In the three years since I began working with the visionaries who created Expect More Arizona, I have met teachers, parents, students, community members and business leaders who care deeply about the quality of our education system and the future of Arizona.
I have seen business leaders and companies invest valuable time, money and leadership to inspire public demand for high quality education from the earliest years through higher education, create their own programs to better prepare teachers, introduce students to careers through hands on internships and help build classrooms that are exciting and relevant to global opportunities.
Some of these partnerships came together easily, and others were constructed through years of collaboration. Regardless of their evolution, they demonstrate how business and education partnerships can truly raise the bar and make a difference in the lives of children and students.
One of Expect More Arizona’s goals is to champion continued and growing partnerships between the business and education communities. The partnerships can be as simple as writing a check to as challenging as adopting a struggling school and helping to turn it around. All are worthwhile and desperately needed.
As you assess your community involvement priorities, I encourage you to move education to the top of your list. After all, when you consider that our future employees, customers and leaders are in today’s cradles and classrooms, Arizona businesses have a strong vested interest in the success of our students.
Click here to learn more about how you and your businesses can make a difference in education. Get connected, get involved and help create a culture of high expectations across our state.
This article appeared in the Phoenix Business Journal on June 16, 2011.
The Link Between Education and Economic Recovery
In December of 2007, our country faced an unprecedented economic crisis that has since been named, “The Great Recession.” States throughout the country felt the effects of the recession with soaring unemployment rates, declining home values and rising consumer costs. Arizona was no exception and, in some cases, has felt the effects of this recession more deeply than most of the rest of the country.
A significant amount of conversation has been focused the last several years on how to come out of this recession stronger, to ensure future economic growth for Arizona. One of the key pieces that must be addressed is the role of education in economic stability.
A recent report, To Learn and Earn: Arizonans’ Experiences Competing in the Race for Good Jobs, which concludes a two-year study by the Arizona Minority Education Policy Analysis Center and conducted by the Morrison Institute for Public Policy, provides data on how young adults and high school students end up in postsecondary education or in jobs. The report focuses on the need for all individuals to complete more education, whether that means community colleges, universities, trade schools or adult education. High school is no longer the finish line – every student simply must pursue some form of continuing education.
According to the report, the difference in median earnings between a person in Arizona with a high school diploma and one with a bachelor’s degree is $21,353. This message is particularly important to ethnic minority students, who make up more than half of Arizona’s one million-plus K-12 student population and often come from households where neither parent nor sibling have pursued postsecondary education.
The report also makes the connection between private sector needs and pathways for higher wages and greater job satisfaction. That includes a higher expectation on the part of the business community for education levels, achievement and experience, including hands-on internships.
While there is no greater investment we can make in Arizona’s economic recovery than to encourage students of all ages to continue their education, we also must ensure that students are ready to pursue postsecondary education when they graduate from high school. Another recent report, titled Is Arizona College Ready from the Morrison Institute and the Arizona Community Foundation, highlights a real-world indicator of how well Maricopa County high schools are preparing their graduates for postsecondary success.
The data around college readiness in Maricopa County alone is interesting. Overall, 61% of the 2009 graduating class enrolled in an Arizona postsecondary institution within two semesters following high school graduation, with well over half enrolling in a 2-year institution and the rest attending one of Arizona’s state universities.
According to the Morrison Institute, only 3 out of 4 students are ready for college English and only half are ready for college math. This also has economic consequences as students who are not prepared may have to take remedial education when they enter their postsecondary program; remediation can be costly for the student and the state, but will likely not give them credit toward their degree program.
A coordinated effort of college and career readiness as well as encouraging pathways for students to successfully complete postsecondary education will only benefit Arizona’s long-term economic growth and prosperity. As our students are better prepared and pursue postsecondary education, they will become a strong workforce pipeline for Arizona business.
Voting 4 Education Means Holding Leaders Accountable
During the 2010 elections, Expect More Arizona challenged Arizonans to 
evaluate their candidates based on their commitment to education. However, now that our leaders are in office, our Vote 4 Education efforts don’t end. In fact, it’s critical that we hold them accountable to making education a priority and let them know the decisions they make will influence how we vote again in 2012.
Expect More Arizona is committed to helping voters stay informed and engaged in the political decisions being made about education both during and after key elections. In addition to our “Vote 4 Education” resource section on our web site, we have created the following questions to ask yourself about your elected leaders’ commitment to education:
4 Questions for Holding Our Leaders Accountable
- Is education one of their top two priorities?
- Have they supported policies that positively impact the biggest issues affecting education in our state?
- Have they supported investing resources in education to support Arizona’s long-term success?
- How do they challenge Arizonans to expect more and do more for education?
Ready to do more? Here are four actions you can take to keep Vote 4 Education going strong and show Arizona that you expect more:
4 Actions
- RAISE YOUR VOICE – Hold your elected leaders accountable to making education a priority. Contact them to let them know how you feel about their support of high quality education for our students.
- SIGN ON – Sign on to The Arizona Education Commitment to show your support of Arizona’s constitutional prioritization of education.
- JOIN THE CONVERSATION – Stay informed and engaged by participating in the discussions on Facebook, Twitter, and the Expect More Arizona Blog.
- RALLY YOUR NETWORK – Make sure your friends and family are registered to vote and encourage them to “Vote 4 Education” in every election.
Thanks to everyone who is keeping the Vote 4 Education message alive. We all must continue to raise our voices and demand that education become our state’s top priority… beginning with our leaders.
