Arizona Education News

EDUCATION

Bill to allow Education Dept. to create banned books list

The state Senate voted to have the Arizona Department of Education come up with a list of banned books in public schools. The bill would also have the department create procedures to allow parents to submit books to be included on the list.

2 Arizona bills raise First Amendment questions

Several measures at the state Capitol this session take on free speech directly. One that has gotten unanimous support so far would make it easier for legislators, election officers and county officials to shield their home addresses and other personal information.

March 22, 2023

AZ Arizona bill is the latest in a long history of Pledge of Allegiance fights

A bill making its way through the Arizona Legislature would require students in public schools to recite the pledge. They could only be excused by the request of a parent.

March 20, 2023

Grand Canyon University nursing program expands to Chandler

Grand Canyon University recently announced that its nursing education program will extend into Chandler. The expansion occurs amidst a nationwide shortage of nurses.

March 20, 2023

Maricopa County Attorney to host forum on fentanyl

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is hosting a public forum about the dangers of fentanyl.

March 20, 2023

ABOR funds study to figure out what's driving AZ's public safety worker shortage

The Arizona Board of Regents is funding a statewide study to find out what’s driving the state’s police and firefighter shortage.

March 20, 2023

Lawmakers consider expanding AZ Teachers Academy to private universities

Republican Rep. Matt Gress is sponsoring a bill that would expand the Arizona Teachers Academy to private universities.

March 16, 2023

Bill to send $10M to ADE for threat response program

On Wednesday, the Senate Education Committee advanced a bill that would establish an active threat response program within the Arizona Department of Education. The measure would appropriate $10 million from the state general fund to ADE for the program.

March 16, 2023

March Madness has solid Arizona representation this year

March Madness begins Wednesday — for Arizonans at least — as Arizona State University kicks off their play in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.

March 15, 2023

New bill could exempt some AZ university students from activities fees

Students who attend Arizona’s public universities pay activity fees, even if they don’t use the services they fund. A bill moving through the state Legislature could change that.

March 14, 2023

AZ hotline to report 'inappropriate' school lessons turns up few credible complaints

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne has a launched a hotline for parents. So far it hasn't turned up many credible complaints.

March 14, 2023

After-school program gives participants chance to offer grant to nonprofits

Unidas is the Women’s Foundation for the State of Arizona’s after-school program. Every semester, its southern Arizona cohort awards a grant to a nonprofit organization addressing an area of community concern.

March 13, 2023

How a Scottsdale superintendent ended up at the center of a culture war

Scottsdale Unified School District superintendent Scott Menzel finds himself at the center of one of the key culture wars facing schools across the country right now.

March 13, 2023

AZ Senate bill would add criminal charges if sexual explicit content is shown in schools

Arizona Senate Republicans have passed a bill taking aim at material allowed to be shown in public schools. Any school employee or contractor that mentions or shows sextually explicit material could face criminal charges.

March 13, 2023

Here's how to nominate someone for a Hands on Humanities Award

The nomination deadline for Arizona Humanities’ Hands on Humanities Awards is rapidly approaching. Find out how to nominate someone.

March 12, 2023

ASU receives $91M grant to construct X-ray laser instrument

This week, the National Science Foundation awarded ASU a research grant of $91 million — the largest ever granted to the university by the agency. Funding will go toward the development of X-ray laser technology that would help scientists conduct research in areas like molecular biology.

March 10, 2023

AZ Senate gives preliminary OK to ban certain books from public schools

State senators gave preliminary approval to a bill that would direct the Arizona Department of Education to come up with a list of books to ban in public schools.

March 10, 2023

Hobbs vetoes bill that banned critical race theory

Arizona won't be banning what has been called critical race theory in public schools. Gov. Katie Hobbs on Thursday vetoed legislation that its sponsor says would preclude schools from teaching what its prime sponsor called "pushing a destructive and racist ideology" in our schools.

March 9, 2023

Parents can call to report 'inappropriate' school lessons

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne gave an update to the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday afternoon. He's established a hotline for parents that allows them to report "inappropriate lessons that detract from teaching academic standards."

March 8, 2023

Professor testing a civics course that will be required in AZ universities

In 2015, Arizona became the first state to require students to pass a civics test before they can graduate high school. It’s a trend that’s been copied in other states since. Now, the Arizona Board of Regents is putting a similar program in place in Arizona’s universities.

March 8, 2023

ASU dean is trying to get more students to major in humanities

Universities across the country over the last decade were dealing with a drop in the number of students majoring in the humanities. In fact, the New Yorker recently wrote about this, reporting that between 2012 and the start of the pandemic, ASU saw declines in majors including English, history and women’s studies.

March 8, 2023