by Matthew Holloway | Mar 18, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Peoria Unified School Board (PUSD) has adopted new Student Privacy and Anti-Discrimination policies to provide “clarity on critical issues that have remained ambiguous in practice for years.”
Under the student privacy policy, the district aims to reaffirm “long-standing sex-based privacy standards,” and ensure that all multi-person restrooms, showers, and locker rooms in the district will be limited to use determined by biological sex while “allowing safe and reasonable accommodations for students who request additional privacy.” Under the expanded Anti-Discrimination policy, the district will include protections for pregnancy and parenting status, veteran status, genetic information, and define sex as biological sex in addition to maintaining its protections for individuals based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, and disability.
A press release from PUSD explains that the new policies are “Rooted in the original intent of Title IX, which was enacted over 50 years ago to prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.” It added that the policies uphold “the principles of equal opportunity while recognizing inherent biological differences, particularly in athletics and privacy accommodations.”
“By adopting these standards, the Board ensures that students have access to a learning environment that respects their rights and privacy, while also shifting accommodation responsibilities back onto the district rather than placing the burden on other students.”
Board President Heather Rooks said in a statement, “As a member of the Peoria Unified School Board, I am committed to Leading with Excellence by ensuring the safety and privacy of every student. A strong Student Privacy Policy is not just a district priority—it is a community expectation. Parents and stakeholders trust us to create secure learning environments where students can thrive. This policy reflects the values of our district and the broader public. National surveys, including Rasmussen, consistently show that a majority of Americans support maintaining sex-based privacy standards in restrooms and locker rooms. Protecting student privacy is essential for their well-being and security.”
The PUSD policies have been a topic of contention on the school board since 2023 when the Governing Board voted to reject a motion to even draft such a policy as reported by AZ Free News. However, under the newly elected administration led by Rooks, the policies have been adopted in short order.
Rooks, fresh off of a U.S. District Court ruling against her lawsuit on biblical quotation during board meetings, has also said via her legal team that she intends to resume quoting Bible passages. Judge Michael Liburdi determined that emailed opinions of the school district’s attorney constitutes “legal advice to board members,” and not an action to prevent her from doing so.
First Liberty Institute, the legal organization representing Rooks told the outlet in a statement, “Heather plans to resume saying the Bible verses at the next board meeting, and appeal the district court’s ruling to ensure her speech remains protected.”
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 | Mar 18, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona State Senate is reviewing Senate Bill (SB) 1091, which would require school district election ballots to include clear information on potential property tax reductions if voters reject budget overrides or bond measures.
The bill, which was sponosored by Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), aims to provide greater transparency for voters when deciding on school funding measures that involve secondary property taxes.
Arizona school districts can request budget overrides or bond authorizations when additional funding is needed beyond state-imposed limits. These measures are often funded by secondary property tax levies and must be approved by voters in district-wide elections.
Currently, school district ballots already include estimated tax rates for proposed overrides or bonds. However, SB 1091 would require ballots to explicitly state the estimated property tax reduction that would occur if voters reject the proposal, allowing taxpayers to see the potential financial impact.
If passed, the legislation would mandate that ballots for school district funding elections include an estimated average reduction in secondary property taxes if the budget override or bond measure is not approved and the exact date when the tax reduction would take effect.
This requirement would apply to budget override continuation elections, where districts seek to maintain higher spending limits through secondary property taxes as well as bond authorization continuation elections, which determine whether a district can continue issuing and selling bonds at the same tax rate in future years.
The bill also includes technical and conforming changes to existing statutes but does not impose any anticipated fiscal impact on the state’s general fund.
Supporters argue that SB 1091 enhances voter transparency, ensuring residents fully understand the tax implications of school district funding decisions. Critics, however, worry that emphasizing potential tax reductions on ballots could sway voters against approving necessary education funding.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 14, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Earlier this month, Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ5) introduced the Guarding Religious And Career Education (GRACE) Act. If enacted, it would direct Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to outright eliminate the DOE’s Office of Enforcement within the Office of Federal Student Aid. The office, according to a report from the American Principles Project (APP), overwhelmingly enforced actions against faith-based and career-centered schools.
According to the APP report, the vast majority of all enforcement actions, at almost 70%, were directed toward institutions of these varieties despite their accounting for less than ten percent of the total number of enrolled students in the nation.
