State Superintendent and County Sheriff Criticize Scottsdale Schools Over ‘Leftist’ Curriculum

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne and Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan held a joint press conference to publicly condemn the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) for adopting a new social studies curriculum they say leans heavily on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) content and portrays law enforcement unfairly.

Horne, invoking a federal agreement districts signed to avoid DEI programming, expressed concern that the new curriculum breaches that commitment. He said he would formally notify the U.S. Department of Education if SUSD fails to revert to less “politicized” educational materials.

Sheriff Sheridan added that some passages in textbook excerpts could be interpreted as anti-police, citing references to initiatives like Campaign Zero. He asserted schools should teach history without encouraging skepticism toward law enforcement .

District Pushback

Scottsdale Superintendent Scott Menzel defended the curriculum, stating it meets Arizona academic standards and includes multiple viewpoints. He emphasized that the district does not promote anti-police sentiment, but rather equips students to analyze and understand history—including protests and policy debates.

The district dismissed Horne and Sheridan’s characterization of the material as “indoctrination,” saying the criticism “distracts from core issues like improving student performance in math, reading, science, and writing” .

What’s at Stake

• Federal Funding: Horne warned that violation of the signed federal DEI agreement could put Scottsdale’s federal education funds at risk—though federal courts have previously blocked similar actions targeting DEI policies.

• “Woke” vs. Balanced Teaching: Critics labeled the curriculum “leftist,” while supporters argued it provides students with historical context—including discussions on systemic racism and the police response to social movements .

What Happens Next?

Horne plans to submit a formal report to the federal Department of Education and track SUSD’s compliance. Meanwhile, the district is standing firm, urging a focus on improving student academic outcomes. Meanwhile, local officials and parents debate whether this curriculum opens safe conversation—or risks politically driven teaching.