Arizona Voters: Education Is Central to the State’s Economic Future
Education Forward Arizona’s 2026 Arizona Education Issues Survey provides a statewide look at how registered voters view some of the most pressing issues affecting students, families, workers and Arizona’s economy. The findings examine workforce readiness, postsecondary attainment, student outcomes, education funding, affordability and accountability for public dollars.
The research shows a strong connection between education and Arizona’s economic future. Seventy-five percent of surveyed voters said state leaders should do more to ensure Arizona has a skilled and well-trained workforce, while 72% said more should be done to increase the share of Arizonans with education or training beyond high school.
The survey also explores how voters view student outcomes across the education continuum. Ninety-five percent described Arizona’s eighth-grade math outcomes as serious when presented alongside the state goal, 94% said the same about third-grade reading, 86% about the four-year graduation rate and 78% about access to quality early learning.
Voters also expressed broad support for several education and workforce strategies tested in the survey, including comprehensive literacy programs, career-focused education and workforce pathways, expanded access to AP and dual enrollment, adult technical education and additional college and career counseling.
Accountability for public dollars was another major focus of the research. Seventy-seven percent of respondents said they were concerned about waste in Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program, and 86% supported annual independent financial audits of ESA spending. The survey also examined voter views on specific accountability measures and Proposition 320.
About the survey
The statewide survey included 602 Arizona registered voters and was conducted August 2–8, 2026 through telephone and text-to-online interviews. The margin of sampling error is ±4.0 percentage points at the 95% confidence level. Split samples were used for some questions to test alternative wording and framing, and trend comparisons are included where available.