Arizona’s economic prosperity is linked to the success of all students, but especially Latino students who represent the largest demographic component of our K-12 public school population. However, a large academic achievement gap exists between Latino students and their White peers that is negatively impacting postsecondary degree attainment.
reforms and
strategies
We need broad support from the public and policymakers in order to put effective reforms and strategies in place that improve educational outcomes for Latino students and for all students in Arizona.
2017 was the first year that Helios developed and implemented a comprehensive policy agenda. We focused on educating policymakers about our focus on Latino Student Success and showcased how philanthropy and public policy can partner to transform education.
Through this work, we advocate for appropriate, equitable, and sustainable education funding in Arizona. We also partnered with the Governor’s office and other philanthropic organizations on significant projects including FosterEd, Great Schools, Great Leaders, and Achieve60AZ.
FosterEd
FosterEd is an initiative of the National Center for Youth Law aimed at improving the educational experiences and outcomes of foster youth. It is guided by a framework that provides foster youth with an Education Champion who can support the student’s long-term education success, and an Education Team of engaged adults, including the Education Champion, caregivers, teachers, social workers, and the youth, who collectively develop and support an individualized Education Case Plan based on an assessment of the student’s educational strengths and needs. The program was piloted with great success in Pima County and is now, through legislative action, expanded statewide to serve the almost 11,000 K-12 public school students in foster care in Arizona.
“Foster Ed is an innovative program that provides the nearly 11,000 foster children in Arizona with an Education Champion who will support their long-term education success, along with an education team of adults who develop and support an individualized education plan based on the student’s academic strengths and needs.”
Great Schools, Great Leaders
With Great Schools, Great Leaders, we are working with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey’s office, the Center for the Future of Arizona, and the Burton Family Foundation to train the next generation of leaders for Arizona’s schools. This initiative creates the Beat the Odds School Leadership Academy in partnership with the National Institute for School Leadership. Based on the Institute’s rigorous Executive Development Program, the Leadership Academy will make high-quality professional development available to many more principals across the state and ensure that more Arizona students attend schools led by effective instructional leaders.
Achieve60AZ
Achieve60AZ is Arizona’s new postsecondary attainment goal and demonstrates what can be accomplished when leaders in education, government, business, and philanthropy join forces around a common priority. Achieve60AZ aims to increase from 42 percent to 60 percent the proportion of Arizonans earning an industry-recognized credential or college degree by 2030. This attainment goal not only means that more people will develop the knowledge and skills they need to have a successful career, but will also attract more businesses to Arizona and keep the state’s economy growing.