by Staff Reporter | Nov 21, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Over 100 out of about 400 schools in Arizona have advanced out of federal school improvement status, per the Arizona Department of Education.
There are over 2,800 schools in the state. That means approximately 14 percent (after this latest update) of all schools statewide remain on the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) list.
Schools on the federal list consist of those with low graduation rates and test scores per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), a federal law passed by the Obama administration in 2015 that, essentially, reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
ESSA was responsible for every state and district publishing a report card for public review, as well as publishing how much is spent per student at every school, broken down by federal, state, and local monies.
ESSA’s predecessor was the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), enacted in 2002. NCLB received criticisms for its heavily federal approach to education, where many thought the states could yield student outcomes better.
ADE identifies these schools — classified as Comprehensive Support and Improvement – Low Achievement (CSI-LA) schools — every three years. Schools have four years upon identification to exit this status.
CSI-LA schools are those that don’t meet the 60 percent proficiency, 20 percent growth or graduation rate, 10 percent English Learners achievement and growth, and 10 chronic absenteeism (K-8) or 10 percent drop out rate (high school).
The Arizona Department of Education monitors these schools through its Office of School Improvement.
Superintendent Tom Horne said in a statement that these schools’ advancements prove that dedication to the basics — namely through Project Momentum Arizona (PMA) — does work.
“The schools we are honoring today have proven that when students are challenged academically and class time is devoted to teaching core subjects like reading and math, test scores will go up, and students will succeed,” said Horne. “It is a highly effective program that emphasizes academic knowledge and helps educators do the right work to ensure that all students succeed.”
Horne hosted a press conference on Wednesday to praise these schools, including Roosevelt School District, which had four schools leaving the list. Horne also issued a similar announcement on Thursday.
PMA has schools select one or more from a list of guiding questions around which to frame their improvement plans. These questions focus on recognizing the specifics of desired student outcomes, evidence of student comprehension, highest-yielding instructional practices, responses to lack of student learning, planned responses to student mastery of materials, and goals for improving, cataloging, and saving work.
Spring state assessment results showed that an average of 33 percent were passing math, and 40 percent were passing English. These results aligned with those from the previous year.
COVID-19 caused student proficiency to drop significantly. They were on an upward trend, achieving 42 percent in math and English.
Oversight of failing schools may soon become more of a state problem, with ongoing efforts to dismantle the Department of Education.
Horne told The Center Square that he’s “pleased” with the Trump administration’s decision.
“[I am] pleased with the administration’s work to move the work of education back to the states and addressing the needless bureaucracy of the federal department,” said Horne.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 20, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A community watchdog group is calling for a full stop to all major construction projects in the Tolleson Union High School District (TUHSD), citing overwhelming voter opposition and stark financial projections that point to a looming deficit that could reach into the hundreds of millions.
Citizens for Schools Accountability (CSA), a local 501(c)(4) organization focused on transparency and responsible spending, says the district should halt work on all ongoing and planned facilities including High School #8, a proposed domed stadium, and a new district office until an independent audit is completed and a clear financial plan is released.
The group also criticized Superintendent Jeremy Calles and Governing Board President Steven Chapman for declining to follow a board directive requiring a full budget presentation before any further action on High School #8 is taken.
The warning comes just weeks after voters decisively rejected both a bond and an override sought by TUHSD, a dramatic reversal from past elections in which district measures routinely passed by wide margins. CSA leaders say the election outcome underscores widespread public concern over spending, transparency, and priorities within the district.
“Continuing construction without public support or a sustainable funding plan represents a dangerous breach of fiscal responsibility,” the group stated in its announcement. According to figures cited from district financial documents, TUHSD has approximately $294.6 million in bond, fund balance, and state School Facilities Board (SFB) resources available. Yet the projected costs of its construction plan far exceed that total.
Even under the lowest cost estimates, the district faces a minimum shortfall of $95 million. Under more likely scenarios, the deficit could approach $200 million. “This district is on the edge of a financial cliff,” said CSA Chairman Kino Flores. “Any organization facing a minimum $100 million deficit would hit the brakes immediately. Yet TUHSD is accelerating.”
Flores said that between the voter rejection, the cost projections, and the pending audit, continuing construction would be “reckless and irresponsible.”
