Last week, the Arizona Department of Education said Kyrene School District could lose $1.5 million in federal funding over what it characterized as a new DEI policy. State Attorney General Kris Mayes now says the education agency has no ability to block the money.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne made the announcement after, he said, Kyrene adopted a policy that “embeds Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” language into its operations.
The district did not in fact adopt a policy, but instead gave an early read of the draft during a Governing Board meeting. It would need at least another read before adoption and can still be amended. Board President Kevin Walsh.
“No policy was adopted and any assertion by Mr. Horne that this district adopted a policy is just incorrect. But at our last board meeting, we read and discussed the value of supporting our staff’s social emotional wellness,” Walsh said.
In a statement on Monday, Mayes said Horne’s announcement equated to a baseless, politicized threat to cutting off federal funds.
