Arizona’s Urgent Call for Teacher Pay Raises and Policy Revisions
Amid rising concerns over teacher attrition, Arizona’s State Superintendent, Tom Horne, addressed legislators on the pressing need to increase teacher salaries. This call for action comes as both Democrats and Republicans at the state Capitol find common ground on this issue.
Horne advocates for a swift legislative measure that would utilize the state land trust to fund these pay raises, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. “The emergency is so great about more teachers leaving than coming into the profession, that I think we may have to make it the highest priority to raise the income of our teachers,” Horne stated.
In a bid to ensure that funds are directly allocated to educators, Horne suggests bypassing school districts. This approach is aimed at rectifying disparities observed in the previous “20X20” plan initiated by former Governor Doug Ducey, where the promised 20% pay increase by 2020 was inconsistently applied across districts.
School Vouchers
Horne also oversees the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESA), a private school voucher program. Under Ducey’s administration, the program was expanded to include all Arizona students, a move that met with opposition from Democrats who continue to push for restrictions.
While a federal version of ESAs has been enacted with income limitations under President Trump’s administration, Arizona legislators remain divided. When asked about potential income caps on the state program by Rep. Matt Gress, Horne refrained from taking a stance, remarking, “This is something for the legislature to decide, and I’ve decided not to impose on your turf on that subject.”
Horne’s position on ESAs is a focal point in his primary challenge from GOP State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, who believes more should be done to support the program.
DEI Policy
On another front, Horne expressed readiness to withdraw funding from schools that incorporate “diversity, equity, and inclusion” (DEI) in their teaching standards. He aims to eliminate DEI-related language from educational guidelines.
Horne’s stance aligns with an executive order from President Trump that threatens to cut federal funding for entities teaching DEI. Horne said that may put hundreds of millions of dollars at risk. He stated, “If they give me the authorization, I will cut off those funds because I think — I agree with the administration philosophically that people should be treated based on individual merit and not on what race they are born into.”
While DEI initiatives aim to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities, they face criticism from some Republicans who argue these measures lead to reverse discrimination.
Focus on Literacy
With literacy rates declining nationwide, Horne is advocating for stringent measures in Arizona. He proposes that third graders should not progress to fourth grade without passing an advanced literacy test.
Noting the importance of this policy, Horne commented, “Students are going to the fourth grade that aren’t really proficient in reading.” Despite potential backlash from parents, Horne asserts that retaining students who are not reading proficiently is in their best interest for long-term educational success.
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