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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona schools chief says history book (that he hasn't read) is too 'woke'
Just 40% of Arizona's public school students are proficient in English language arts, and a dismal 32% can pass a standardized math test. A consumer research company last fall analyzed data from all 50 states and Washington, D.C., in four key areas — K-12 performance, school funding, higher education quality and safety — and concluded that public education in Arizona is the worst in the nation. So, naturally, state Superintendent Tom Horne on June 11 blasted the Scottsdale Unified School District for being 'woke.' Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan held a news conference to complain about the district's plot to teach a 'leftist' view of U.S. history to next year's high school students. Horne was particularly exercised by a passage that says some Black Lives Matter activists believe some deaths that led to the movement were 'the result of deeply embedded racism.' 'They present a one-sided presentation that's trying to get students, impressionable students, to believe that racism is deeply embedded in this country,' said Horne. Said Horne, who acknowledged he hasn't actually read the textbook in question. Said Horne, who is under fire from the hard right and now has Kimberly Yee and her handler Sen. Jake Hoffman nipping at his heels in next year's Republican primary election. Horne threatened to tell the Trump administration that Scottsdale is teaching 'diversity, equity and inclusion' in the hope that President Donald Trump will yank away all federal funding from the district. Better, I suppose, to penalize poor and disabled children who benefit from those funds than to allow high school students to be presented with a perspective that racism exists. The school board voted 3-2 on May 13 to adopt the U.S. History Interactive High School Curriculum by Savvas Learning Company. The curriculum was chosen in a public process and at the recommendation of a committee comprised of five teachers, one high school administrator and one community member. The school district says no parents applied to be on the committee. Some parents later objected at last month's school board meeting, however, saying the textbook contained anti-police 'propaganda.' That was enough for Sheridan, who at the June 11 press conference called it 'counterproductive for schools to push a misguided and inaccurate narrative that will make students fearful or suspicious of their local law enforcement officers.' Said Sheridan, who like Horne did not actually read the book. Superintendent Scott Menzel called Horne's and Sheridan's accusations 'simply untrue and unsupported by fact.' Opinion: Republicans can't define DEI in Arizona, much less stop it 'We would never adopt a curriculum that was anti-police,' he told a reporter. 'We do have, historically, situations where some people argue that we should defund the police. Here in Arizona, we had people who removed school resource officers. That's not something that we would ever contemplate, but from a historical perspective our students should be able to wrestle with why someone might have made that argument.' Ironically, Menzel didn't catch the livestreamed news conference. He was, at the time, attending a party honoring Scottsdale's retiring police chief. Having not read the 1,200-page textbook, I can't say whether the Scottsdale school board is engaged in a dastardly plot to turn out far left activists. My guess is the district is trying to grow young adults with critical thinking skills. My further guess is there are a plethora of school choice options open to any parent who objects to exposing their teens to the fact that some people believe racism is still a problem in this country. I get it. We don't like our history to be messy, even though our history is, you know, messy. Kind of like how rioters in 2021 can be 'patriots' as they attack police officers on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, even as rioters in 2025 can be 'vicious criminals' as they attack police officers on the streets of Los Angeles. Yeah, better if the kids don't get a chance to wonder about that. Reach Roberts at Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @ Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tom Horne blasts Scottsdale history book. But is it 'woke?' | Opinion
Associated Press
10-02-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Savvas Learning Company Wins Tech & Learning Best of 2024 Award for its New Savvas CTE Courses
Innovative, digital career and technical education courses recognized as among the most impactful educational technologies helping schools improve teaching and learning PARAMUS, N.J., Feb. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Savvas Learning Company, a next-generation K-12 learning solutions leader, is excited to announce that Savvas CTE, its offering of online career and technical education (CTE) and certification prep courses, has won the Tech & Learning Best of 2024 Award. The Best of 2024 award program celebrates the brightest new products in the educational space — the technology that's been turning heads, supporting teachers, and helping students to learn faster, easier, and more successfully than ever before. Tech & Learning selected Savvas CTE as a winner in the secondary education category of the most impactful educational technologies helping schools improve teaching and learning in 2024. Savvas CTE offers a diverse catalog of innovative courses, aligned with nationally recognized career clusters, that inspire middle and high school students to explore career paths and develop the skills needed for success in today's high-interest, high-demand jobs. Many Savvas CTE courses also prepare students to take industry-recognized certification exams, helping them earn resume-boosting credentials and graduate as certified professionals. Providing engaging content and interactive learning features, Savvas CTE courses are designed to maximize student learning, motivation, and achievement. 'Our focus at Savvas is to provide students with a strong foundation of the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond,' said Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. 'As an all-digital solution, Savvas CTE offers students greater access to career-exploring opportunities to gain job-ready skills and feel confident for their future. We are thrilled that Savvas CTE has been honored with this Tech & Learning Best of 2024 award.' Savvas CTE is meeting the growing demand for college and career readiness solutions that help students prepare for their future after high school by offering career-launching courses in fields that many young people want to pursue, from drone piloting and cybersecurity to esports, AI, and aeronautics. A major benefit for educators is that Savvas CTE provides a turnkey learning solution that's easy to implement and integrates seamlessly with the learning management systems schools use most. What sets Savvas CTE apart is that its courses are flexibly designed with an engaging instructional experience for both in-person and virtual learning, making them accessible anytime, anywhere. Tech & Learning's panel of judges praised the product, commenting: 'Savvas CTE is an innovative digital platform that helps middle and high school students explore careers and build in-demand job skills. … By bridging gaps in career readiness and offering flexible, personalized learning, Savvas CTE sets students up for success in today's ever-changing job market.' 'We saw an explosion of innovation in educational technology in 2024, and these nominated products represent the best of the best,' said Christine Weiser, content director for Tech & Learning. 'Our judges were impressed with the breadth of these winning products that empower deeper learning, personalized experiences, and student engagement.' ABOUT SAVVAS LEARNING COMPANY At Savvas, we believe learning should inspire. By combining new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of interacting, we design engaging, next-generation K-12 learning solutions that give all students the best opportunity to succeed. Our award-winning, high-quality instructional materials span every grade level and discipline, from evidence-based, standards-aligned core curricula and supplemental and intervention programs to state-of-the-art assessment tools and the industry's most innovative portfolio of college and career readiness solutions — all designed to meet the needs of every learner. Savvas products are used by millions of students and educators in more than 90 percent of the 13,000+ public school districts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, as well as globally in more than 125 countries. To learn more, visit Savvas Learning Company. Savvas Learning Company's products are also available for sale in Canada through its subsidiary, Rubicon.
