Arizona made its English fluency test easier to pass. Experts say it will harm students’ ability to succeed.
In the Tucson Unified School District, the percentage of test-taking students who scored high enough to be classified as proficient in English more than doubled — from 10% in 2025 to 24% in 2026. Rather than a big leap in fluency, however, the test results reflect the Arizona Department of Education lowering the grade needed to pass.
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Sen. Mark Kelly accused Speaker Mike Johnson of shielding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth from impeachment until after the midterms by starting recess a day early. Hegseth’s effort to demote the retired Navy combat pilot is among the allegations.
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Arizona election officials offered assurance that mail voting will proceed as usual after the Supreme Court left new Postal Service ballot rules blocked. Three out of four Arizona voters vote by mail.
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