Controversy continues to simmer in Scottsdale as Arizona's top education official and parents clash with the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) over its adoption of a new social studies curriculum. State Superintendent Tom Horne joined forces with concerned citizens at yesterday's press conference, claiming that SUSD had introduced a "DEI-oriented textbook" that they regarded as a form of indoctrination. Despite not having read the textbooks in full, Horne and others criticized the material for its portrayal of issues such as the pandemic, climate change, and policing, FOX 10 Phoenix reported.

In response to these allegations, some parents have backed the curriculum for addressing historical realities and promoting critical thinking. During a district meeting on May 13, one parent defended the inclusion of current events, saying, "You may not like the fact that George Floyd is brought up, but Derek Chauvin is spending time for murder. If you have a problem with that, and think it’s anti-police, I don’t know what to tell you," as relayed by FOX 10 Phoenix . In contrast, Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan raised concerns that the curriculum could sow fear and suspicion towards law enforcement at a time when de-escalation and community outreach are prioritised.

SUSD stood firm regarding the curriculum's integrity, ensuring that it was created through a transparent and non-partisan process. "Our mission is to cultivate critical thinking, not to promote any ideology," SUSD stated as a counter to Horne's assertions. The district further pointed out that the same educational materials have been adopted by other institutions, implying that targeting SUSD may be politically driven. This sentiment was echoed in a statement released by Savvas Learning Company, the publishers of the disputed social studies material. Savvas assured that their materials maintained editorial standards, presented balanced and unbiased content, and were aligned with state standards, according to ABC15 .

Yet, echoing Horne's concerns, some parents like Karen Martinson vocalized their apprehension about what they believe is a concerning message emanating from the curriculum. In a statement obtained by ABC15 , Martinson said, "As a Black lady, I don’t want my son learning about Black Lives Matter because it is too violent."