Leaders have duty to maintain, develop education
by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (ret.), Paul J. Luna, Lattie Coor and Don Budinger
The recent launch of The Arizona Education Commitment by the O’Connor House and Expect More Arizona has succeeded in initiating a critically
important conversation: the Arizona Constitution prioritizes education, and Arizona’s leaders have a duty to uphold that mandate.
The Arizona Education Commitment’s partners and initial supporters, although persistent in stating that revenue enhancements in addition to prudent cuts must be part of the conversation in addressing our state’s budget deficit, are being criticized for not providing specific recommendations on how to solve Arizona’s financial woes.
The truth be told, they have.
Article XI, Section 10 of the Arizona Constitution clearly states that the Legislature must not only properly maintain but also develop and improve all of our state’s educational institutions, by taxation if necessary.
There are three basic forms of taxation: transactions such as sales, income tax and property taxes. Over the history of our great state, the Arizona Legislature and voters have levied taxes of all three forms to pay for vital public services, sharing this necessary burden among businesses and individuals.
The Arizona Legislature is elected by the people of our state, and the members have taken an oath to uphold the Arizona Constitution. The Arizona Education Commitment shines a spotlight on the only significant appropriation identified in our state’s governing document: the preservation of our state’s educational institutions. As a result, the Legislature has a duty to figure out which mix of revenue-generating solutions, paired with thoughtful and strategic cuts, is best for education and the long-term prosperity of Arizona.
As individuals who care deeply about ensuring Arizona has a strong and vital economy far into the future, we believe education is one of the most critical investments we can make today. By making education a priority, we have the ability to increase aggregate income, enabling our leaders to take care of vital public-health and safety services as well.
The framers of Arizona’s Constitution believed education was a cornerstone of our state. Today’s leaders are now required to ensure that cornerstone is protected and preserved. We encourage more Arizonans to join us and other concerned citizens in elevating the constitutional prioritization of education and the expectation for our leaders to look at all options as they make critical decisions to solve our state’s budget crisis.
We need all Arizonans to sign on to the Arizona Education Commitment and hold our elected officials accountable to the oath they took to uphold the Arizona Constitution. Please sign on to the Arizona Education Commitment at www.arizonaeducationcommitment.org and forward to your friends, family and co-workers.
The above editorial ran in the Arizona Republic on February 15, 2011.
Education is a cornerstone of Arizona and vital to a strong economy
by Vince Roig, Chairman, Helios Education Foundation
As Arizona’s elected leaders labor over policies and budgets that are intended to set the stage for a strong economic future,we must all 
remember what has been the cornerstone of our state and the true key to long-term prosperity: a high quality education system.
For two years now, Expect More Arizona has been championing the perspective that education must be viewed as an investment, not an expense. The statewide partners have worked diligently to raise public awareness about the critical importance of improving education in our state, linking it directly to our economic growth and quality of life. Not surprisingly, research, ballot initiatives and public opinion consistently show it’s a viewpoint fully embraced by Arizona voters and businesses alike.
Without question, the leaders in our state are faced with some difficult choices as they work to close the enormous divide between our state’s revenues and expenses. However, as someone who has led successful businesses, I know that during challenging economic times you have to make strategic cuts as well as identify ways to generate new resources.
Expect More Arizona has now joined with the O’Connor House on the nonpartisan initiative, The Arizona Education Commitment. Their goal is to elevate the fact that Arizona’s founding fathers believed so strongly in providing a strong education system that they wrote it into our constitution. As a result, their request to Arizona’s leaders is to make it a priority too, by doing what any good business would do, make thoughtful, non-damaging cuts while enhancing revenues.
Join me and other business and community leaders by supporting this initiative and signing on at ArizonaEducationCommitment.org.
Note: This article appeared in the February 18, 2011 print issue of The Phoenix Business Journal.
Evaluating kindergarten preparedness
Arizona’s education system is an interconnected continuum that spans early learning, K-12 and postsecondary education. Each stage is critically
important, building upon the one before and contributing to long-term student success, and, eventually, a productive career. Early learning is the first stage of the education continuum. With the ages birth to five regarded as the most critical in a child’s development, it is vital for all Arizona children to have access to quality early learning opportunities. By nurturing the social, emotional and cognitive development of young children, quality early learning lays the foundation for success in school and beyond.
