Expect More Arizona

March 2010
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10 Mar

Arizona Legislature Deciding Fate of Early Childhood Funding

By Expect More Arizona

First Things First – established after Arizona voters approved a ballot measure to set aside funds to help young children start kindergarten healthy and ready to succeed – faces an uncertain future. In their attempt to sweep the funds, state legislators are considering adding a new ballot initiative this November that would allow Arizona voters to repeal their initial approval and redirect the dollars into the state’s general fund.

First Things First was created in 2006, when Arizona voters – through the Proposition 203 ballot initiative – decided to set aside 80 cents from each pack of cigarettes sold in order to fund the expansion of education and health programs for children from birth through age five. To date, First Things First has invested more than $141 million on programs proven to work at improving outcomes for children.

This measure is scheduled to be voted on by the legislature immediately. To advocate on behalf of Arizona’s youngest children and First Things First contact your state legislators by e-mail or call 602.926.3559 from the Phoenix area, or toll free statewide at 1.800.352.8404.

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Olympians Set the Standard for High Expectations

By Expect More Arizona

This winter, we witnessed athletes from around the world show what it means to expect more. Canada had never won a single gold medal on their home turf. They expected more and set the record for the most gold won in any Winter Olympics. The United States set out to dominate the medal count. We won 37. That’s an all time record.

In Olympic competition, we expect nothing but the best of athletes. In turn, athletes expect the best of themselves, aiming for a spot on the ceremonial platform and work their whole lives for a shot at the gold.

Now take that Olympic example of high expectations and apply it to Arizona’s education system. Do we have the same expectations for our students? Do we encourage students to have the highest expectations of themselves? In sports, average isn’t good enough. There’s much to be learned from a culture that sets the bar high and motivates everyone involved to rise to the occasion.

Quality Counts, an annual report card published by Education Week, grades all 50 states in the U.S. on six areas of education performance and policies, ranked Arizona an overall “C-”. Although Arizona’s grade is just slightly below the national average, the state’s ranking dropped from 43rd to 46th place this year. Maryland received the highest grade (B+), followed by Massachusetts and New York, both of which received overall “B” grades.

Arizona’s lowest marks were in the areas of K-12 achievement (D); teaching profession (D); and school finance (D+). The state’s highest grade was in the standards, assessments and accountability category (A-), an area in which most states scored high. With our state’s future success being largely dependent upon young people’s ability to compete in the global economy, Arizona has significant opportunity to improve support, performance and investment in education across the entire education continuum – from birth through career.

For the good of education and Arizona’s long-term prosperity, it’s time we took the lead of our world’s best athletes. In this new environment, average isn’t good enough. Let’s set our expectations high, commit to working hard, rally the support of the community and… Go for the gold! Learn more about how you can take action today.

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8 Mar

“Yes on 100” Launches to Rally Support of Temporary Sales Tax Increase

By Expect More Arizona

A nonpartisan group called “Yes on 100” has launched an effort to increase support of the proposed sales tax increase. Proposition 100 will be put to voters on May 18 and, if passed, will add a temporary one cent sales tax “for the purpose of funding primary and secondary education, health and human services and public safety.”

To learn more about “Yes on 100”, visit their Web site or connect with them on Facebook and Twitter. Check out the “Yes on 100” video to see what educators have to say about the Proposition.

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Help Celebrate Arizona’s Most Innovative Students and Educators

By Expect More Arizona

Science Foundation Arizona is looking for educators and students making significant strides in science, technology, engineering and math education. Nominate your Innovation Heroes from schools anywhere in Arizona, in metro or rural parts of the state.

Click here to download the nomination form and return it to hwilkinson@sfaz.org. If you have any questions or need more information on Innovation Heroes, contact Darcy Renfro drenfro@sfaz.org.

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4 Mar

Career Technical Education is Critical to Overall Education, Arizona’s Future

By Pam Ferguson

Career Technical Education (CTE), once known as vocational education, is vital to Arizona students and their future. CTE programs are aligned with the needs of industries, and we are proud to work with them to help students learn real-life work skills and careers, enabling them to get a head start on their chosen professions while they are still in high school.

