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Arizona schools chief Horne defends stance on English language instruction model in Yuma

KAWC | By Chris McDaniel
Published August 31, 2023 at 3:16 PM MST
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (at left) was at Arizona Western College in Yuma on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023. Horne was at AWC to attend the regular monthly meeting of the state Board of Education. At right is Dr. Daniel Corr, President of AWC.
Victor Calderón/KAWC
State Schools Chief, Tom Horne (at left) was at Arizona Western College this week. He was here to attend the regular monthly meeting of the State Board of Education. Seen at right is Dr. Daniel Corr, President of AWC.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne was at Arizona Western College in Yuma this week.

Superintendent Horne was here to attend the regular monthly meeting of the State Board of Education.

During Horne's visit, several members of the community lambasted him over his stance on enforcing the state’s voter-approved, English language instruction model. During a public comment period, educators from throughout the state spoke about what they said are the benefits of dual language or bilingual education programs.

The law mandates that all students be taught in English, no matter their primary language.

He spoke with KAWC’s Chris McDaniel, following the conclusion of his meetings on Tuesday.

Chris can be reached at 928-317-6077.

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KAWC reporter Victor Calderón contributed to this report.
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Chris McDaniel
Chris McDaniel is a Yuma native and fourth generation graduate of Yuma High School. He began his print journalism career at the Yuma Sun as a reporter in 2009. He later worked in the Pacific Northwest as an editor for Peninsula Daily News, as arts editor for The Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader, and as publisher for a small weekly newspaper in the badlands of Montana. He is a graduate of Peninsula College, where he earned a Bachelor of Applied Science in Management degree. He has served as host for KAWC's Morning Edition and All Things Considered and spends much of his time gathering reports from the field in Yuma and La Paz Counties.
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