on controversial issues while requiring fairness, objectivity, and professionalism. The policy, adopted Nov. 9, 2022, says personal views are not part of the instructional program and calls for an atmosphere in which differing opinions can be voiced without fear or hostility. It also expressly recognizes due process and freedom of speech for students and teachers.
GBEBB requires employees to treat students with dignity and respect and maintain acceptable professional conduct. It states that violations are serious and may result in severe disciplinary action.
The records production also included two earlier conduct notices.
In a Sept. 12, 2023, written warning, then-Principal Chris Hartmann stated that Colon had used an expletive to refer to a student on Sept. 7 and that students heard it. Hartmann identified violations of policies on staff ethics, conduct, and interactions with students, and warned that further or repeated conduct could result in discipline up to termination. The warning did not identify the expletive.
On April 19, 2024, Hartmann issued Colon a letter of direction for “encouraging students to throw objects at students standing in front of your classroom.” He identified violations of staff ethics and staff conduct policies, ordered the behavior to cease, and warned that repetition could lead to dismissal.
In an email the previous day, Colon described an action-portrait exercise in which students could choose whether to have tape thrown at them while posing. She said students could select alternative poses, an aide was present, and she instructed students against throwing the tape hard enough to hurt anyone.
The April letter stated that it would be placed in her personnel file. The September 2025 reprimand does not state whether either earlier conduct notice influenced the suspension decision.
In response to a request from AZ Free News, the district defended the suspension as the highest level of discipline permissible under state law and said the incident prompted changes to staff training and curriculum oversight. Its full statement appears below.
The district’s statement reads:
“Fountain Hills Unified School District is committed to fostering an environment of respect, civility, and care. Our students look to us as role models for appropriate language and behavior. Any language or actions that demonstrate insensitivity or indifference are unacceptable.
“In September of 2025 following the death of Charlie Kirk, Fountain Hills Unified School District received reports of an alleged inappropriate personal statement made by a faculty member. The statement was made as part of a student-initiated classroom discussion of Mr. Kirk’s death.
“Mr. Kirk’s death was a sad situation that deeply affected so many people across the country. With that understanding, the district conducted an investigation at that time in consultation with its personnel attorneys and the Fountain Hills School District Governing Board. The investigation included conversations with all directly involved parties to hear their perspectives.
“An initial determination was made to allow Ms. Colon to return to work after hearing from the identified parties involved. As a fluid investigation, the school administration and its governing board determined that same day to keep the teacher on leave pending investigation of others who may have had knowledge of the incident.
“Based on its findings of no new information beyond what was initially reported, the district took the highest level of disciplinary actions permissible under state law and in full compliance with the district’s personnel policies and protocols. The district then ensured it communicated the corrective actions it was taking to the parties involved.
“One of the policy changes made as a result of this incident was to require principal approval to ensure alignment with mandated curriculum boundaries and implemented required annual professional development for all faculty and staff to clarify legal and policy restrictions on classroom content and provide tools for navigating complex discussions safely and appropriately.”
Arizona law limits unpaid suspensions to ten school days for teacher misconduct that violates district policy but does not constitute cause for dismissal or certificate revocation. A separate statutory process governs longer unpaid suspensions and dismissal. The district did not specify which statutory provision it relied upon or explain why it concluded that a longer suspension or dismissal was unavailable in this case.
Colon did not respond by publication to a request for comment sent to her district email account.
