State Superintendent Tom Horne has confirmed that Arizona will be receiving a substantial federal grant aimed at supporting the creation and enhancement of charter schools in the state. The grant, totaling $34.8 million, allocated funds specifically for educational institutions targeting educationally disadvantaged students. In a report detailing the announcement, Horne highlighted the grant's pivotal role in launching 24 new charter schools and bolstering 23 existing schools through improved models and practices.
"Their work has resulted in the state receiving the largest recipient of this grant, per capita, in the country," Horne said, in recognition of the department's efforts to secure this funding. According to the Arizona Department of Education's statement, this initiative not only reaffirms Arizona's leadership in school choice but also ensures that approximately 10,000 students from underserved communities have access to high-quality charter schools.
The grant's objectives include not only the increase of high-quality charter schools catering to educationally disadvantaged students but also the aim to close existing academic achievement gaps. These students encompass a broad spectrum, including those who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, and English Language Learners. The mission extends to enhancements in teaching and learning through technical assistance and promotes higher education opportunities through dual or concurrent enrollment in college-level courses.
"Every student in every part of our state, urban or rural, rich or poor, deserves this opportunity and I am very pleased to be a part of this effort," Horne told the Arizona Department of Education. With the expectation set that students will demonstrate at least one year of academic growth in state tests for critical subjects such as math, reading, and language arts, there's also a concentrated effort on tracking three-year cumulative growth. Funded through September 2029, this effort represents a long-term commitment to improving Arizona's education system and supporting its diverse student population.
