Audit Contradicts Arizona Chief on Ethnic Studies Courses

In past issues of InterCom we have noted articles about the ongoing controversy over ethnic studies classes in Arizona public schools. Here is the latest:

From http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/17/36tucson.h30.html?tkn=TNXFfnj8VEe4dYZE3tbkQ5DX062x1uS79qM2&cmp=clp-sb-ascd

Audit Contradicts Arizona Chief on Ethnic Studies
by Mary Ann Zehr
June 17, 2011

Tension within and outside the Tucson Unified School District over the fate of its controversial Mexican-American studies program increased this week after it became public that an audit of the program ordered by Arizona's state schools chief contradicts his determination that the program doesn’t comply with state law.

In a meeting on Friday, members of the Tucson Unified school board voted 4 to 1 to appeal state Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal's ruling that the district’s delivery of Mexican-American studies violates a new Arizona statute limiting the scope of such classes.

On June 13, Mr. Huppenthal, a Republican, said an investigation had revealed that the Mexican-American studies program was not in compliance with the state’s law governing ethnic studies taught by public schools. He gave the school district 60 days to comply or lose 10 percent of its state funding.

Read the full article at http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/06/17/36tucson.h30.html (a free subscription may be necessary to read the full article).