Education - AZ FREE NEWS

Arizona Superintendent Reminds Parents: School Choice Funds Can Pay For College

Apr 7, 2026

By Staff Reporter | Arizona’s school choice program allows participants to use funds to pay for college, per a reminder from the state’s top elected education official. Tom Horne, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, promoted this usage of Empowerment...

Hobbs’ New Arizona Board Of Regents Picks Devoted To DEI

Apr 6, 2026

By Staff Reporter | The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) grew by two new members last week. On Monday, Gov. Katie Hobbs appointed Michele Halyard, an oncologist specializing in breast cancer, and Steve Peru, formerly Coconino County’s manager. “Dr. Michele Halyard is...

Arizona Bill Would Require Schools To Notify Parents Of Serious Threats

Apr 6, 2026

By Matthew Holloway | A bill advancing through the Arizona Legislature would require schools to notify parents and staff within 24 hours of serious threats or incidents involving violence on campus. House Bill 4109 was approved by the Arizona Senate Rules Committee...

NAU Pledge Master Indicted For Hazing Following Freshman’s Death

Apr 1, 2026

By Staff Reporter | A Northern Arizona University (NAU) fraternity leader faces a felony for the hazing death of a pledge. The Coconino County Attorney’s Office announced the indictment of Carter Thomas Eslick, 20, last Friday. Eslick was the “new member...

Arizona Superintendent Slams Democrats For Rejecting School Mandate To Report Deadly Threats

Mar 30, 2026

By Staff Reporter | The Arizona Department of Education’s leader admonished one party for rejecting a new mandate on schools to report deadly on-campus incidents. Democratic lawmakers opposed HB 4109 during a Wednesday vote in the Senate Education Committee,...

Paradise Valley High School Teacher Commits Suicide During Arrest For Sexual Abuse Of Minor

Mar 29, 2026

By Staff Reporter | A Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) teacher committed suicide while fleeing arrest for the sexual abuse of a minor. Steven Charles Mitten III, a history teacher at Shadow Mountain High School, fled from police on Wednesday...

Arizona Treasurer Pursues New Vendor, Platform Overhaul For ESA Program

Mar 23, 2026

By Staff Reporter | Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee is advocating for reforming the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program to reduce improper spending. The treasurer’s office manages the contract with the vendor operating the portal through which ESA...

Arizona’s Honor Colleges Mandate DEI For Students

Mar 19, 2026

By Staff Reporter | The honor colleges at all three of the state’s universities are mandating courses educating students on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). The Goldwater Institute detailed two of the three colleges in a newly released investigatory report,...

Congressman Hamadeh Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Mar 19, 2026

By Ethan Faverino | Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) announced earlier this month that high school students around the district are invited to submit original artwork for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. The non-partisan competition, also known as the Artistic...

Hobbs Fired School Choice Advocate From State Board Of Education After Demand From Activist Group

Mar 18, 2026

By Staff Reporter | Gov. Katie Hobbs fired an Arizona State Board of Education (ASBE) member following pressure from a public school activist group, email records revealed. The emails obtained and published by FOIAzona revealed that Hobbs heeded a demand...

America First Legal Investigates Flagstaff School District Over Student Anti-ICE Walkout

Mar 18, 2026

By Ethan Faverino | America First Legal (AFL) has launched an investigation into the Flagstaff Unified School District #1 (FUSD) over its handling of a large-scale student walkout and anti-ICE protest on January 28, 2026. AFL filed a detailed public records request...

Arizona Dept. Of Education Accuses Major Media Outlet Of Misrepresenting ESA Fraud Claims

Mar 16, 2026

By Staff Reporter | The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) accused a major media outlet of misrepresenting the amount of fraud that occurs within the state’s school choice program. Per ADE, 12News claimed the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program had fraud...