Department of Education evaluating two investigations reported to Empower Hotline
The Empower Hotline, a tipline for reporting “critical race theory,” as well as “gender ideology, social emotional learning, or inappropriate sexual content,” only has two active investigations, according to the Arizona Department of Education.
ADE recently spent $600K to advertise ESA program
The Arizona Department of Education spent more than $600,000 in the past two weeks to broadcast advertisements for the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, according to invoices from the department.
Veto of public porn or book banning?
Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill on Monday she said aimed to ban books, but the sponsor said it’s meant to ban the “practice” of filming pornography in public schools.
ESA vouchers projected to cost $900M next year
The Empowerment Scholarship Account program is on track to cost the state $900 million by the end of the next fiscal year, according to the most recent estimate by the Arizona Department of Education.
Hobbs cancels $50M for ESA all-day kindergarten
Gov. Katie Hobbs says she’s cancelling a $50 million contract that would have paid for students to attend all-day kindergarten at non-public schools using Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or school vouchers.
Former US swimming star, Horne voice concerns about transgender sports participation
A former University of Arizona swimming star said Wednesday anyone born male should not be able to compete in girls' sports, no matter what the age.
Horne urges judge to dismiss transgender girls’ bid to void law tied to sports
Arizona's school chief is urging a judge to dismiss a bid by two transgender girls to void a new state law that prohibits them from playing on teams designated for girls.
State deactivates 910 ESA tutors, vendors
More than 900 Empowerment Scholarship Account tutors and teaching services were pulled from ClassWallet over the last weekend after the Arizona Department of Education deactivated accounts of vendors who had not adhered to accreditation requirements implemented by the new administration in February.
Top legislative Republicans hire attorney to defend law banning transgender girls from playing girls’ sports
Top legislative Republicans have hired an out-of-state attorney -- at taxpayer expense -- to defend a 2022 law that forbids transgender girls from participating in girls' sports.
Transgender girls go to court over Arizona school sports ban
The parents of two transgender girls in Arizona filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging a year-old state law banning trans girls from participating in school sports.
Educators say ‘critical race theory’ is dog whistle
Educators are frustrated over the debate about “critical race theory” in conversations around public education in Arizona.
New Arizona hotline sees few calls about race-based lessons
Only a handful of complaints out of hundreds of calls to a new state hotline for reporting race-based lessons have warranted investigation, Arizona's top education official said Friday.