Arizona Schools Chief Calls for More Safety Funding After Gun Incident

Superintendent Tom Horne says the legislature must prioritize resources for school resource officers and counselors.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Arizona's top education official, Superintendent Tom Horne, is calling for increased state funding for the School Safety Program after a gun was found at a south Phoenix school last week. Horne says the program, which supports the costs of school resource officers, juvenile probation officers, counselors, and social workers, needs more funding to address safety concerns and prevent school shootings.

Why it matters

The incident at Sunland STEAM Academy highlights ongoing concerns about campus safety and the need for adequate resources to protect students and staff. As Superintendent Horne notes, school shootings in other states have demonstrated the critical importance of having a strong school safety infrastructure in place.

The details

Last week, two students were arrested at Sunland STEAM Academy in south Phoenix after a gun was found on campus, leading to a brief lockdown. Superintendent Horne is now calling for the state legislature and governor to increase funding for the Arizona School Safety Program, which provides resources for school resource officers, counselors, and other safety personnel. Horne says the program currently supports nearly 500 such positions across over 1,000 Arizona schools, but districts and charters have requested $103 million in additional funding to expand these services.

  • Last week, two students were arrested at Sunland STEAM Academy after a gun was found on campus.
  • Superintendent Horne is calling for increased funding for the Arizona School Safety Program in the upcoming state budget.

The players

Tom Horne

Arizona's Superintendent of Public Instruction, who is advocating for more state funding for school safety measures.

Sunland STEAM Academy

A south Phoenix school where a gun was found on campus last week, leading to the arrest of two students.

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What they’re saying

“My biggest fear is that a maniac with a gun shoots up a school, killing or wounding children and adults as has happened in other states. For the upcoming state budget, the legislature and Governor are going to consider added funding for the highly successful School Safety Program so we can add more officers on campuses. They must do so. The need is clearly there, and we must have safe schools in Arizona.”

— Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction (azfamily.com)

“The high number of requests for money to pay for officers and counselors speaks volumes to the concerns school leaders have about campus safety. As last week's incident in Phoenix shows, the need for officers is great. The legislature and Governor must not fail in their efforts to find the resources schools need to protect innocent lives.”

— Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction (azfamily.com)

What’s next

The Arizona state legislature and governor will consider increased funding for the School Safety Program in the upcoming budget, which could provide resources for more school resource officers and counselors on campuses across the state.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing need for robust school safety measures, including adequate funding for school resource officers, counselors, and other personnel to protect students and staff. As Superintendent Horne emphasizes, the legislature must prioritize these resources to ensure the safety of Arizona's schools.