The Arizona Department of Education says nearly a quarter of Arizona schools with School Improvement status have advanced their performance over the past year.
A school is considered under School Improvement status when it needs to raise its academic performance based on federal requirements.
State Superintendent Tom Horne says an initiative that educates teachers called Project Momentum has helped these schools leave improvement status.
“We also have literacy coaches and math coaches that go out to help the schools, and when they do that, the success rate goes up substantially,” he said.
He says one reason why some schools are underperforming is because there is a shortage of skilled teachers.
“We also have a teacher shortage, so you have classes with permanent substitutes who don't have any of the training that's needed,” he said.
He says he has been working with some Arizona universities to help give future teachers the skills they need to be effective in the classroom.
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At a time when many Arizona school districts are closing schools due to low enrollment, the Tempe Union High School District is seeing a slight uptick in students. -
An administrator at Saguaro High School resigned this week after facing accusations that he inappropriately messaged a student at a Scottsdale middle school on social media. -
Between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., community members will see an increase in emergency personnel including police units, fire trucks and ambulances on ASU’s Tempe campus. -
The Scottsdale Unified School District will close and repurpose two schools due to declining enrollment. Community members and some governing board members say the decision-making process was flawed.
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A state audit questions the value and legality of the Western Maricopa Education Center’s sponsorship with the Phoenix Raceway in Avondale.