In a press release from Rep. Biggs, the congressman cited the example of the egregious targeting of Grand Canyon University (GCU), the largest Christian university in America and the extremely questionable $37.7 million fine levied against the school as previously reported by AZ Free News.
In a letter to McMahon, Biggs urged the newly minted Secretary to launch an investigation into the Office of Enforcement’s targeting of Christian and technical schools amidst the mass reductions in workforce already underway.
He wrote in part, “It is imperative to determine the extent of any ideological targeting and to hold those responsible accountable for their actions. For example, in October 2023, ED’s Office of Enforcement fined Grand Canyon University, (GCU) $37.7 million for allegedly misrepresenting the cost of doctoral programs, an allegation GCU has categorically denied and is appealing. The claim has been refuted judicially and administratively: in federal court, by the Higher Learning Commission in its 2021 comprehensive review, and by the Arizona State Approving Agency of the Department of Veterans Affairs in an audit.”
McMahon told Fox News host Laura Ingraham that her termination of over half the Department’s staff is in fact part of a “total shutdown” of the agency. “Yes — actually, it is,” she said, adding, “That was the president’s mandate. His directive to me clearly is to shut down the Department of Education.”
In line with the actions McMahon is already taking, Biggs called upon her to shudder the Office of Enforcement altogether in the GRACE Act, writing, “The continued existence of the office appears to serve as a vehicle for weaponization rather than a tool for oversight. The targeting of Christian universities and career colleges must end.”
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 Staff Reporter | Mar 13, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
A new dashboard tracks the school closures taking place throughout Arizona.
The dashboard comes from the Common Sense Institute (CSI), a nonpartisan organization which primarily produces research on Arizona’s economy.
Since January, those schools which have closed or consolidated operated in the Maricopa, Navajo, and Yavapai counties within the following school districts: Cave Creek, Phoenix Elementary, Mesa Unified, Isaac, Edkey Inc. – Sequoia Village, and American Heritage Academy. Schools closed or consolidated included Lone Mountain Elementary School, Desert Sun Academy, Dunbar School, Heard School, George Washington Academy, and American Heritage Academy Camp Verde.
Data for the dashboard came from the Auditor General and Arizona Department of Education.
CSI also published a line graph chart detailing spending, inflation, enrollment and student proficiencies in math and reading from 2010 to 2024. This data came from the Arizona State Library, Arizona Department of Education, and Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
CSI director of policy and research, Glenn Farley, said the dashboard data indicates a pattern of declining public school enrollment rather than indefinite growth. Per this dashboard, school enrollment peaked over a decade ago.
“Arizona’s public school system was built on the assumption that enrollment would continue to grow indefinitely, but the reality has changed,” said Farley. “With district enrollment peaking over a decade ago and alternative schooling options gaining traction, closures are a natural consequence of a system adjusting to new realities.”
CSI’s dashboard reflects a severe disparity between public school spending, enrollment, and student proficiencies in math and reading. While spending increased by 80 percent since 2010, math and reading proficiencies dropped by 13 and nine percent, respectively, and enrollment dropped by one percent.
Spending far outpaced inflation, growing at over twice the rate: while spending increased by 80 percent, though inflation increased by only 36 percent.
CSI also found that the school-aged population departed from the total population trend around 2020 due to demographic changes. Combined enrollment in public kindergarten programs declined 13 percent since the 2010-11 school year, while total public school enrollment grew three percent.
The state’s school choice program, the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, grew to over 87,200 students as of Monday.
CSI clarified that demographic decline wasn’t the sole reason for changes in the school-aged population. CSI reported that charter school enrollment nearly doubled from 2020 to 2022, 55 percent of surveyed private schools experienced enrollment growth in the 2021 to 2022 school year, and homeschooling grew from two to 11 percent of the population during the pandemic (though that number dropped to around six percent in recent years).
An accompanying CSI report declared the disparities in funding, enrollment, and outcomes were signs of disconnect with the current state of enrollment and capacity.
“Charter, private, and home schools have continued growing, but Arizona’s district public school enrollment peaked over a decade ago,” read the CSI report. “A massive injection of new funding and resources over the past few years has led to significant new spending and expansion by these schools, though, which are now having to deal with the consequences of this disconnect between enrollment and capacity.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Feb 28, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
The average eighth grader in Arizona has the lowest reading scores on record, and about the same mathematics scores as nearly 30 years ago.
