Horne backs safety, school choice in 2026 Arizona State of Education report

By Stacy Mantle
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Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne argued in his  2026 State of Education address that students cannot succeed academically if schools are not safe, urging lawmakers to increase funding for armed officers on school campuses.

“This year we are requesting an increase in the appropriation for police officers in the schools,” Horne said, citing data showing law enforcement is called to respond to student gun threats more than 500 times a year statewide. “In schools without police officers, we are playing Russian roulette with a catastrophe waiting to happen.”

In the Jan. 20 address to the Arizona House Education Committee, Horne said expanding campus security has been a priority since he took office in 2023, framing the issue as one of prevention rather than reaction. 

“There are no massacres in police stations because they can defend themselves,” he said. “We owe it to our students and staff to defend them.”

He warned lawmakers that failing to fund requested officers could have serious consequences if a preventable incident occurs at a school that sought but did not receive additional security resources.

State investments in academic intervention programs

Alongside safety, Horne highlighted academic improvement efforts led by the Arizona Department of Education, pointing to schools that have seen significant gains by concentrating on core instruction.

“Schools around the state are showing that when they focus on academics, students from all backgrounds succeed,” he said, pointing to Project Momentum schools that have demonstrated double the state average growth in reading and triple the growth in math.

Native American districts and equity-focused supports

Horne also cited collaborations with the Office of Indian Education, noting that several Native American districts more than doubled math proficiency rates, while some schools exceeded statewide averages in both math and reading. 

He described targeted support at a low-income Wilson School campus, where direct instructional coaching and classroom support contributed to a 27% increase in math scores.

Tutoring and pandemic recovery efforts

Redirected federal pandemic funds toward tutoring programs were cited as a key strategy to address learning loss, with early data showing accelerated student progress among participating students.

Horne pointed to changes in how federal COVID-era funds were used, saying money was redirected from non-academic projects to free tutoring for families who requested it.  According to Horne, more than 17% of participating students made six months of academic progress in a six-week tutoring cycle.

School choice and parental rights debate

On school choice, Horne defended the state’s ESA program, saying parents should have the right to select educational settings that meet their children’s needs.

“I do not understand how anyone can say the parents do not have a right to find a school that meets their child’s needs,” he said.

Horne also urged lawmakers to renew Proposition 123, advocating for language that would ensure teacher pay raises flow directly to educators rather than being absorbed at the district level.

He additionally promoted expanded career readiness efforts through student-industry partnerships designed to connect classroom learning with workforce skills.

Critics respond

“Where is the data on academic outcomes for students using ESA vouchers?” Assistant Democratic Leader Gutierrez asked during questions following the debate.

"That we don't have, because we don't test," Horne replied. "We typically never interfered in private schools."

Tyler Kowch, communications manager at Save Our Schools Arizona said Horne's report involved "cherry-picked statistics and pure bluster."

"Horne talked extensively about school safety — but didn't mention that voucher-funded private schools have absolutely 0% safety requirements or standards for the students they serve," Kowch said.

“Horne frequently references people who are ‘so immersed in political ideology that they lose sight of what is best for students,’ Kowch said. “Perhaps he should look in a mirror. Arizona teachers, students and their families deserve a leader focused on what's best for all students, not one obsessed with their political agenda."

Editor’s note: A grant from the Arizona Local News Foundation made this story possible. The foundation awarded 15 newsrooms to pay for solutions-focused education reporters for two years. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Stacy Mantle
Education Solutions Reporter

smantle@iniusa.org

Meet Stacy
Stacy Mantle is joining the team at Independent Newsmedia, Inc. as an Education Solutions journalist, thanks to a grant from the Arizona Community Collaborative. She has a long history in education that ranges from teaching junior high and middle school to developing curriculum and standards-based assessments.

Community: A longtime advocate for animal welfare, Stacy is deeply involved in rescue efforts and volunteers with several nonprofit organizations.

Random Fact: Once upon a time, she shared her home with a pet coyote and two wolf hybrids. The experiences were wild enough to become the subject of her first book!

Education: She holds a BA in English with a minor in Political Science, a Post-baccalaureate in Secondary Education, and an MBA with a emphasis on Marketing.

Hobbies: In her spare time, Stacy writes fast-paced urban fantasy novels, crafts small-batch artisan soap, and is always up for hiking or off-roading through the Arizona wilderness with her husband of 23 years.