‘Arizona Horizon’ features education stories in Arizona

Education in Arizona is at a critical crossroads, and our public affairs program “Arizona Horizon” is showcasing all the issues, diving into what’s working, what’s failing and what’s next.  Learn more below to stay informed and be part of the conversation shaping the future of education in our state.

Watch “Arizona Horizon” weeknights at 5 or 10 p.m. on air, or on our YouTube news channel, AZPBS Now, or catch full episodes online later or on the PBS app.

ESA program required to create risk-based auditing procedures – Aug. 28, 2025

As part of the state budget approved in 2024, the Arizona Legislature required the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program to work with the state’s Auditor General to create risk-based auditing procedures. The goal of that law, which went into effect in September 2024, is to ensure students and parents who use the program comply with rules on how the money is used.

Watch the story online where Caitlin Sievers, a reporter for Arizona Mirror, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the latest developments.

Elevate Phoenix: Arizona youth organization helps at-risk students – Aug. 27, 2025

Across hard-to-serve urban areas, at-risk students drop out of school in alarming numbers. Elevate Phoenix provides full-time salaried teacher-mentors, year-round programming, cross-age mentoring and a long-term relational approach.

Their areas of focus are: Accredited classes, mentoring, reading and literacy, graduation and post-secondary plans. Jazmine Hall, Development Director at Elevate Phoenix, and Amanda Covarrubias, Education Director at Elevate Phoenix, joined “Arizona Horizon” to provide more details on their youth organization.

Watch the story online for an in-depth look at how Elevate Phoenix is transforming the futures of Arizona’s students.

Court rules Arizona K-12 funding violates the state constitution – Aug. 25, 2025

The Maricopa County Superior Court has ruled on the constitutionality of Arizona’s system for funding the capital needs of K-12 public schools.

After reviewing the record and considering the arguments, the Court concluded the current public school capital finance system does not meet the constitutional minimum standards established by the Arizona Supreme Court. Danny Adelman, Executive Director at the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest, joined “Arizona Horizon” to speak about the ruling.

Watch the story online for a closer look at what this decision means for Arizona’s schools and students.

Head Start federal program faces citizenship rule pause – Aug. 11, 2025

Head Start is a federally funded program serving children and their families who are at or below the Federal Poverty Guidelines. The program provides early education for 3- to 5-year-old children, parent involvement and family support as well as comprehensive health and nutrition education. And Early Head Start serves pregnant women and children from birth to 3 years old.

Eve Del Real, Director of Early Head Start and Head Start, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss President Donald Trump’s recent directive requiring children to be U.S. citizens to enroll in Head Start.

Watch the story online to learn more about how this change could impact families and communities.

Super Why Reading Camps bring literacy to young learners in Arizona – Aug. 7, 2025

Children who attended a Super Why Reading Camp this summer headed home with tubs filled with books and school supplies after participating in a three-week program designed to build early literacy skills. The camps aim to give children a strong foundation in reading and literacy at an early age.

Behind the scenes, Arizona PBS staff members coordinated multiple Super Why Reading Camps, including efforts that extended to tribal communities.

Watch the story online to learn more about how these camps are helping young learners across Arizona.

Arizona’s Head Start program at risk amid federal budget cuts – May 15, 2025

The Trump Administration is considering a budget proposal that would eliminate funding for Head Start, following a federal funding freeze in January and a reduction in support staff for the program.

Eve Del Real, Director of Early Head Start and Head Start, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the impact of the funding freeze and staff reductions already underway.

Watch the story online to learn more about how these changes could affect children and families who rely on Head Start in Arizona.

Literacy is the Key: Building Arizona kids’ future success – April 28, 2025

Read On Arizona, the state’s early literacy initiative, has launched “Literacy is the Key,” a statewide campaign emphasizing that literacy is essential to a successful future for Arizona children.

Research shows being able to read by the end of third grade is the single most important factor in preparing students for future learning and the workforce, yet fewer than half of Arizona’s third graders are reading proficiently.

Terri Clark, Arizona Literacy Director at Read On Arizona, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss why early literacy is critical to both academic success and Arizona’s long-term economic goals.

Watch the story online to learn more about Read On Arizona.

Free, in-person arts field trips for low-income students – March 3, 2025

Act One, now in its 13th season, provides free, in-person arts field trips for students from low-income schools, ensuring access to arts education remains a top priority. The program partners with cultural institutions to offer immersive experiences such as backstage tours, Q&A sessions with performers and artists as well as hands-on learning activities maximizing the impact for students.

Dr. Beth Maloney, Executive Director at Act One, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss how the program inspires creativity and broadens educational opportunities.

Watch the story online to see how Act One is shaping the next generation of arts enthusiasts.

New report shows 1 in 3 Arizona students chronically absent – Feb. 24, 2025

A report from Helios Education Foundation and WestEd shows Arizona students are still missing too much school, with nearly one-third of elementary and junior high students classified as chronically absent. The “Still Missing Too Much School” report examined data from the 2022–23 school year and highlights how high absenteeism rates continue to contribute to educational inequalities across the state.

Paul Perrault, Vice President of Community Impact and Learning at Helios Education Foundation, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the findings and the implications for students’ academic success.

Watch the story online to learn more about the ongoing challenge of chronic absenteeism in Arizona schools.

Navigating the budget shortfall of Isaac Elementary School District – Feb. 4, 2025

Madeleine Parrish, Education Reporter at “The Arizona Republic” and azcentral.com, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss the Isaac Elementary School District in west Phoenix, which has overspent its budget by roughly $28 million.

A deal approved by Tolleson Union High School District’s Governing Board would allow the neighboring district to loan Isaac Elementary $25 million, but delays in approval from the Maricopa County Treasurer have raised concerns about payroll and financial stability. The district now faces a five-year repayment plan with a 6% interest rate.

Watch the story online to learn more about the ongoing financial crisis and investigation within the school district and education board.