Superintendent of Public Instruction Huppenthal has found the Tucson Unified School District’s Mexican American/Raza Studies classes to be in violation of multiple Arizona laws. The laws included A.R.S. 15-112 A (2), 15-112 A (3), 15-112 A (4), 15-721, 15-722, and 15-341.
The Superintendent focused in part on the failure of the TUSD Governing Board to appropriately review and approve the Mexican American/Raza Studies curriculum, text, and materials before allowing them in the classroom. There is no evidence that the Governing Board ever reviewed or approved the curriculum and texts.
TU4SD member Steve Kirkpatrick expressed his gratitude to Superintendent Huppenthal for his careful and comprehensive examination and stated that, “it was unfortunate the the district did not cooperate fully with the investigators. The students in Tucson deserve all of our best efforts. The board has failed to protect our kids.” TU4SD is a community group working in support of public education and has been involved in this issue for some time. They provide a variety of educational information, district information, including excerpts from the Mexican American/Raza Studies classes.
In part the finding states, “Although district adopted textbooks appear to be used in the courses, official textbook and supplemental materials adoptions for both Language Arts and Social Studies do not include many of the books and materials observed by the auditors or those submitted to ADE for review. ”
The finding concludes, “As a result of the above findings, it is hereby ordered that the TUSD Board has 60 days to bring the Mexican American Studies Program into compliance with ARS 15-112. Failure to do so shall result in the withholding of 10% of state funds.”
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