In the mid-2000s, he put forward a legislative proposal to bring charters closer to funding parity with district schools.Īrizona Charter Schools Association President Jake Logan said the group appreciates Horne’s educational approach. He has also expressed his intention to support charter schools in Arizona.ĭuring his previous superintendent terms, Horne generally defended the school funding status quo for district schools but pushed for charter schools to get more money. “We're going to try to make sure everybody's aware of the choices that they have,” Horne said. He would not say if he planned to advocate for more data collection to show that low-income families were, in fact, benefitting from the program, nor would he say if he would seek out an income requirement. But Horne would not be pinned down on modifications to the program that would help ensure it is accessible to low-income families. Horne has said he supports the voucher program because it helps low-income students access private education. Arizona’s voucher program gathers less user information and has fewer accountability measures than many programs in other states.Īrizona education Who is applying for private school vouchers? What we know “Because Arizona is home to the nation’s largest Empowerment Scholarship Account program, it is incredibly exciting to finally have a Superintendent who supports the parents who are opting to use this program so they can freely choose the best education options for their children,” Smith said.īut provisions written into the legislative language of the school voucher program assure data will not be collected about the performance of students who receive vouchers, how long they stick with their new learning models, their race and socioeconomic background or how often families have to supplement private school tuition with their own funds. Steve Smith, Arizona state director for the school choice group American Federation for Children, said he was excited for a state education leader who supports not only public but also private and homeschooled students. “We congratulate Tom Horne on his success and look forward to working with him to support and build on the early success of the Empowerment Scholarship Account program,” said Andrew Clark, president of the national school choice group called yes. She encouraged people not to sign petitions that would have put the Legislature's decision to expand the voucher program before voters on the Nov. Accurso has been one of Arizona's most visible voucher advocates. Horne has named Christine Accurso "executive director of the ESA division" at the Arizona Department of Education, Accurso announced Thursday on Twitter. Following a legislative battle this summer, Arizona expanded its Empowerment Scholarship Account program to allow universal eligibility, making it the most expansive voucher program in the nation. They anticipate Horne will be a strong ally in their backing of a bigger, uninhibited school voucher program. School choice advocates celebrated Horne’s victory. Who is Tom Horne? Who is Tom Horne? What to know about Arizona’s new superintendent of public instruction School choice advocates celebrate “Not just his constituency or his core base of voters, but every single student,” she said. Forty-seven percent of Arizona’s public school student population is Latino, and 64% is not white. “It’s going to be important for superintendent-elect Horne to remember that he is elected to represent all Arizona students,” said Stephanie Parra, executive director of ALL In Education, an organization that aims to increase the number of Latino education leaders in Arizona. With those obstacles in mind, some education advocates said they hope to see Horne the candidate - who focused on hot-button issues like critical race theory - turn into an administrator who keeps the needs of all the state’s students and educators in mind. Total public school spending has hit a limit that could force massive budget cuts if the Legislature doesn’t act. A major staff shortage has left schools across the state scrambling for teachers, bus drivers and kitchen staff. He’s expressed a desire to raise test scores, make classrooms more disciplined, and keep English language learners from accessing bilingual education.īut the system that he will oversee faces existential challenges.Ī newly minted school voucher program will steer millions of taxpayer dollars to lightly regulated private schools. Horne is returning to the Arizona Department of Education with several big-picture goals.
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