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Ariz. school district cuts ethnic studies

THIS STORY APPEARED IN

January 12, 2012

TUCSON - A school district in Tucson voted to dismantle its ethnic studies program after more than $1 million of monthly state funding was to be cut off in response to conclusions by Arizona’s public schools chief and a judge that the program violated the law.

The 4-1 vote Tuesday by the Tucson Unified School District means courses in the district’s Mexican-American studies program will cease immediately.

Last week, the superintendent of public instruction, John Huppenthal, ordered that 10 percent of the district’s monthly state aid - more than $1 million per month - be withheld until the district follows the law.

Huppenthal concluded during the summer that the program violated the law. The district appealed Huppenthal’s earlier findings, and an administrative law judge in December upheld Huppenthal’s decision.

The judge ruled that the program violated state law by having one or more classes designed primarily for one ethnic group, promoting racial resentment and advocating ethnic solidarity instead of treating students as individuals.

Board members supported revamping either the program or some classes so they are more comprehensive and include the contributions of all ethnicities.