CSA argues that until these steps are taken, any continued spending could jeopardize the district’s long-term stability. The organization says its concerns are not philosophical or political but grounded in the district’s own data and the unmistakable rejection voters delivered at the ballot box. “The voters said no. The math says no,” Flores said. “Fiscal responsibility demands the board stop every non-essential building project until the audit is complete, and a transparent financial plan is presented to taxpayers.”
CSA leaders say they will continue monitoring district actions and expect the board to respect both the financial realities and the community’s clear mandate.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 15, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Six Arizona campuses have been named Blue Ribbon Schools, a distinction announced Monday by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and the Arizona Department of Education, recognizing standout academic achievement and sustained student growth.
The schools earning the honor this year include the Academy of Math and Science in Peoria, Chinle Elementary School in Chinle, Empire High School in Tucson, the Maricopa Institute of Technology in Phoenix, Saint John Bosco Catholic School in Phoenix, and Ward Traditional Academy in Tempe.
Horne said the recognition reflects the department’s emphasis on academic rigor and measurable results.
“My primary focus as superintendent is on academic excellence, and these schools can be justifiably proud of this accomplishment because it is based on academic success,” Horne said. “Students and educators should always work toward continuous improvement in academic achievement, and Blue Ribbon Schools demonstrate that when schools lead students into challenging themselves, they will excel academically.”
The Blue Ribbon Schools program, now administered at the state level, highlights campuses that show strong performance on state assessments or demonstrate significant progress in closing achievement gaps among student groups. Established in 1982, the program is open to both public and private K–12 schools nationwide.
Arizona’s newly recognized schools will join a long-running tradition of campuses that exemplify high standards, strong instruction, and a commitment to raising student outcomes across diverse communities.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 11, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
A new survey from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) indicates that the state’s teacher shortage remains severe, with more than 1,000 teachers leaving classrooms since July and thousands of positions still unfilled or covered by temporary staffing arrangements.
According to the data, 763 teachers resigned or failed to report for duty after July 1, and an additional 292 resigned after the school year began, totaling 1,055 departures. The survey, conducted in late August, received responses from 523 of the state’s 629 public school districts and charter schools—an 83% response rate.
The findings show more than 4,200 teaching positions remain vacant statewide. Of those, nearly 30% are being filled by long-term substitute teachers, about 24% are being covered by current educators giving up preparation or planning time, and roughly 23% rely on temporary staffing agencies. Nearly 1,400 of the openings remain entirely unfilled.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne called the situation “intolerable” and urged state leaders to take action. He pointed to long-standing concerns over teacher pay and what he described as insufficient administrative support on student discipline as key factors driving educators out of the profession.
“Teachers have been underpaid for years, and they have also been discouraged by a lack of administrative support for classroom discipline,” Horne said. He noted that he plans to renew his calls for increased pay and stronger discipline policies during his annual address to lawmakers. He also expressed hope that the upcoming debate over the reauthorization of Proposition 123 will include additional funding for teacher salaries drawn from the state land trust, emphasizing that such an approach would not require a tax increase.
Horne said the results reinforce what many educators have been voicing for years. “This survey is disheartening because the solutions are obvious,” he said. “Better pay and robust support from administrators on discipline are vital.”
Arizona has faced persistent teacher shortages for more than a decade, with advocacy groups and education leaders frequently citing low pay, high turnover, and workforce burnout as major challenges. The new survey suggests those issues remain widespread as the school year continues.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A Change.org petition calling for the removal of a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) “Club America” chapter at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale lists 429 verified signatures on its page as of November 7, 2025. The petition—titled “Stop Political Hate Clubs in Arizona Schools”—urges Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) Governing Board members Carine Werner, Amy Carney, and Maricopa County Superintendent Shelli Boggs to dissolve the club, alleging it promotes “hate, division, or discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ or ‘political’ values.”
The petition claims that TPUSA “has a documented history of targeting marginalized groups and spreading harmful rhetoric” and argues its presence “sends the message that intolerance is acceptable.” It adds, “While every student has the right to their own political beliefs, no club should be allowed to promote hate, division, or discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ or ‘political’ values.” Funds raised through Change.org will support “awareness efforts, educational events, and promotional materials.”
