Title: Arizona Hispanic Youth Symposium
Location: Arizona State University
Read more: Click here
Description: From July 7th, 2010 to July 10th, 2010, the participants of the Arizona Hispanic Youth Symposium will convene at Arizona State University in Tempe for a four-day, three-night program that allows them to develop a network of peers and mentors, learn about resources and tools for college, and develop a long-term career vision.
Start Date: July 7th, 2010
End Date: July 10th, 2010
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Education Headlines
Brewer, Goddard spar over immigration, state budget
Thursday September 2nd
Republican Gov. Jan Brewer and Democratic challenger Terry Goddard attacked each other's ... LEARN MORE »
AZ Fact Check - Proposition 107
Thursday September 2nd
Proposition 107 would amend the Arizona Constitution to prohibit affirmative-action programs. If ... LEARN MORE »
School notes
Thursday September 2nd
Tucson, AZ: Parents interested in building a better relationship with their children can ... LEARN MORE »
New education report card grades student success, Arizona lags behind
Wednesday September 1st
Today, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) released a new book that provides a ... LEARN MORE »
Judge to hear arguments on Arizona's efforts to help students learn English
Wednesday September 1st
A federal judge is hearing arguments this week over whether the state is complying with federal ... LEARN MORE »
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About the Blog:
Welcome to the Expect More Blog. You are a part of the movement to make education a top priority in Arizona. This is your movement and your blog; we encourage you to stay involved by posting comments and letting us know what you'd like to see here.
Thank you for joining us. Please share Expect More Arizona with all of your family and friends. Together, we will make Arizona a model for excellence in education.
Expect More Blog
Title: Special Election: School Budget Override
Location: Across Arizona (check with your school district for local information)
Register to Vote: Click here
Description: On March 19, 2010, voters in many districts in Arizona can vote on a school budget override. Check with your local district for details.
Date: March 19th, 2010
Title: Arizona Statewide Mayoral Summit on Afterschool/Expanded Learning
Read more: Click here
Description: Arizona is one of only five states selected by the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education and Families to host a Statewide Mayoral Summit on Afterschool/Expanded Learning.
On March 3rd, 2010, Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup, Flagstaff Mayor Sara Presler, and Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman will co-host the Summit with the National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, the McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families, and the Arizona Center for Afterschool Excellence.
Mayors and city representatives from across the state will attend the Summit to be part of a dialogue on strengthening our cities’ leadership role in providing high quality afterschool programs. Arizona educators and business leaders will also be present at the Summit, adding important perspectives to the conversation.
Date: March 3rd, 2010
24 Feb
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.
Title: HandsOn Greater Phoenix: Serve A Thon for Schools
Location: Across Greater Phoenix
Read more: Click here
Description: Revitalize schools and fundraise for HandsOn Greater Phoenix! Serve A Thon for Schools is a day of volunteer service that mobilizes 2000 caring Valley residents to revitalize public schools and fundraise for HandsOn Greater Phoenix. This incredible event takes place on Saturday, April 24, 2010, 8am – 12pm, and volunteer teams and individuals are needed to paint, landscape, refresh, and revitalize under-resourced schools across the Valley.
A registration fee of $25 per volunteer ($10 for students) is required to cover the costs of project supplies like paint and trees, water, snacks and an event t-shirt.
Start Time: 8:00 am
Date: April 24th, 2010
End Time: 12:00 pm
Title: Tools for Leading Systems Thinking in Our Schools
Location: Arizona State University-SkySong 1475 North Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
Read more: Click here
Description: “Tools for Leading Systems Thinking in Our Schools is a follow-up to the systems thinking introduction presented during the Fourth Annual Teacher Leadership Institute in June 2009.
The workshop will provide an extended introduction to systems thinking and its connections to critical leadership skills and school improvement efforts.
During the workshop, participants will:
* Develop skills and knowledge in the use of systems thinking concepts and tools.
* Experience, practice, and discuss interactive, inquiry-based professional development and school improvement strategies.
* Use systems thinking tools to analyze complex issues and identify high leverage interventions.
* Develop and share a plan of application relevant to school leadership.\”
Start Time: 8:00 am
Date: May 1st, 2010
End Time: 4:00 pm
Title: The Education Coalition: AZ Learning First Alliance Community Engagement Series
Location: Chandler Unified School District 1525 W. Frye Rd
Read more: Click here
Description: “We have never needed leadership for public education in Arizona like we do today. Years of policy choices, economic conditions, and continued budget cuts have put pre-school through university education at great risk here in our state. But we believe we CAN make a difference. We believe there are better solutions. We will view the video presentation, “Education and the Economy in Arizona: Creating the Essential Connections” and engage in facilitated discussions in communities across the state of Arizona. Results of these conversations will be shared with participants, key leaders and policy makers in our local communities and our state. We hope you will join us and bring a friend.”
Start Time: 6:00 pm
Date: February 23rd, 2010
End Time: 8:00 pm
Title: Pima County Business Education Roundtable
Location: 3901 W. Linda Vista Blvd. Tucson
Read more: Click here
Start Time: 2:00 pm
Date: March 4th, 2010
End Time: 4:00 pm
15 Feb
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.
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.