Melissa Van Hook, a mother of two children with autism and co-founder of the East Valley Autism Network, said too many parents of students with disabilities have called her to report children being secluded and restrained at school. A 2014 report found that students covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act were disproportionately restrained and secluded and that Arizona schools are above the national average when it comes to restraining students. Read more» 
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All three public universities are proposing students charging more to help offset $99 million in state funding cuts for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Some students told the Board of Regents they want to preserve the quality of their education. Read more» 2
The 14-stop 'We Are Listening' tour, which kicks off Thursday in Kingman, is something Diane Douglas has wanted to do since becoming superintendent of public instruction in January, a spokesman said. Read more»
During the showdown over her firing of two State Board of Education staff members, Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas accused Gov. Doug Ducey of establishing a “shadow faction” including charter school operators and moving funds from traditional public schools to charter schools. Read more» 1
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas faced the State Board of Education and two employees she attempted to fire during a brief but tense meeting Friday. Read more»
Pima and Maricopa counties must maintain daily updated lists of those who have turned in early ballots if requested by state or county party chairpersons.Rep. Brenda Barton, R-Payson, wants to expand that requirement to all counties, saying it can be difficult to obtain early ballot information in a timely manner from election officials in rural Arizona. Read more» 1
With several relatives of those killed by distracted drivers urging support, a Senate committee advanced a bill Wednesday that would prohibit sending text messages while driving. Prospects for the measure by Sen. Steve Farley remain anything but certain. Read more» 1
With President Barack Obama proposing free community college in his State of the Union and proposed budget, a state lawmaker says Arizona should start laying the groundwork now. Read more» 1
Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas’ tough stance on Arizona’s use of the Common Core State Standards for Education may not be a winning argument with at least some of her fellow State Board of Education members. "That looks like a nuclear explosion. That just sounds ridiculous," said one. Read more» 2
Newly elected Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas called Arizona’s College and Career Ready Standards a federal mandate that hurts Arizona schoolchildren. She said AzMERIT, which is replacing the AIMS test, was adopted with too little public input. Read more»
