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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

31 Mar
Arizona Can’t Afford to Lose Ground in Early Learning for Kids
By Expect More Arizona

The following article was posted on Arizona Central on March 30, 2010:

Arizona Can’t Afford to Lose Ground in Early Learning for Kids
By Judy Jolley Mohraz and Paul J. Luna

A dad dropping off his infant daughter at a child care center wants to know when he leaves that the people there will keep her safe and are educated to teach her fundamental skills to thrive.

A mom at her wit’s end because her baby won’t stop crying doesn’t know where to turn and finally calls the Birth-to-Five Help Line, receiving valuable guidance to help calm her nerves and her child.

New parents, holding their baby for the first time, are provided with an Arizona Parent Kit to help them better understand the critical importance of these early years of life and their role in helping their child grow up happy, healthy and ready to learn.

Research shows that children need a healthy environment and high quality learning experiences in the early years, birth to five, to succeed in school and life. In truth, most families need some level of assistance in raising their children; and for many that support comes from the variety of vital services in our community.

Understanding the critical importance of these early years, both Helios Education Foundation and Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust have committed to investing in early learning. We believe it is the critical first step to increasing the long-term success of Arizona’s youngest children as well as the economic prosperity of our state.

Investing in the early years—providing our children with the social, emotional and cognitive skills necessary for school success and to be productive members of the community—reduces the amount of money we must direct to remedial efforts.

The return on investment speaks for itself: For every dollar we invest in providing quality early learning, we save up to $16 on costly “fixes” on the back end.  The benefits are even greater when quality early learning is available to Arizona’s most vulnerable children.  We have made significant progress in Arizona over the past five years. Voters approved tax dollars to support early care and education. The state launched all-day kindergarten and integrated early learning into statewide public awareness efforts like Expect More Arizona.

Our concern is that we are losing ground with the state’s current decisions, and the contributions of our foundations cannot begin to fill the enormous gaps.  At a time when most conversations are about cutting costs or redirecting dollars, our foundations stand firm that early learning is not the place where those cuts should be made. Our success as a state in the future depends on the investments we make in our children today.

Paul J. Luna is President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation, and Chair of the Expect More Arizona Board.
Judy Jolley Mohraz is President and CEO, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and a member of the Expect More Arizona Board.


Higher Education Colloquium: Michael Crow (ASU President)
April 29, 2010

Title: Higher Education Colloquium: Michael Crow (ASU President)
Location: University of Arizona College of Education
Read more: Click here
Description: HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE NEW ECONOMY: CRISIS OR OPPORTUNITY?
Higher education is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. The nationwide economic recession has left many state budgets in an upheaval and has severely impacted institutions of higher education across the United States. Public universities in particular are caught in a tight balancing act of generating additional revenue while maintaining its land-grant mission. While higher education scholars have investigated and theorized institutional change few have actually engaged institutional leaders and the local community, including legislators, lobbyists, and other leaders on the current problems, the decision-making processes, and creative solutions. This unique colloquium invites higher education and community leaders to share their experiences and insights and engage in meaningful dialogue on forging unchartered solutions.
Start Time: 12:30 pm
Date: April 29th, 2010
End Time: 1:45 pm

Higher Education Colloquium: Roy Flores (Pima Community College Chancellor)
April 15, 2010

Title: Higher Education Colloquium: Pima Community College Chancellor: Roy Flores
Location: University of Arizona College of Education
Read more: Click here
Description: HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE NEW ECONOMY: CRISIS OR OPPORTUNITY?
Higher education is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. The nationwide economic recession has left many state budgets in an upheaval and has severely impacted institutions of higher education across the United States. Public universities in particular are caught in a tight balancing act of generating additional revenue while maintaining its land-grant mission. While higher education scholars have investigated and theorized institutional change few have actually engaged institutional leaders and the local community, including legislators, lobbyists, and other leaders on the current problems, the decision-making processes, and creative solutions. This unique colloquium invites higher education and community leaders to share their experiences and insights and engage in meaningful dialogue on forging unchartered solutions.
Start Time: 12:30 pm
Date: April 15th, 2010
End Time: 1:45 pm

Higher Education Colloquium: Paul Luna (Helios Foundation) and Jack Jewett (Flinn Foundation)
April 8, 2010

Title: Higher Education Colloquium: Paul Luna (Helios Foundation) and Jack Jewett (Flinn Foundation)
Location: University of Arizona College of Education
Read more: Click here
Description: HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE NEW ECONOMY: CRISIS OR OPPORTUNITY?
Higher education is facing an unprecedented economic crisis. The nationwide economic recession has left many state budgets in an upheaval and has severely impacted institutions of higher education across the United States. Public universities in particular are caught in a tight balancing act of generating additional revenue while maintaining its land-grant mission. While higher education scholars have investigated and theorized institutional change few have actually engaged institutional leaders and the local community, including legislators, lobbyists, and other leaders on the current problems, the decision-making processes, and creative solutions. This unique colloquium invites higher education and community leaders to share their experiences and insights and engage in meaningful dialogue on forging unchartered solutions.
Start Time: 12:30 pm
Date: April 8th, 2010
End Time: 1:45 pm

Tony Wagner: “The Global Achievement Gap”
March 31, 2010

Title: Tony Wagner: “The Global Achievement Gap”
Location: St. Gregory College & Preparatory School
3231 North Craycroft Road
Tucson, AZ 85712
Read more: Click here
Description: Acclaimed education leadership author and presenter Tony Wagner will share his message about “The Global Achievement Gap” as the keynote speaker at St. Gregory School.
Start Time: 7:00 pm
Date: March 31st, 2010

The State Budget and How it’s Affecting Tucson Unified School District
March 25, 2010

Title: The State Budget and How it’s Affecting Tucson Unified School District
Location: Pueblo High School
Read more: Click here
Description: 3500 South 12th Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85713
Start Time: 6:00 pm
Date: March 25th, 2010
End Time: 8:00 pm

22 Mar
Are All Expectations of Students Created Equal?
By Expect More Arizona

The Arizona Republic recently highlighted MetLife’s annual “Survey of the American Teacher.” In the survey results, teachers and principals echo the Expect More Arizona message; the findings show that “Nearly nine in ten teachers (86%) and principals (89%) believe that setting high expectations for all students would have a major impact on improving student achievement.” Simply stated… when you expect more of students, teachers and principals alike believe their students will rise to expectations.

Source: MetLife Survey of the American Teacher 2009

Unfortunately, the survey also shows that not all students are afforded the same level of expectations from their teachers. In fact, teachers in schools with a higher percentage of low-income students tend to set lower expectations.

Source: MetLife Survey of the American Teacher 2009

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, 20.8% of Arizona children are living below the poverty level. That percentage is significantly higher in some counties such as La Paz County (41.6%) and Apache County (38.1%). Considering the MetLife survey and the poverty rates in Arizona, do you we run the risk of limiting the abilities of too many students? What can be done to ensure all Arizona students are challenged and presented with opportunities to learn at higher standard?

To view the full MetLife Survey results, click here.

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.

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.

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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