Tucson official touts benefits of school gardens to fight kids’ hunger

WASHINGTON - The director of Tucson Unified School District's Community and School Garden Program joined advocates from around the country Wednesday at a House Rules Committee roundtable on the ways that schools can help fight childhood hunger.


Tempe Healing Field returns for 20th anniversary of 9/11

TEMPE – The Tempe Healing Field 9/11 memorial is being held at Tempe Beach Park, to remember the nearly 3,000 people lost during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The Tempe Healing Fields pays tribute to those who died as a result of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

How students born after 9/11 are learning about the terrorist attacks

PHOENIX — How are educators teaching about 9/11 to students who have no recollection of that day?

The New York City Fire Department Rescue 4 fire engine was at Ground Zero in New York City on 9/11 and is now housed in the Hall of Flame Museum of Firefighting in Phoenix. (Photo by Molly Hudson/Cronkite News)

White House plan would help schools skirt Ducey ban on mask mandates

WASHINGTON - Gov. Doug Ducey's threat to withhold funding from schools that impose mask mandates took a severe hit Thursday, when the White House said local school districts can apply directly to the federal government "to restore funding withheld by state leaders."


Nonprofits to mark 20th anniversary of 9/11 with national day of service

PHOENIX-Across Arizona, nonprofits are commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks through the National Day of Service and Remembrance.


Maricopa County health care workers ask for school mask mandate as COVID pediatric cases rise

PHOENIX – Health care workers across Maricopa County signed a letter to the county Board of Supervisors asking for mask mandates in K-12 schools as more children are being hospitalized with COVID-19.


The results are in: Standardized test scores fell during pandemic year

WASHINGTON - Standardized test scores in Arizona fell across the board last school year, as COVID-19 upended learning through the year and led to a sharp drop in the number of students taking the tests, the Arizona Department of Education said.

Clarendon Elementary School photo

Some schools sticking with mask mandates, despite Ducey funding threat

WASHINGTON - Friday was the deadline for schools to drop mask mandates if they wanted to be eligible for a share of millions in COVID-19 state aid, but at least several districts in the state were refusing to comply with Gov. Doug Ducey's demand.


Essential but ignored: How day care powered the pandemic workforce

The pandemic exposed how vulnerable and essential child care providers are in America. The median hourly wage is $10.31, and most workers receive no benefits, but they play a crucial role in getting people back to work.


Child welfare systems face additional challenges during pandemic

Systems meant to deal with abused and neglected children are facing many new challenges in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which put many parents out of work and many families on the streets.


Jobs of desperation: How rideshare, food delivery workers lose in the gig economy

Rideshare and food delivery work became even riskier during COVID-19, which put thousands of people out of jobs and into the gig economy. Some now are trying to unionize to negotiate better pay and conditions.


School nurses find new ways to provide care during COVID-19

PHOENIX – For many families, school nurses are the first line of defense for children’s health care. But when schools transitioned to remote learning during COVID-19, nurses had to adapt to meet the needs of their students. One New Mexico district did just that.