Across Arizona, there are 1,670 CTE program courses offered in 72 occupational programs. More than 104,000 students benefit from the federal and state grants that fund these, without which it would be fiscally difficult for school districts to pay for on their own. With so many disciplines available for students to choose – from engineering to biotechnology to bioscience to automotive technology – the curricula is challenging and important, filling not only industry needs, but also providing opportunities for students to grow academically in core academic subjects.

Moreover, CTE participants learn much more than one skill. In fact, AIMS test results find that CTE-enrolled high school students score higher overall in math, science and reading than average. In the past year, more than two-thirds of those who completed CTE courses went on to community college, or were placed in jobs or entered the military.

Clearly we are still in tough economic times and must tighten our belts to help balance the state’s budget. However, there are budget cuts that make sense, and others that set off a chain of lost funding that could cause more damage than it is worth. One of these examples is a proposed reduction of all but $57,700 of the $11.5 million Vocational Education Block Grant, which funds vital Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs across the state.

As proposed in Governor Jan Brewer’s state budget proposal, the cuts will have the impact of a row of dominoes falling: the state will lose nearly $26 million in federal Carl D. Perkins funds, effecting nearly $37 million in lost monies from CTE programs at high schools and occupational students at ten community college districts statewide.

The chain reaction that cutting state funding for CTE programs will start would be devastating to students who want to graduate high school ready to start their careers, or be well-prepared for community college or a university. Removing the state dollars that bring in the federal funding to make their goals possible would not only be a major setback to them, it would hurt Arizona overall, as industries scramble to find trained, qualified workers, and potentially leave the state.

Learn more about Arizona’s CTE programs and the current proposed budget. To advocate on behalf CTE, contact your state legislators.

Pam Ferguson is the Executive Director of The Association for Career and Technical Education of Arizona.
pamferguson@acteaz.org

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3 Mar

Grad Nation Launches to Improve Graduation Rates

By Expect More Arizona

Earlier this week, America’s Promise Alliance launched a new phase in their Dropout Prevention Campaign in Washington D.C. with President Obama and Gen. Colin Powell. Grad Nation is “a 10-year campaign to mobilize the nation as never before to reverse the dropout crisis and enable our children to be prepared for success in college, work and life.” The campaign aims to ensure that 90 percent of today’s fourth graders graduate high school on time.

The Alliance will focus its work in communities with the nation’s 2,000 lowest performing high schools. These schools account for approximately half of all high school dropouts. At yesterday’s kickoff, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan explained that dropout rates are directly connected to our nation’s economic success.

“On average, each high school dropout is estimated to cost the taxpayers over $292,000 in lost tax revenue, government support, and incarceration costs. In today’s job market, you cannot drop out of high school anymore and land a decent job. All too often, dropping out of school is an apprenticeship for prison, not for success in the workplace.”

The Alliance believes this program will strengthen our schools so the United States can once again become the world’s leader in college graduates.

To help measure and understand student success, America’s Promise Alliance has also partnered with Gallup to create the Gallup Student Poll. The tool is “dedicated to measuring the hope, engagement, and well-being of America’s students.”

Arizona hosts an annual Youth Dropout Prevention Summit in partnership with America’s Promise and the Governor’s Office. This year’s conference attracted approximately 200 youth and individuals interested in increasing student graduation rates.

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1 Mar

Arizona Shut Out of EdWeek Bloggers’ “Race to the Top” Picks

By Expect More Arizona

Education Week bloggers Lesli Maxwell and Michele McNeil have come up with a fun way to pick which states will win a share of the $4.35 billion in federal stimulus funds through the Race to the Top initiative. According to ED.gov, the awards “will go to States that are leading the way with ambitious yet achievable plans for implementing coherent, compelling, and comprehensive education reform.”

As you can see from Maxwell and McNeil’s bracket, they don’t pick Arizona to advance out of the first round.

Under the leadership of Governor Brewer’s P-20 Council, Arizona has been competing aggressively to win a share of the funds. Why do you think we were omitted in these picks? Is this indicative of low expectations for education in Arizona? Or, do you even agree with the assessment?

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24 Feb

The Talent Dividend

By Expect More Arizona

The latest video from the City of Phoenix’s know99 Television features Carol Coletta, president and CEO of CEOs for Cities, explaining her theory of “The Talent Dividend.” She says that an increase of only 1% in college degree attainment would provide a $3.1 billion dollar increase in per capita income in Greater Phoenix.

