Education Forward Arizona Responds to Governor Hobbs’ Education Priorities and Urges Further Investment in Education and Workforce
Response to Governor Hobb’s State of the State
On Monday, Governor Katie Hobbs delivered the 2026 State of the State address, outlining her vision for Arizona’s future, one that recognizes the important role that education and workforce training play in expanding opportunity and ensuring our state’s economy remains competitive. The Governor brought attention to two major issues impacting education in Arizona, Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) guardrails and Proposition 123, however we do hope to see more action around the priorities that Arizona voters recently identified as core education issues.
As we look ahead to the 2026 legislative session, Education Forward Arizona will continue its long-standing commitment to championing education priorities that support students, families, and communities across our state. We will closely review both the Governor’s proposed budget and the Legislature’s budget proposals to assess whether they include the sustained investments needed to advance these critical education priorities. The Governor’s State of the State address reflected several priorities that closely align with the values and concerns of Arizona voters, as highlighted below.
State of the State Priorities Aligning with Arizona Voters:
Advancing Education
Governor Hobbs reiterated her commitment to building a world-class public education system as a gateway to greater economic opportunity. She understands the critical link between education and workforce training for the prosperity of all Arizonans. Polling shows Arizona voters of all parties agree.
Supporting Public Schools and Educators
Governor Hobbs’ call to renew Proposition 123 to preserve critical K-12 funding is consistent with the need for long-term, sustainable investments in public education. These investments are vital for attracting and retaining quality teachers, maintaining smaller class sizes, and ensuring equitable access to resources across communities. In addition to vital K-12 funding there needs to be a long-term, renewable funding stream for Pre-K and postsecondary education as well.
Increasing Accountability and Transparency
The Governor recognized the need for greater accountability in Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Ensuring transparency and responsible use of education funds supports public confidence and aligns with our priority to protect taxpayer dollars for student learning. Our most recent poll also demonstrates that Arizonans themselves want additional oversight, transparency, and accountability of the program.
Where We Urge Continued Leadership
While we recognize that not every priority can be addressed in the State of the State, we believe the following priorities are critical to Arizona’s future and deserve greater focus. We look forward to further discussion and clarity from the Governor on her approach to these areas.
- Expanding Postsecondary Attainment
- We encourage legislative action to strengthen postsecondary pathways by increasing eligibility and funding for programs like Arizona Promise, expanding dual enrollment funding and access, and supporting FAFSA completion. All are essential steps toward achieving the Achieve60AZ attainment goal–ensuring 60 percent of Arizonans have a degree, license, or certificate. Reaching our goal will lead to greater economic and individual prosperity, as well as a more vibrant state economy for all Arizonans.
- Increasing Support for Early Childhood Education
- While the Governor did acknowledge the economic impact of childcare and the need to make quality early childhood experiences more accessible and affordable, we believe this important issue deserves greater attention given its foundational role in long-term educational and economic success. This aligns with Education Forward Arizona’s priority to expand access to evidence-based, high-quality early learning that supports students, families, and Arizona’s future workforce.
- Advancing Workforce and Economic Opportunities
- Nearly 7 in 10 jobs in Arizona will require education or training beyond high school in the coming decade. Expanding access to credentials and degrees, and aligning programs with industry needs, ensures Arizona students can thrive in high-demand occupations and contribute to statewide economic prosperity.
We look forward to working with the Governor, legislative leaders, the business community and education champions to move these missing priorities into lasting policy and funding decisions. Reaching the Achieve60AZ goal and building a resilient education system with clear pathways to opportunity requires sustained commitment across the Pre-K to postsecondary continuum. We are hopeful that Governor Hobbs and the Legislature recognize the significant economic growth Arizona can achieve when more adults have access to industry-recognized credentials, as well as associate, bachelor’s and advanced degrees. Expanding educational attainment is not only an education priority, but it is also a workforce and economic imperative for the state.
Arizona voters consistently show strong support for education investments that strengthen the workforce, and we are ready to partner with state leaders to advance policies that deliver on the promise of opportunity and prosperity for all Arizonans. Arizona has Everything to Gain when individuals continue their education and training after high school.
Find Education Forward Arizona’s complete list of Advocacy Priorities here.
Take action: Join the Education Forward Arizona Advocates Network to stay engaged in key policy decisions that impact our schools, students, and communities.