Category: Education Explainer

Post

The Stakes Are High: Why Head Start Matters Now More Than Ever in Arizona

Why Now: Protecting a Critical Resource for Arizona Families As Arizona families continue to face economic pressures and access to early childhood programs remains uneven, especially in rural communities, Head Start has never been more essential. At the same time, recent federal staffing cuts threaten the very support systems that help these programs succeed...


Post

Arizona Education Progress Meter 2025 Updates

Education Forward Arizona, in partnership with Center for the Future of Arizona, recently released its annual update for the Arizona Education Progress Meter. This nonpartisan data tool is used as a guide to show the growth needed to reach our state’s Achieve60AZ goal based on eight key indicators spanning early childhood, K-12, and postsecondary education...


Post

Why Arizona High School Graduation Rates Matter

The Significance of High School Graduation and Its Economic Impact on Arizona Graduating from high school is more than just celebrating four years of learning, making new friends, and trying new experiences. It is a celebration of the skills it takes to graduate high school successfully, namely critical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication, all of […]


Post

Gov. Hobbs’ Proposed FY2026 Executive Education Budget: What You Need To Know

Gov. Hobbs released her proposed FY26 Budget on Friday, Jan. 17, 2025. The Governor’s budget seeks to address the education funding shortfalls in the FY25 budget, by aiming to boost K-12 education, restore some higher education funding, support affordable childcare, and establish income caps for Universal Empowerment Scholarship Accounts...


Post

Understanding Arizona’s Community Colleges and the Importance of Passing Prop 402 & 486 

Arizona’s community colleges are vital to our state’s economy and educational system. They offer affordable, high-quality programs that range from vocational training to academic transfer pathways. These colleges provide opportunities for people to gain the skills they need for in-demand jobs, contributing to Arizona’s economic growth and individual upward mobility...


Post

Education Explainer – Understanding the Ballot Measures That Affect Education in Arizona

Education Forward Arizona is committed to ensuring that public education remains a focal point across all levels in the state of Arizona. As a nonpartisan organization, we strive to be a trusted advocate for issues related to education leading to the Achieve60AZ goal...


Post

Education Explainer: Arizona Voters Want More Opportunities for Education and Training After High School

Education Forward Arizona recently commissioned the bipartisan team of researchers from FM3 Research and HighGround Consulting to administer a survey to more than 600 randomly selected Arizona voters. The respondents were contacted via text messaging and telephones, and interviews were conducted online and by phone by live interviewers...


Post

Education Explainer: Education Progress Meter

Education Forward Arizona, in partnership with the Center for the Future of Arizona, recently released the annual update for the Education Progress Meter. This nonpartisan data tool is used to show what it will take to reach our state’s Achieve60AZ goal based on eight indicators representing early, K-12, and postsecondary education...


Post

Education Explainer: Dual Language Immersion

What is Dual Language Immersion? Students in a Dual Language Immersion program learn academic content where at least 50% of the instruction is in English and 50% is in a partner language, i.e. Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Navajo. Students learn to listen, read, write, and speak in two languages while also developing cultural awareness and appreciation...


Post

What’s in the Governor’s Proposed FY25 Budget?

On Friday, January 12, 2024, Governor Hobbs released her proposed FY25 Budget. In this proposal, there are several items that align with our belief that to move Arizona forward, we must move education forward. Education Forward Arizona’s mission is to advocate for and act on education improvements that advance the quality of life for all […]