PHOENIX The state Department of Education is calling on a southern Arizona school district to return nearly $1.2 million of state funding on grounds that the district illegally provided free education to Mexican students not living in Arizona during three recent school years.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says state auditors found that the students involved claimed to live in Arizona but actually reside in Mexico and crossed the border daily to attend school in the Ajo Unified School District.
Ajo Superintendent Robert Dooley says the district relied on documentation provided by Pima County and that district officials have no desire to break the law. He says he anticipates state and district will try to negotiate an agreement.
Horne: Ajo schools owe state $1.2M for enrolling Mexican students
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says state auditors found that the students involved claimed to live in Arizona but actually reside in Mexico and crossed the border daily to attend school in the Ajo Unified School District.
Ajo Superintendent Robert Dooley says the district relied on documentation provided by Pima County and that district officials have no desire to break the law. He says he anticipates state and district will try to negotiate an agreement.
Horne: Ajo schools owe state $1.2M for enrolling Mexican students
