An 18-year-old student at the Linda Abril Education Academy was arrested after being found with a gun at school. Jim discusses how this situation might make people reconsider the on-campus police policy. 

Derek Lee with The Hope Institute joins the show to talk about the new partnership that will bring a suicide treatment center to Chandler Unified School District students. 

For the 2023-2024 school year, the Scottsdale Unified School District has implemented the “Away for the Day” policy for students in Pre-K through 8th grade. The policy requires students to put their cell phones and smart watches away during school hours.

The Scottsdale Unified School District introduced a new app this year, which allows parents to track their children when on the school bus. The app is called Stopfinder which allows parents to know if their children are on the bus and when they got off the bus.

The Arizona Board of Regents look to boost FAFSA completion with the Arizona College Connect platform. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne's plans to fund School Resource Officers have been approved by the Arizona State Board of Education. Jim and Jayme discuss his plans and break down the funding. 

In the newly sighed Arizona budget, more than $15 million dollars has been set aside to expand access to and create more resources within dual enrollment courses. Janice Palmer with the Helios Education Foundation explains the benefits of these classes. 

If the Phoenix Union High School Board inaction didn't show it, an action they took proves to Jim Sharpe they're political cowards — who waste people's time.

A new report shows Arizona could gain billions from increasing college enrollment and completion. About 45% of high school graduates enroll in postsecondary education the semester after graduating high school, according to the Arizona Education Progress Meter.

The Phoenix Union High School District board met to discuss whether to invite police officers back on their campuses but stalled on the vote for now. ABC 15's Venton Blandin joins the show with more details. 

Many schools were faced with high numbers of frequently absent students after the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Buckeye Elementary School District has reduced the amount of its chronic absenteeism. 

He ALWAYS procrastinated doing his homework, but @JimSharpe can't understand Gov. @KatieHobbs' procrastination which puts summer programs that help kids struggling in school in jeopardy.

Governor Katie Hobbs is stopping a free summer program for students, designed to help students catch up and first implemented during the pandemic. Another program, however, will be put in place. 

After the death of George Floyd and following protests, Phoenix Union High School District voted to remove school resource officers. Now, a safety committee met and decided to bring police back. 

Dr. Crow joins Mike to discuss how Arizona State University became involved in Arizona's growing economic environment.

Bales Elementary School in Buckeye was able to significantly decrease the rate of students considered chronically absent in just a few years. The school's principal shares how they did it. 

Beth Lewis joins Mike to discuss the Empower Hotline and the proposed changes to the Empowerment Scholarship Account.

Providing attainable housing is one way school districts are trying to retain and attract teachers. A report by the Vitalyst Health Foundation points to some efforts already underway in Arizona and gives school districts ideas on what they can do.

 After her family benefited from Arizona’s school vouchers program for years, Christine Accurso is now working to ensure it works properly for other parents as the program’s new executive director.

The Arizona Department of Education is investigating about half a dozen reports after launching a hotline for parents to report lessons they disapprove being taught in school.

Michelle Powers joins Mike to discuss social emotional learning in the classroom.

Using a lesson from early in his wife's teaching career has Jim Sharpe asking the ultimate question about teachers in Arizona. 

While the state as a whole is below the national average for graduation rates at 75%, in the Valley it is a spectrum of overs and unders for performance. 

Co-host of the Gaydos and Chad Show, Chad Benson, joins Jim and Jayme. They talk about education, including one school district's exclusion of teachers from Arizona Christian University. 

Tom Horne joins Mike to discuss his proposed changes to the ESA program.

Teacher's wages in Arizona have been raised significantly, but it may not be enough as other jobs have seen bigger increases. Plus, more on where in the state teachers make the most. 

Principal Wolford joins Mike to discuss Read Across America and traditional school curriculum.

Lawmaker Matt Gress, a Republican from Phoenix, proposed a bill that would give teachers the pay raise, in hope it will curb the state's teacher shortage. Most Democrats voted against it, citing long-term issues. 

