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Superintendent Tom Horne says English immersion programs are better for students. Here's why

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced Tuesday that he’s allocating $40 million of federal COVID-19 relief money to offer tutoring for students who are behind in reading or math.

Students in first through eighth grades who are not meeting state proficiency standards in those two subjects will be eligible, although there’s only enough money to help about 54,000 students, out of the more than half a million who need it.

Horne has also been involved in a dispute with Attorney General Kris Mayes over dual-language programs in Arizona schools. Horne argues a voter-approved measure requires English language learner students to be in English immersion classes, rather than spending some of their day learning in their native language.

The Show sat down with Horne to talk about that and other education-related issues.

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Mark Brodie is a co-host of The Show, KJZZ’s locally produced news magazine. Since starting at KJZZ in 2002, Brodie has been a host, reporter and producer, including several years covering the Arizona Legislature, based at the Capitol.