Health Care Job Growth Demands Skilled Workforce, Strong Education System
by Richard L. Boals, President & CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield
The health care industry in Arizona and across the nation is experiencing
significant change. The change comes from innovation within the industry, consumer demands as well as federal regulations — and with change comes opportunity.
One of the greatest opportunities ahead for health care is the anticipated growth of the industry. From physicians to aides and technicians to service agents, 10 out of the top 20 fastest growing occupations are health care-related.
The range of professions requires a current and future pipeline of talented individuals with certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees, as well as advanced education and training.
The anticipated industry growth also means there is an open door for Arizona and our students to attract much needed jobs and advancement opportunities to our state. However, it requires a strong commitment to high quality education, from cradle to career.
The better we prepare our children and students to succeed in college and career, the greater their chances to be able to seize the opportunity ahead. Increasing the availability of high-bar science, technology and math education for all students is one solution. Educating students and families about the multiple educational pathways available to them through career and technical, community college and university programs is another.
According to the United States Department of Labor, health care wage and salary employment is expected to increase 27% through 2014. All industries combined are projected at only 14%. The opportunity is there, now let’s make sure our education system is strong and our students are prepared to seize what lies ahead.
This article appeared in the Phoenix Business Journal on Friday, July 1, 2011.
Beat the Summer Brain Drain and Improve Student Success
Parents throughout Arizona are fighting their students’ “summer slide” or the “brain
drain” that often results from three months out of school. Experts warn that children who don’t exercise their brain muscles over the summer are set back as much as three months of academic growth.
Many Arizona school districts have academic programs that keep kids learning and engaged throughout the summer. Two such programs are funded by a federal 21st Century Community Learning Center grant that is focused on providing academic enrichment opportunities during non-school hours. In addition, they provide educational services to parents and families to support the academic success of the students.
In Southern Arizona, the Flowing Wells School District has a 21st Century program that provides summer academic activities for more than 360 K-6 students. They offer sessions in reading, math, science, technology, music, dance, karate and recreation. The students choose five courses to take throughout the day and breakfast and lunch are provided.
In addition, the teachers collaborate to ensure that the curriculum overlaps and compliments each academic area. For example, the reading and technology teachers coordinate so that the students use technology to support the books they are reading. They use the Internet to explore more about the books they are reading and use powerpoint to create presentations about their own stories. In the Karate class, as another example, they discuss geometry principals through the angles of the kicks.
Each class utilizes technology in the learning process and all students use the computer as part of the program. “We want kids to learn throughout the summer,” said Martha Petty, Executive Director, Flowing Wells Extension Programs. “However, we want the academic learning to be different from the regular school year so we encourage a lot of activities and hands-on interactive learning.”
Another 21st Century grant summer program takes place in the Tolleson School District. More than 500 students from kindergarten through 8th grade participate in this program. Some students participate in the program because they need some extra interventions. These students are nominated by a teacher to participate and the curriculum focuses on math and reading. The goal for these students is to fill the gaps so that they are prepared for the new school year. Other students participate because they are looking for extra enrichment in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The goal for these students, according to Veronica de la Rosa, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Tolleson Elementary School District, is to “challenge the child and expand his/her thinking in order to improve student achievement. “
There is a specific focus on technology in this program as well. For example, the students use iTouch devices to compare and contrast literature, build diagrams, and learn PowerPoint. Students also use engineering principles to build “toothpick” bridges.
In addition to the student components, the Tolleson School District hosts a class for parents called, “Make and Take.” Teachers who have expertise in math and reading build activities and games that they can use at home with their kids. The parent courses are bilingual to ensure all parents can participate for the benefit of the students.
These are two great examples of bright spots in Arizona’s education system – programs that challenge students to expect more of themselves and help ensure that they are moving forward along the pathway to academic success during the summer.
Please click here for 10 ideas to keep Arizona students learning during the summer or visit Great Schools.
Quality Early Learning Environments for our Youngest Children
More than half of Arizona children under the age of six are cared for by someone other than their parent during the work day. Regardless of setting, it is critical for all children to have access to the highest quality settings so that their social, emotional and developmental needs are met.
Some characteristics of quality child care settings include: safe, healthy environments; highly educated teachers; classrooms and materials that stimulate learning at different stages; and low teacher to child ratios so that children get the attention and care they need.
Watch the video below to take a virtual tour and learn more about components of a high quality learning environment for young children.
Special thanks to Phoenix Day for providing their assistance and expertise in the video.
Learn More
Expect More Arizona recently partnered with Stand for Children Arizona, Valley of the Sun United Way, and 12 News to present “Partnering for Change: School Solutions for Arizona.” The discussion was moderated by 12 News anchors, Kim Covington and Scott Light and featured an impressive panel of education experts and advocates including Paul Luna, President and CEO of Helios Education Foundation and Chair of the Expect More Arizona board. Click here to view the Town Hall and participate in a discussion about what you would do to improve education and boost student achievement in our state.
Do More
Research shows that regardless of income level, America’s young people want to go to college and recognize it as a key to their future. Despite these high aspirations, low-income and first-generation students are underrepresented on college campuses. A new ad campaign from the AdCouncil, Lumina Foundation and American Council on Education is helping spread the message that postsecondary education is accessible. Help spread the message that students can overcome barriers, and encourage them to take the necessary steps toward pursuing a postsecondary education.
Expect More
An example of expecting more through innovative teaching, Carpe Diem in Yuma is a hybrid, student centered eLearning school for 300 students in grades 7-12. Click here to view a video about Carpe Diem and explore how the student-teacher relationship is transformed in this integrated system.