The pandemic disrupted learning for all students, causing many to fall behind. The Buckeye Elementary School District found a way to not only get students back on track but to make significant academic improvements. And it only took a year to accomplish. 

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is prioritizing school resource officers over counselors and social workers when it comes to the School Safety Program, saying he wants to prioritize school safety. We’re hearing what Brenda Vargas with the Arizona School Counselors Association thinks about this.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said schools must prioritize having armed law enforcement officers over counselors and social workers to protect students and staff. This comes as schools prepare to apply for the School Safety Grant. Brenda Vargas with the Arizona School Counselors Association disagrees with Horne's position. 

On this special edition podcast of Arizona's News Roundup, KTAR's Griselda Zetino joins us for a deep dive into her four-part series examining chronic absenteeism in Arizona schools. Hosted by Taylor Kinnerup. 

As we round out our special series on chronic absenteeism, we hear from two education experts on what they're proposing to address this issue. 

The rate of students missing too many school days spiked following the pandemic in Arizona, and now schools are on the hunt for solutions. We explore some ideas being proposed. 

Leaders from the Avondale Elementary School District and the Washington Elementary School District share what their districts have done reduce the number of students missing too much school. 

After learning many students in their schools were becoming chronically absent, leaders from the Avondale Elementary School District and the Washington Elementary School District jumped into action. Their efforts are producing results. 

KTAR News 92.3 FM brings you a special series on chronic absenteeism in Arizona schools. It's a problem affecting one in five K through 8th grade students in Arizona, according to a recent report. We hear from Hedy Chang with Attendance Works about the reasons why students become chronically absent. 

Lawmakers are debating the "Aggregate Expenditure Limit," which a is a spending limit on schools. If the cap isn't raised, schools will not be able to spend money already budgeted for them. 

Chronic absenteeism is a problem in Arizona. The issue, defined as missing 10% of the school year, skyrocketed during the pandemic in line with national trends, according to a new report by the Helios Education Foundation in partnership with WestEd.

KTAR News 92.3 FM brings you a special series on chronic absenteeism in Arizona schools. In this conversation, Paul Perrault from the Helios Education Foundation breaks down a recent report that highlights how big the problem has become. 

KTAR's Griselda Zetino joins the show to discuss "chronic absenteeism," as part of her new series looking into the problem of more students missing school days. 

A new report by the advocacy group All in Education points to reasons why Latino students in Arizona continue to lag behind academically.

One of former Gov. Doug Ducey’s final acts in office could give hundreds of thousands of Arizonans a chance at higher education. 

PHOENIX- The fate of public school funding hangs in the hands of the state Legislature and Gov. Doug Ducey for a second time this year.

Since the school year started, Arizona has been hit with a rash of gun-related lockdowns and evacuations, but data suggests there hasn’t been a drastic increase in kids interacting with a gun.

 Nearly seven months after Grand Canyon University and the state announced the school would provide full-ride scholarships to students in the foster care system, recipients began moving onto campus Wednesday.

Jordan School District recently held a meeting to discuss whether they will ban cultural and religious Lei at their graduation ceremonies. Tracy Miller, Jordan School District Board President joins the show to discuss the board's decision.

The Jordan School District is gaining attention as a policy that would enforce restrictions on certain graduation attire including leis. The issue is likely to be addressed at a School Board Meeting within the Jordan School District this evening. Verona Mauga, Community Member 

When COVID first hit... the University of Utah decided that they would no longer require ACT or SAT scores for college admission... at least for 2 years. The University of California's board of regents, according to the WSJ, has done the same thing... but not for 2 years... for... forever.  They will no longer use ACT or SAT scores to determine college admission. Dave and Debbie discuss the future of the ACT or SAT

A 10 year old girl who went to Foxboro Elementary in Davis County died by suicide. She was bullied at school -- and the teacher was part of the problem.   Dr. Tom Golightly calls in to share steps they can take to see signs of distress in children