Ethnic-Studies Classes Tense Subject in Tucson

Protesters gather to support the Tucson Unified School District after Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal announced earlier this week that the district violated state law by teaching its Mexican-American studies program. A state audit contradicts Huppenthal’s finding, saying “no observable evidence was present to suggest that any classroom within the Tucson Unified School District is in direct violation of the law."

—Ross D. Franklin/AP

District appeals ruling that program violates law

By Mary Ann Zehr

Tension within and outside the Tucson Unified School District over the fate of its controversial Mexican-American studies program increased by a few notches after it became public last month 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 June 17, members of the Tucson Unified school board voted 4-1 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.

"People were in the mood that Huppenthal did a crazy thing because he went against his own audit, so there was no way they weren't going to appeal it," said Mark Stegeman, the...