by Matthew Holloway | Apr 15, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne issued a stern warning to Arizona school districts late last week. The warning came after Phoenix’s Kyrene School District voted to adopt a policy that further embeds Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into the district’s day-to-day operations in defiance of policy guidance issued by President Donald Trump.
Horne warned, “Kyrene and any district or charter that is not taking the federal DEI guidance will lose their federal dollars. The U.S. Department of Education has been abundantly clear with its most recent guidance against the use of DEI language in schools. Federal law and the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution are clear that no person shall be discriminated because of race, skin color or ethnicity, and this guidance aligns completely with my philosophy. By contrast, the use of DEI programs does just the opposite and promotes racial discrimination. Schools ignore the federal guidance at their own peril. This is not an empty threat, and districts and charter schools need to treat it seriously.”
In its meeting on April 8th, the Kyrene School District voted unanimously to defy policy guidance from both the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and the Arizona Department of Education (AZDOE). The move will cause the district to lose access to over $1.5 million in federal funding in favor of its “Staff Social Emotional Wellness Policy” in which it purports to “provide welcoming, inclusive learning environments in which every student is honored, valued, and feels a strong sense of belonging and purpose.”
Guidance from the DOE issued in February explicitly states that, “Institutions that fail to comply with federal civil rights law may, consistent with applicable law, face potential loss of federal funding.” It noted that “DEI programs, for example, frequently preference certain racial groups and teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not. Such programs stigmatize students who belong to particular racial groups based on crude racial stereotypes. Consequently, they deny students the ability to participate fully in the life of a school.”
The federal policy explains, “Although some programs may appear neutral on their face, a closer look reveals that they are, in fact, motivated by racial considerations. And race-based decision-making, no matter the form, remains impermissible.” The DOE also cited the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard, which ruled that “[c]lassifying and assigning students based on their race” is an unlawful practice unless it satisfies a firm legal standard of ‘strict scrutiny,’ under two narrowly tailored instances:
(1) remediating specific, identified instances of past discrimination that violated the Constitution or a statute;
(2) avoiding imminent and serious risks to human safety in prisons, such as a race riot.”
The high court added, “An individual’s race may never be used against him” and “may not operate as a stereotype,” used to justify government polices.
In his remarks, Horne concluded, “The most interesting philosophical divide in our country right now is between those like me who believe in individual merit, and those who want to substitute racial entitlement. DEI is all about racial entitlement. The problem with racial entitlement is that it does nothing to promote hard work, conscientiousness, or creativity. If those advocating for it succeed in having it replace individual merit, we will become a mediocre, third world country. China will become the dominant power.”
Earlier this month, Horne signed an attestation letter to the DOE stating that “Arizona will not have anything to do with race-based programs, DEI, etc.”
Horne shared a handwritten missive to Secretary McMahon from the margins of the letter that AZDOE called “uplifting” which stated, “Sec. McMahon- Thank you for fighting for our Constitution and laws!”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 12, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A bill designed to direct more tax revenue toward Arizona’s K-12 classrooms has been vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs, prompting criticism from Republican lawmakers who say the measure would have strengthened public education funding.
SB 1050, sponsored by Senator Vince Leach (R-LD17), sought to amend the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET) program by prohibiting the abatement of school district-designated tax revenues. Under current law, cities and towns can lease government-owned property to private developers with reduced tax obligations, an incentive intended to promote commercial development.
The bill would have excluded school-related tax revenues from such incentives, allowing those funds to flow directly to local school districts instead of being waived under development agreements.
“This was a missed opportunity by the Governor,” said Leach. “She says she supports education funding, but her veto suggests otherwise.”
In her veto letter, Governor Hobbs explained that SB 1050 could “stunt Arizona’s economic development” by weakening a tool used by local governments to attract private investment. The GPLET program, though controversial, has been credited with revitalizing parts of urban Arizona by lowering upfront development costs in exchange for long-term gains.
Arizona schools continue to face funding pressures despite recent increases to the state’s education budget. Republican lawmakers have often pushed for reallocating existing tax revenues, while Democrats have generally sought new funding sources or changes to the state’s tax structure.
SB 1050 passed both legislative chambers before being vetoed, signaling at least some bipartisan concern about the balance between development incentives and education funding.
Senator Leach and other supporters of the bill may pursue similar legislation in future sessions or attempt a veto override, although success would require significant bipartisan support. Meanwhile, the broader debate over how to equitably fund Arizona’s public schools is likely to continue.
“This is about priorities,” Leach said. “We should be making sure our tax dollars are going to classrooms, not corporate subsidies.”