The Nation’s Report Card (NCR) 2024 Reading State Snapshot Report showed that Arizona’s average scores for eighth grade students declined to 254, the lowest point on record over the past three decades.
Data reveals that gains made by fourth graders in math and reading in recent decades were undone or reduced in the last few years, and by the time the student hit the eighth grade they were at the same level or declining past historic average scoring across both math and reading.
Average reading scores were 208 for fourth graders and 254 for eighth graders.
Fourth graders improved their average reading scores slightly based on records dating back to 1998, matching the national trend of slight improvements to average reading scores before a steep decline the last few years. However, eighth graders have generally declined in their average reading scores based on records dating back to 1998, much aligned with the national trend of average scores.
For eighth grade reading, Arizona was lower than those in 18 states or jurisdictions, not significantly different from those in 28 states or jurisdictions, and higher than those in five states or jurisdictions.
NCR also found that black and Hispanic students in Arizona had average reading scores double digits lower than their white peers: 30 and 22 points, respectively. Neither of these disparities were determined to be “significantly different” from those retrieved nearly 30 years ago (21 and 25 points, respectively). Male Arizona students scored on average 11 points less than their female peers. Students identified as economically disadvantaged averaged 21 points lower in their scoring, again determined to be not statistically different from nearly 30 years ago (23 points).
Average mathematics scores were 232 for fourth graders and 270 for eighth graders.
Fourth graders improved in their average math scores based on records dating back to 2000, matching the national trend of improved average math scores. However, eighth graders declined their average math scores in recent years based on records dating back to 2000, matching the national trend of some improvements around the early 2010s before a steep decline in recent years.
For eighth grade math, Arizona’s average score was lower than those in 24 states or jurisdictions, higher than those in seven states or jurisdictions, and not significantly different from those in 20 states or jurisdictions.
NCR reported that black and Hispanic students in Arizona had average reading scores double digits lower than their white peers: both 32 points, respectively. Neither of these disparities were determined to be “significantly different” from those retrieved a little over 20 years ago (37 and 33 points, respectively). Male Arizona students scored on average six points higher than their female peers. Students identified as economically disadvantaged averaged 33 points lower in their scoring, again determined to be not statistically different from nearly 30 years ago (28 points).
The last science scores gathered date back to 2015, and the last writing scores date back to 2007.
Sandra Christensen, board member with the Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD), claimed the decline in scores was because districts weren’t prioritizing academic excellence or student safety.
“We can no longer afford to govern districts like we did 10 years ago. Our students deserve better!” said Christensen. “We MUST focus on academic excellence and student safety. As a constitutional republic, elected officials report to you! Wake up and stop electing ‘get along to go along’ politicians that don’t listen to your voice!”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 26, 2025 | Education, News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One chamber of the Arizona Legislature just passed legislation to protect kids’ meals at schools.
On Monday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed HB 2164, that, if enacted, would “ban ultra-processed foods containing harmful additives from being served in public school meals.” The proposal was sponsored by State Representative Leo Biasiucci.
The bill passed out of the full House chamber with a 59-0 vote (one member not voting).
In a statement accompanying the announcement of the bill’s progress, Biasiucci said, “Our kids deserve better than artificial dyes and cheap fillers in their meals. Parents should know that when their children eat at school, they are getting real, nutritious food – not the kind of processed junk that’s banned in other countries. This is common sense, and I’m proud that my colleagues came together to pass this important bill.”
Biasiucci added, “This is a public health issued. We now have overwhelming evidence that these chemicals can contribute to everything from hyperactivity to increased cancer risk – yet they remain in school meals. We hope to end that today.”
According to the press release from the Arizona House of Representatives, the bill would “prohibit the sale or serving of school foods that contain potassium bromate, titanium dioxide, brominated vegetable oil, propylparaben, and synthetic food dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5 – several of which are already restricted or banned in Europe due to harmful effects on children’s health.”
Earlier this month, the legislation was approved by the Arizona House Committee on Education with a 10-0 vote (one member was absent, and one voted ‘present’).
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, Arizona Public Interest Research Group, indicated their groups’ support for the bill; while representatives from Save Our Schools Arizona and Consumer Brands Association, signed in to oppose the proposal. Representatives from the Arizona Food Bank Network, Arizona School Administrators, Arizona Education Association, and Arizona School Boards Association, noted their organizations’ neutrality on the bills.
HB 2164 will now head to the Arizona Senate for consideration.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
