Author: Isabel Esquivel
New Education Poll: What Arizonans Believe About Postsecondary Attainment, Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, and the Path Forward
In times of heightened polarization and significant political turmoil it is rare for public sentiment to remain stable, let alone grow stronger, on any major public policy issue. And yet, Education Forward Arizona’s most recent survey of Arizona voters finds exactly that: unwavering and, in some cases, growing support for increasing education attainment after high […]
NEW POLL: ARIZONANS’ SUPPORT OF ATTAINMENT GOALS GROWS, BROAD CONCERNS OVER ESA ISSUES
October 8, 2025 – Phoenix, Ariz. – Education Forward Arizona, as part of its Everything to Gain campaign, today released new poll findings that underscore how strongly Arizonans continue to value education and training after high school–despite unprecedented disruptions across the education landscape during the first half of 2025...
Protecting Postsecondary Attainment in Arizona
Arizona’s future depends on increasing postsecondary attainment for all students. But recent federal action threatens that goal. On September 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it plans to withhold approximately $350 million in discretionary grant funding, already allocated by Congress, for colleges and universities that serve large populations of historically underserved students...
Celebrating Decades of Partnership and the Power of Education
For twenty years, Helios Education Foundation has been a driving force in expanding educational opportunity in Arizona and Florida. With more than $350 million invested, their strategic efforts have impacted more than 2 million students and supported over half a million education professionals...
Back to School: When Students Succeed, Arizona Succeeds
Advancing Arizona’s Most Strategic Investment As students and educators head back to school this month ready to learn, grow and prepare for the future, we continue to work diligently on advocating and acting on education improvements in Arizona. And the stakes have never been higher...
Millions in Federal Education Funds Finally Released Just In Time for Arizona Students to Go Back To School
On Friday July 25th, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced it will release the remaining, previously withheld, $5 billion in federal education funding for the 2025–26 school year. This long-awaited decision follows weeks of delays that left schools in limbo and threatened to derail critical programs that support Arizona students and educators...
Withholding Federal Education Funds Will Have a Detrimental Impact on Arizona Students and Workforce Development
Updated as of July 21, 2025 At the end of June, school districts across the country received a one-day notice that they would not be receiving some of their Title funds on July 1. While some concerted bi-partisan pressure led to just a portion of the dollars being released, and they mostly applied to after school […]
Arizona Students with Disabilities Have Everything to Gain
Key Takeaway: We want all Arizona students to grow into healthy, successful adults–and we know that higher education improves their chances. But for many students with disabilities–including my own two kids–higher education is laced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles...
EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA WELCOMES NEW BOARD MEMBER
Cristie Street brings business and community leadership to the board July 1, 2025 – Education Forward Arizona is proud to welcome business leader Cristie Street to the organization’s board of directors. She brings both business insight and a deep personal commitment to helping Arizona’s children succeed...
EDUCATION FORWARD ARIZONA APPLAUDS SENATE REVISIONS TO THE PELL PROGRAM, URGES HOUSE MEMBER SUPPORT
Recently, Education Forward Arizona joined more than 170 organizations across the nation in urging Congress to reject cuts to Pell Grants, need-based federal aid for college tuition, and instead increase investments in this cornerstone student assistance program that thousands of Arizona students rely on...