The Governor’s office has not indicated whether alternative proposals to increase school funding through tax reforms are in the works.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 11, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A bill sponsored by Arizona State Representative Leo Biasiucci (R-LD30) HB 2164 to ban several food dyes and toxic chemicals from foods served in Arizona schools passed the Arizona Senate unanimously on Tuesday. At the time, actor-turned-conservative activist Rob Schneider and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. were visiting the Capitol as part of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ tour.
Both Kennedy and Schneider joined Biasiucci at the Capitol in Phoenix with the Representative posting to X, “It was honor to have @SecKennedy visit the Arizona Legislature today as my bill to ban toxic food dyes from schools passed 28-0 in the Senate. I look forward to doing whatever I can to help him Make America Healthy Again!”
If signed into law, the bill would ban foods on school campuses which are deemed to be harmful. When the bill was announced in February, Biasiucci stood beside Senate Majority Leader Janae Shamp (R-LD29) and Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and explained the ban to include foods found to contain ingredients that scientific studies have found to be harmful to students health, including potassium bromate, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, yellow dyes 5 and 6, blue dyes 1 and 2, red dyes 3 and 40, and green dye 3.
“Our kids deserve better than artificial dyes and cheap fillers in their lunches. If we’re providing meals at school, they should be real, nutritious food—not the kind of processed junk that’s banned in other countries. This bill puts the health of Arizona’s children first, plain and simple,” Biasiucci said at the time.
Posting to X after the vote Schneider wrote, “Thank YOU to ALL the legislators in Arizona on BOTH sides of the aisle for putting the HEALTH of CHILDREN before partisan politics…”
“I would like to first thank the Democrats in the state legislature here for joining Republicans unanimously for doing what’s best for our children,” said Biasiucci. “This is not partisan, this is people, these are our children, these are the most important and precious members of our society, this is our future, this is everything. It really is a testament to this great state that we can get together and do something that is 100% positive for everyone in this state. A lot of kids this will be their only meal of the day… let’s get them the best things.”
During the proceedings, Kennedy told reporters, “It’s happening at the grassroots. People are saying we are not going to take it anymore. We are not going to be mass poisoned.”
Rep. Biasiucci added, “A lot of times you have to sacrifice your language, you have to make edits, make amendments to get it across the finish line. I wanted to get the bill across the finish line, because sometimes you need to have that impact, you need to make that change happen before the conversation continues in the future.”
Kennedy agreed saying, “Believe me, I would like to solve the entire processed food problem, but we’re not going to do that overnight. We’re going to do it in the next four years.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 9, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A bill aimed at strengthening protections for students in Arizona schools has passed both chambers of the Legislature and been signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.
SB 1437, sponsored by Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), expands the list of mandatory reporters who must notify law enforcement of sexual misconduct involving school employees. The bill adds school district governing board members, charter school governing body members, substitute teachers, and school safety officers to the current list of individuals legally required to report such cases.
The legislation was introduced in response to several troubling incidents of alleged abuse that surfaced during Senator Werner’s tenure as a school board member. These cases raised concerns that gaps in the law allowed some individuals in positions of authority to avoid reporting suspected misconduct.
“It is imperative that we work together to protect children and take action against sexual predators who are abusing their trusted positions and flying under the radar in schools,” said Senator Werner. “Parents should be able to have confidence in knowing when they send their child to school, there are safeguards in place to prevent this abuse from happening.”
Werner emphasized that the bill sends a clear message to would-be offenders and those who might ignore or conceal misconduct: that silence is not an option and accountability is required.
Under Arizona’s current laws, certain professionals—including teachers and administrators—are required to report suspected child abuse. However, school board members, substitute teachers, and some other staff were not explicitly included in that group. SB 1437 addresses that omission.
The bill builds on broader national discussions around mandatory reporting and school safety, sparked by high-profile abuse cases in several states. In recent years, Arizona and other states have faced calls to bolster protections for students and tighten oversight of school employees.
While no major organized opposition to SB 1437 emerged, some observers have raised questions in similar cases nationally about the need for proper training to avoid overreporting or misinterpretation of complex situations. Nonetheless, support in Arizona’s legislature was widespread.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 8, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), under the Biden-Harris Administration, imposed a staggering $37 million fine against Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, the largest privately owned Christian University in the nation. The fine came without revealing any serious complaint against the school. In February 2024, the Goldwater Institute announced that it advanced a lawsuit to determine why such a massive fine was levied. Now, a hearing has been scheduled in the case for April 18th.
Acoording to the Goldwater Institute, the DOE claimed that GCU “violated federal disclosure rules regarding continuing education courses for PhD students.” GCU leaders deny this outright. Further, in a press release regarding the fine, the DOE declined to include any complaints from students or members of the public to support its regulatory action.