Starting kindergarten is one of the most significant milestones in a child’s life and the official start of the child’s academic career. However, Arizona kindergarten teachers report that 60% of entering students do not have basic skills such as knowing their ABCs and 123s. Research also tells us that when students begin school at a disadvantage, they general stay behind. So, we must ensure our children are prepared academically, developmentally and socially to enter kindergarten. While there’s no perfect formula determining when children are truly ready to enter school, there are basic skills that all children should know in order to be prepared to enter kindergarten.
Academic Skills
- Recite and sing the alphabet
- Count to 10
- Identify numbers 1-5
- Learning to write name
- Recognize rhyming sounds
- Identify the beginning sound of some words
- Recognize some common sight words like “stop”
- Recognize groups of one, two, three, four, and five objects
Developmental Skills
- Ability to communicate needs and express feelings
- Hold and use a pencil
- Cut with scissors
- Listen to a story without interrupting
- Follow simple instructions
- Trace basic shapes
- Button shirts, pants, coats and zip up zippers
- Talk in complete sentences of five to six words
- Sort similar objects by color, size, and shape
- Bounce a ball
Social Skills
- Ability to share, compromise, take turns and problem solve
- Comfortable being away from parents for the school day
- Take responsibility for personal belongings
- Enthusiasm toward learning, eagerness to explore and discover
In addition, parents are encouraged to talk with their child’s pediatrician, preschool teacher and other supportive adults to help evaluate their child’s abilities in the above areas. By ensuring that children are prepared to enter kindergarten, we give them the foundation they need to be successful throughout the education continuum and, ultimately, in career and life.
Continue the conversation – host a house party viewing of Waiting for “Superman”
Waiting for “Superman,” a provocative look at education in America was recently released on DVD. The documentary tells the inspiring story of five children and their parents who are working to ensure they get the best possible education – in the midst of challenging circumstances. Last fall, Expect More Arizona, along with Stand for Children and Valley of the Sun United Way, hosted several screenings of Waiting for “Superman,” generating thoughtful conversation about education here in Arizona and across the nation. While there are many perspectives on the film, it does provide a platform for discussion and encourages people to get involved with education in their own communities.
The DVD release brings an opportunity to continue the discussion by having viewing parties. You can invite friends, family, neighbors, work colleagues, or members of your faith community to join you in viewing the film and discussing education in our nation and our state. By hosting a viewing party, you will help engage people in strengthening education and motivate them to do their part to ensure that our children are getting the quality education they deserve – regardless of where they go to school.
The DVD is available at a variety of local retailers for around $15. You can then download this toolkit, which outlines how to lead a constructive discussion on education in Arizona.
Integrating Common Core Standards Into Arizona schools
(First in a 2-part series)
In the education environment today, there is much discussion about aligning instruction, curriculum, standards and assessment to ensure that
students are receiving the education they need to be prepared for postsecondary education and workforce success. Arizona is one of 41 states to adopt a national initiative called Common Core State Standards (CCSS). The mission of the CCSS is to provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them succeed. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and career.
The Common Core State Standards help to ensure that Arizona students get the quality education they need. In addition, it provides clear information on the standards of success that our children must meet, thus helping to raise expectations for our students.
The Common Core State Standards were developed by content experts, teachers, parents and community leaders across the country. They clearly communicate what is expected of students at each grade level and will help teachers establish benchmarks to success. The CCSS focus on core conceptual understandings and procedures starting in the early grades – giving students the time and opportunity to master them as they move throughout each stage of the education continuum. These standards define the knowledge and skills students should have within their K-12 education.
According to the Arizona Department of Education, full implementation of the math and English language arts standards in kindergarten begins this year. By 2014, full implementation of the math and English language standards will be required at all grade levels.
However, we are already seeing the influence of Common Core Standards in schools across the state. At Central High School in Phoenix, starting next Fall, students will be tested on the University of Cambridge International Examinations which is a rigorous system already aligned with the CCSS. Some schools, including BASIS charter schools in Scottsdale and Tucson, are already administering the Cambridge exams, which are said to better prepare students for global competition. In addition, passing the exams would pave the way for students to receive the newly created Grand Canyon diploma, which allows students who meet academically rigorous standards to graduate early and go on to postsecondary education or enter the workforce sooner than their peers.
Another example of the influence of Common Core in our schools is the adoption of new textbooks that are better aligned with the Standards. The Cave Creek Unified School District has just approved new textbooks for their students that closely reflect the new CCSS.
We will continue to explore ways that Common Core will be implemented in future articles. For more information on Arizona’s adoption of the Common Core State Standards Initiative, please visit http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/CommonCoreStandards/default.asp
For more information on the national initiative, please visit http://www.corestandards.org
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