Public comments on the petition echo those themes. Saguaro alumnus Seth wrote, “As a Saguaro alum, I am appalled that such a club would be allowed to exist… The very intention of Club America is to sew [sic] discord and position one side as morally right and the other as morally wrong.” Naleah of Peoria said, “This club is not freedom of speech; it is built on the premise and beliefs of a racist and sexist….” Ines of Scottsdale added, “Saguaro should be a community that nurtures its students into well-informed adults. Having a political group that is there to influence high school kids instead of properly educating them… is harming the fundamentals of education.”
TPUSA rebranded its high-school program as “Club America” in July 2025, but the petition refers to the Saguaro organization as a “Turning Point USA chapter.” The filing claims Saguaro recently approved the club under SUSD’s policy allowing student-led groups with staff sponsors, elected officers, and signed agreements. The district has not publicly confirmed the approval.
Scottsdale Unites for Educational Integrity, a parental-rights advocacy group, publicized the petition on X on Nov. 7, urging followers to email the SUSD board at GovBRD@SUSD.org to “uphold students’ rights to start a Turning Point club.” In the post, the group described the petition as “an effort to silence students at Saguaro High School who wish to launch a @TPUSA club,” quoting the petition’s claim that TPUSA clubs promote “discrimination under the guise of ‘religious’ … values.”
The advocacy group also alleged that Saguaro Principal Lisa Hirsch “previously allowed an antisemitic presentation to occur at Desert Mountain High School” when she was principal there—an allegation referencing a 2023 incident that drew statewide scrutiny. District communications at the time condemned hate speech and denied institutional antisemitism.
The event, also flagged by Scottsdale Unites for Education Integrity, involved a UNICEF club at Desert Mountain High School (DMHS) telling students that Israel has been illegally occupying, taking, and settling on land belonging to Palestinians; that Israel had engaged in ethnic cleansing and apartheid by forcibly displacing and discriminating against Palestinians; and that Israel unjustly tortured and imprisoned Palestinians, including 80 percent of Palestinian children.
TPUSA, founded in 2012, has faced similar opposition in other Arizona districts. In October 2025, Snowflake High School denied a TPUSA club request citing a moratorium on new clubs dating to 2009, according to FOX 10 Phoenix.
SUSD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. A message sent through Change.org to petition starter Isabella Finley received no reply by press time.
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 | Nov 10, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Voters in the Tolleson Union High School District decisively rejected two funding measures last week, signaling a sharp reversal from past election outcomes and raising new questions about public trust in district leadership.
Both a proposed bond and budget override failed by wide margins, marking what state leaders are calling a significant shift in community sentiment. According to Arizona State Representative Matt Gress, who chairs the House Education Committee and co-chairs the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the margin represents an estimated 40-point swing from the district’s last round of voter-approved measures.
“That kind of reversal doesn’t happen by chance,” Gress said in a statement. “It reflects taxpayers’ deep concern over how their money is being managed and the direction of district leadership.”
The vote comes as the district faces ongoing scrutiny from lawmakers over financial transparency. Gress first requested detailed financial transaction data from Tolleson Union on August 26 following a legislative audit hearing. The district declined to provide electronic records and instead issued an estimate exceeding $26,000 to fulfill the request. A follow-up clarification was sent on September 17, and as of last week the district had not complied.
Gress said the lack of cooperation has only fueled public skepticism. He pointed to delayed responses to official requests and continued planning for an $80 million domed stadium as examples of misplaced priorities, particularly as some governing board members face an active recall effort.
“When a school district refuses to provide basic financial records to the Legislature … public trust deteriorates quickly,” he said. “The Tolleson Union Governing Board should halt any further work on the stadium until transparency is restored and confidence is rebuilt.”
Supporters of the failed measures argued the additional funding was needed to maintain educational programs, address facility needs, and manage enrollment growth. But Tuesday’s results underscore a shifting climate in which voters appear more reluctant to approve additional spending without stronger fiscal assurances.
“The people of Tolleson have made their position clear: accountability must come before new spending,” Gress said. He added that lawmakers will continue to press for the financial records needed to assess how taxpayer funds are being used. School districts often rely on bonds to finance major capital projects and budget overrides to supplement operational funding. The rejection of both measures could force Tolleson Union to adjust spending plans or scale back initiatives in the months ahead.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
