2025 Education Priorities Revealed: Insights from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction

Arizona’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne, spoke to the Arizona Senate Committee on Education about his vision for schools in 2025. He kicked off his speech by expressing gratitude to the committee for passing a bill that expands school safety programs. This initiative, pushed by Chair Matt Gress, helps cover the costs of safety officers in schools, something Horne has strongly supported.

He shared a recent example from a Tucson school where a safety officer successfully managed a trespasser. Another part of the bill requires schools to submit their blueprints to local law enforcement for better emergency preparedness.

Horne also touched on what he called “philosophical issues” in education, particularly the teaching of Critical Race Theory (CRT). He argued that focusing on race doesn’t encourage hard work or creativity. In his opinion, the goal should be academic achievement rather than political ideologies.

On a related topic, Horne voiced his opposition to transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports. He believes biological males shouldn’t participate in these categories. This issue is ongoing, as a federal appeals court recently blocked Arizona from enforcing a law that would ban transgender students from joining school sports, stating that proponents did not prove it would ensure fairness for female athletes.

As for his priorities for the upcoming year, Horne emphasized the need to improve teacher retention and student test scores. He noted that more teachers are leaving the profession than joining it. He also mentioned the importance of renewing Proposition 123, a law that helps fund K-12 public schools and can increase teacher salaries.

Other priorities include leadership training for educators, supporting schools in low-income areas, and tackling the issue of fraudulent diplomas. Horne pointed out the troubling trend of schools having high graduation rates but low proficiency in basic skills.

He proposed reinstating a version of the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) test as a graduation requirement and focused on improving reading proficiency in elementary schools. Horne also suggested limiting bilingual education to help English language learners acquire the language more effectively.

In addition to traditional education methods, Horne discussed modern resources. He highlighted the Arizona Digital Education Library, which offers multimedia learning tools, including Khan Academy and materials from Prager University, a conservative organization. He endorsed Khan Academy’s AI tool, Khanmigo, as a way to support teachers without replacing them. The department has invested $1.5 million into this tool for the first 100,000 students.

Finally, Horne defended the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program amid criticism from Governor Katie Hobbs, who labeled it a costly mishap that wasted taxpayer money. Horne countered, saying he has taken steps to prevent fraud and waste, even hiring investigators to ensure funds are used correctly. While 85,024 students in Arizona currently benefit from the ESA program, Horne believes more attention and accountability are necessary to uphold its integrity.

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