When a federal judge in the U.S. District Court hears arguments in Goldwater Institute v. U.S. Department of Education, Goldwater hopes to compel the federal agency to disclose the alleged violation(s), which it believes are particularly suspicious. According to Goldwater, a public statement from Biden’s Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona vowed to “shut down” GCU.
Adding doubt to the DOE’s allegations, as Goldwater notes, GCU reportedly hasn’t raised tuition in over 15 years. The manner in which the fine was announced was also suspect with Goldwater noting, “The Department also announced its unprecedented fine with a widely reported press release that was heavy on rhetoric and bereft of any serious complaints from students or the public. It also appears that the fine was assessed in conjunction with suspicious coordination among various federal agencies.”
According to Goldwater, efforts through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to determine the motivation behind the fine have gone unanswered, leading up to the complaint.
“The request seeks emails between key individuals of the Department and other federal agencies that discuss the Department’s fine against GCU. The records may help inform the public about this extraordinary fine, as well as coordination between various federal agencies in what appears to be the intentionally targeting of a successful university based on extraordinarily thin allegations. However, the Department has refused to produce the records requested and has failed to otherwise comply with the FOIA.”
As reported by AZ Free News in February 2024, Goldwater staff attorney Stacy Skankey explained, “With its motto of ‘private, Christian, affordable’ and its track record of graduating students into high-demand and high-paying jobs, GCU is a success story by any metric. And it stands apart from universities across the country that are facing declining enrollment, that are indoctrinating students with radical politics, and that are under attack for failing to defend the First Amendment.”
In an op-ed for the Washington Times in December, Jon Riches, Goldwater Institute Vice President for Litigation, wrote, “As the Trump administration prepares to tackle an ambitious education agenda, ending the shameful attack on GCU should be a top priority. This would not only correct the injustice done to GCU but also make clear the broader principle that higher education should be a domain of innovation and student achievement — not a fiefdom for ideological conformity and bureaucratic rule.”
The initial action was brought by the Goldwater Institute during the Biden Administration and saw little to no response from former Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Though confirmed by neither party, the hearing had initially been delay and could be reflective of the whirlwind of changes at the DOE under Trump Administration.
The upcoming hearing could present a departure from the DOE’s previous position on the GCU fine, or at minimum provide transparency that was lacking under the previous administration.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Apr 5, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Arizona lawmakers have passed SB 1437, a bill aimed at increasing accountability for school employees and officials who fail to report sexual misconduct involving students. The bill, which received bipartisan support, now awaits Governor Katie Hobbs’ signature.
Sponsored by Arizona Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), SB 1437 expands the list of mandatory reporters for cases of sexual misconduct in schools. Under the proposed law, school district governing board members, charter school governing body members, substitute teachers, and school safety officers will be legally required to report any incidents of sexual misconduct by school employees to law enforcement.
The bill was introduced in response to multiple cases of abuse that came to light during Werner’s tenure as a governing board member. Advocates argue that strengthening reporting requirements will close existing loopholes and help prevent potential predators from evading accountability.
SB1437 received bipartisan backing in the Arizona Legislature, with supporters emphasizing the need to ensure student safety and hold perpetrators accountable.
“It is imperative that we work together to protect children and take action against sexual predators who are abusing their trusted positions and flying under the radar in schools,” said Senator Werner. “Parents should be able to have confidence in knowing there are safeguards in place to prevent this abuse from happening.”
Supporters argue that increasing the number of mandatory reporters will deter potential misconduct and ensure swift action against offenders. The bill also reinforces Arizona’s commitment to child protection policies in schools.
“Not only does justice need to be served for inflicting life-altering acts on children, but parents should be able to have confidence in knowing when they send their child to school, there are safeguards in place to prevent this abuse from happening,” Senator Werner continued. “This bill, passing with bipartisan support, serves as a force-multiplier to ensure cases of sexual misconduct against children are reported. I applaud my colleagues in both chambers for getting this bill to the finish line. The people of Arizona are relying on us to implement laws to better protect our most vulnerable communities, and there’s no better way to deliver on this promise, than for the governor to sign this bill and support the effort.”
With the bill approved by both chambers of the legislature, it moves to Governor Hobbs’ desk for final consideration. If signed into law, Arizona will join other states that have recently strengthened mandatory reporting laws in response to concerns over child safety in educational settings.
The passage of SB 1437 underscores Arizona’s ongoing efforts to enhance protections for students and ensure greater accountability among those responsible for their well-being. The law would reinforce existing safeguards while signaling a tougher stance on preventing and addressing sexual misconduct in schools.
For further updates, stakeholders and the public are encouraged to follow legislative announcements and Governor Hobbs’ decision on the bill in the coming days.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
