Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Horne, is pushing for increased standards and accountability in teaching the Holocaust across schools in the state. Despite a current law mandating Holocaust education, results from a recent survey conducted by Horne revealed that less than half of Arizona's schools confirmed they are teaching about the Holocaust and other genocides.

The survey, which was sent in January to approximately 750 districts and charter schools, received responses from 322 stating they are indeed conducting Holocaust instruction. Horne extended the deadline to February 23 for schools to report compliance with the current law, which requires Holocaust education at least once in middle school and once in high school. However, many schools haven't responded to the survey. “Since we first requested that schools attest to their compliance with the state mandate for Holocaust education for middle and high school students, we have received many responses, but not all districts and charters have replied. Arizona law is clear that this is a requirement for middle and high school students.  As Superintendent, I have the legal authority to make sure that laws pertaining to education in Arizona are being followed. Therefore, my enforcement action will be that for the online ADE School Report Card we will indicate in red letters any school’s failure to respond to the Holocaust education verification by February 23.” Horne said, as reported by the Arizona Department of Education's official website.

The lack of specificity in Arizona's existing law regarding the duration of Holocaust education prompted new legislation. HB2779, which recently cleared the House and moved to the Senate, aims to address this by requiring at least three days of education on two separate occasions between 7th and 12th grade. "That's why we need a bill giving it some substance, and this survey that we did from superintendents confirms that need," Horne explained in a statement obtained by AZFamily.

To add a layer of enforcement, schools not reporting their status on Holocaust education by the extended deadline will be marked in red letters on the online ADE School Report Card.  “After the horrific events of October 7, there was a one-sided pro-Hamas presentation at Desert Mountain High School that produced antisemitism among students and made Jewish students uncomfortable and fearful. If Holocaust studies are presented, students will be less gullible to antisemitic presentations and this legislation will strengthen that effort. I am grateful to Representatives Hernandez and Marshall for their bipartisan work to strengthen this law.” Horne added according to the same Arizona Department of Education report.

Furthermore, the Arizona Jewish Historical Society is currently fundraising to build a 27,000-square-foot Holocaust Education Center in downtown Phoenix. This center is envisioned as a resource for both teachers and students to engage more deeply with this pivotal history. The Phoenix Holocaust Association's Executive Director, Leslie Feldman, stressed the importance of such education, saying, "Teaching young people the history of the holocaust and the ongoing imperative of vowing never again has never been more important in my lifetime," as she told AZFamily. The intensified focus on Holocaust education in Arizona comes amidst growing concern over the rise of antisemitic rhetoric and a collective responsibility to combat hate through informed learning.