Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne delivered his annual State of Education speech this week, touching on 15 different initiatives.

State Superintendent Tom Horne delivered his annual "State of Education" speech to the House Education Committee Tuesday. Safety was a focal point during his speech, especially as just last week, a man armed with a gun and knife entered a Tucson school and was arrested by a school safety officer.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne gives his State of Education speech to the House Education Committee on Jan. 21, 2025.

State schools chief Tom Horne wants to go back to the day when students need to pass a test to get a high school diploma. In his annual State of Education address Tuesday, Horne said there are schools that are graduating up to 90% of their students yet with just 2% or 3% students being proficient in key subjects.