Expect More Arizona Launches New Parental Engagement Campaign
Statewide partnership focuses on creating a culture of high expectations for education
PHOENIX (Oct. 24, 2011) – Expect More Arizona today launched a new campaign focused on engaging Arizona parents to raise education expectations and improve student achievement. Since its inception three years ago, Expect More Arizona has focused its efforts on raising public awareness about the importance of improving the state of Arizona’s system. The new multifaceted campaign is designed to help lead more parents, families and public from awareness to action.
Findings from Expect More Arizona show that 51 percent of students identify their parents as being the most influential figure in their lives. Studies also show that students with actively engaged parents are more likely to do well academically and go on to college or other postsecondary program.
Challenging Arizona families and parents to create a high expectations culture at home, Expect More Arizona encourages student academic success to be a family priority, ahead of athletics, entertainment and work. In addition, the organization asks parents to set completion of college or other postsecondary education as their child’s ultimate academic goal, while remaining actively engaged in their child’s education from birth through postsecondary.
“Parents are a child’s first teacher, and we want to create urgency while inspiring hope and empowerment that they are in control of the quality of their child’s education and critically important to their academic success,” said Pearl Chang Esau, president and CEO of Expect More Arizona. “High school can no longer be the finish line for Arizona students. We need parents to commit to setting an expectation with their children that they will go on to complete college or a postsecondary program.”
The new parental engagement campaign will provide parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and anyone concerned about education with information, tools and resources to stay engaged and ensure their student is prepared for every stage of education. In addition to the targeted parent and family focus of the multimedia campaign, students, business leaders and voters across Arizona will be targeted through ongoing public relations, online communications and grassroots outreach strategies.
Available in both English and Spanish, the parent-focused campaign includes television, radio, print and online advertising, education materials, and a brochure relevant for all ages, age-specific flyers, promotional items and informational presentations. A Web-based resource center is also available, including Expect More Arizona’s high expectation principles, tools supporting student academic success and links to local and national resources. In addition, year-round email communications will keep parents and families informed and engaged in their child’s education.
Parents and families can access information, tools and resources at www.ExpectMoreArizona.org.
The launch of the campaign comes on the heels of the organization’s naming of Pearl Chang Esau as President/CEO of Expect More Arizona. Chang Esau is the former Executive Director of Teach For America – Phoenix, joining at a pivotal moment for education in Arizona and Expect More Arizona’s role in inspiring collective action. Earlier this month, Helios Education Foundation committed $3 million over the next four years to Expect More Arizona to fuel the growth and sustainability of the statewide movement dedicated to making Arizona education the best in the nation.
About Expect More Arizona:
Expect More Arizona is a high expectations movement dedicated to making Arizona education the best in the nation. The partnership is creating a culture that values education as Arizona’s top priority by championing high expectations and high quality education for all children. Expect More Arizona is funded and governed by the following organizations: Arizona Community Foundation, Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona State University Foundation, First Things First, Helios Education Foundation, Northern Arizona University Foundation, Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona, Sundt Construction, University of Arizona Foundation, University of Phoenix and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. For more information, visit www.ExpectMoreArizona.org.
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