STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – Arizona State Representative Michele Peña today sent a letter—cosigned by several House and Senate colleagues—to the State Board of Education urging members to authorize the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to begin rulemaking and correct the Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement Course Framework at the Board’s next meeting on Monday, December 1.

Representative Peña and her colleagues warn that the current rules put Arizona at risk of federal noncompliance and allow universities to insert political and race-based content into teacher preparation courses, contrary to state law and the purpose of SEI.

Constituents have reported that SEI coursework is being used to advance ideological material instead of focusing on research-based English language instruction. President Trump’s executive order prohibits the use of federal funds for DEI programming, and the current SEI requirements are not compliant, placing federal funding in jeopardy.

The lawmakers also raise concerns about the Board’s hesitation at its October meeting to begin the rulemaking process, despite ADE being prepared to move forward.

“Parents expect English-language instruction to focus on English-language instruction,” Representative Peña said. “Instead, they’re finding courses with ideological material that has nothing to do with helping students learn English. The Board can’t ignore federal requirements, and it shouldn’t look the other way while universities inject political content into SEI training. The framework needs to be corrected now, and delays only create further problems for students, teachers, and the state.”

State law requires SEI to be a research-based model for English acquisition. Adding DEI-aligned content or ideology undermines that purpose by dividing classrooms, distracting educators, and shifting instructional time away from what the law requires.

The lawmakers urge the Board to authorize ADE to begin rulemaking and remove any provisions that violate federal directives or the requirement for instructional neutrality.

A copy of the letter is attached.

Michele Penã is a Republican member of the Arizona House of Representatives serving Legislative District 23 in Yuma, Pinal, and Maricopa Counties. Follow her on X at @michelepenaaz.