A Mexican-American study course in Tucson high schools violates state law and "it's got to stop," says incoming state Attorney General Tom Horne.
Horne, a Republican, the outgoing state schools superintendent, has been opposed to the Tucson Unified School District course offering since it began in 1997, The Arizona Republic reported Tuesday.
He contends it goes against a state law that says classes cannot be "designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group."
Schools that refuse to abide by state guidelines stand to lose 10 percent of their funding, which in Tucson's case would amount to about $15 million, the report said.
Tucson school Superintendent John Pedicone said he hoped to see more cooperation with Horne's replacement, John Huppenthal, who refused to comment on the issue, the newspaper said.
Pedicone said the course was no different than African-American studies that include slavery issues.
Regardless, Horne vowed to continue his campaign to abolish the course.
"It is inherently designed for students of a particular ethnicity and it's got to stop," Horne said.