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15 Feb

“Move On” House Bill Provides Motivated High School Students with Way to Advance When Ready

By Expect More Arizona

An important piece of legislation that will enable high school students to progress to the next grade level once they’ve mastered the required concepts is making its way through the Arizona legislature. Sponsored by Rep. Rich Crandall (R-Mesa), HB 2731, better known as the “Move on When Ready” bill, has passed the House Education Committee and will considered in the State Legislature. “Move On” is significant because if passed, it will be a step toward raising the bar for academic achievement as recommended by “Tough Choices or Tough Times,” a report from the National Center for Education and the Economy that lays out the framework for reforming the nation’s education system to make the U.S. more globally competitive.

One of the study’s recommendations calls for students to pass board exams showing they are ready for the rigors of postsecondary education, a provision included in the “Move On” bill. “Move On” will empower high school students who choose a rigorous high school curriculum through a Grand Canyon diploma pathway. Rather than requiring those who have demonstrated their readiness for the next level of education to stay in high school, HB 2731 will let students opt into the Grand Canyon diploma program and take assessment tests to graduate early, enabling them to head to university, trade, technical or community college courses at the next opportunity.

If passed, “Move On” will allow school districts and charter schools to begin offering the Grand Canyon diploma in the 2012-13 academic year. Students who decide on a Grand Canyon diploma course of study can graduate high school as early as the end of their sophomore year, provided they have mastered the necessary math and English concepts for college, as well as for other courses. HB 2731 provides assistance for students who need help getting through the program to ensure that all who pursue the Grand Canyon diploma are able to master the concepts and graduate by the end of their senior year. For more information on HB 2731, click here to download. Let your legislators know where you stand on HB 2371, click here.

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Arizona Stands for Children

By Jim Pitofsky

Arizona’s road to economic recovery continues to be filled with challenges, especially as it relates to education. As further education cuts loom on the horizon, I’d like to spotlight something really positive that arrived in our state with the New Year.

Stand for Children began in June of 1996 when 300,000 people gathered in Washington, D.C. to rally for America’s children. A little more than 13 years later, the Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation helped make it possible to bring to Arizona the organization that was born out of that movement. We helped bring them here because we felt they brought some unique skills that could affect long-term change in education, and ultimately, better outcomes for Arizona’s children.

Stand for Children is a non-partisan, grassroots nonprofit organization that builds effective local and statewide networks of parents, educators, and concerned community members who use the power of grassroots action to help all children get the excellent public education and support they need to thrive. Following specific priorities affirmed by state members, the group focuses on securing adequate funding for public schools and reforming education policies and practices to help children thrive academically, giving them the opportunities they need to become successful, productive citizens.

Currently, Stand has affiliates in Oregon, Washington, Massachusetts, Tennessee, and Colorado, all of which advocate for education reforms in a respectful, non-partisan way. In Arizona, Stand for Children has already established chapters in three school districts: Kyrene Elementary District, Phoenix Union High School District and Alhambra School District. The organization plans to form more chapters later this year.

Stand for Children is building a grassroots movement of citizens dedicated to investing in and reforming statewide children’s programs. On their Web site, they list their focus in Arizona as:

Set the bar higher and keep better track of student and school performance.
Support great teachers and principals to do their best work for students.
Achieve a stable, fair level of funding so that all Arizona schools — district and charter — have the level of support necessary to help all kids succeed.

Like me, you believe that we must act now to make education the best it can be in Arizona. That’s why you joined the Expect More Arizona movement to make education a top priority in our state (if you are just learning about us, please sign up now). To learn more about Stand for Children and how to get involved, go to www.stand.org/az.

Your commitment to organizations like Stand for Children and Expect More Arizona speaks volumes. It’s true, times are tough, but a stronger education system will create a stronger Arizona. We all want our state to thrive, but we can only stand up for Arizona if we stand for children.

Jim Pitofsky is Education Director of the Arizona Community Foundation and a member of the Expect More Arizona executive committee.

The Arizona Community Foundation and Helios Education Foundation are two of ten funders of Expect More Arizona.

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Expect More Arizona - Ready Kids, Ready Graduated, Ready Workforce

Arizona Universities Vote to Raise Tuition

Sunnyside's Ocotillo Elementary to close; 7 preschools set to move into its location

District programs ranked among top 7 in state

Students to rally in support of one-cent tax increase

Governor says tax hike is necessary

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