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Where We Started | Vision & Mission | Beliefs and Operating Principles | Strategic Plan | Board of Directors | ABEC Staff

Where We Started

BUSINESS AND EDUCATION COALITION ANNOUNCED TODAY
Long-term effort to address Arizona's K-12 Education challenges

PHOENIX, Ariz., March 25, 2002 - Business and education leaders from across the state gathered at the State Capitol today to announce an unprecedented alliance that will focus its energy and resources on the success of the K-12 education system in Arizona. While partnership efforts between the two groups - business and education - have been tried in the past, Craig Barrett, CEO of the Intel Corporation, noted that the formation of the Arizona Business and Education Coalition marks the start of a comprehensive and long-term effort to bring about quantifiable change in the system. "Today, ABEC affirms Arizona's commitment to creating a well-educated workforce and a vital society," said Barrett. "As business and education leaders, we have opened this dialogue because we believe that the quality of our future civic, social and economic life depends on the quality of education available to all students at all levels of our educational system, now and in the future."

"An ongoing partnership between the Arizona business community and our education community is critical," said Governor Jane Dee Hull. "Both must work hand-in-hand to move Arizona forward in this global economy."

"The business and education leaders who come together to form this historic coalition recognize that our K-12 schools are the heart and soul of our economy and the key to sustaining and enhancing our quality of life," Superintendent of Public Instruction Jaime A. Molera said. "This group of leaders recognizes that in order to improve education for every Arizona child, we must have a system that provides meaningful resources and meaningful accountability."

For several months now, representatives from Intel and Motorola have been rallying supporters from both business and education to craft a mission and objectives for the Coalition. Supporters include statewide representation from school districts, education and business associations, small and large corporations and individuals. Now the coalition is ready to formalize into a non-profit organization. Barrett says the state is at a critical crossroads to make a serious move toward improving K-12 education opportunities for all of Arizona's children. "There is no silver bullet," Intel's CEO said. "Educators, business leaders, and parents must collaborate and work hard to make education change happen. ABEC seeks to be the conduit for Arizona education improvement. It intends to do so by providing a forum for leaders of both business and education to learn and engage."

The Coalition's mission is focused on providing a sustained business and education collaboration for a superior education for Arizona's K-12 students. Some of the guiding principles include: understanding the direct correlation between the future of Arizona and the success of the K-12 system; seeking the respect, support, and understanding of the education and business perspective dealing with K-12 issues; zeroing in on K-12 best practices with links to preschool, higher education and workplace productivity; using quality research to determine the best practices to support education initiatives; actively and effectively influencing public policy consistent with ABEC's mission, principles and objectives; and share responsibility for the continuous growth of student and school achievement in Arizona.

The formation of the Arizona Business and Education Coalition is tied to the general Valley-wide business coalition efforts to address key issue areas. The Greater Phoenix Leadership is leading the charge on education, so its support of the creation of ABEC was a natural evolution. GPL, along with the Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC), are unified around the coalition. "We believe that the Arizona Business and Education Coalition is the right organization at the right time to lead Arizona to substantial improvement in our K-12 education system. We will do everything we can to make ABEC highly successful," said Tom Browning, President and Executive Director of GPL, along with Bob Johnston, Executive Director of SALC.

The Arizona Business and Education Coalition understands that any effort to effectively improve Arizona's education system will require a slow, but deliberate process combined with the diligence of educators and the business community. Through such efforts, Arizona will enhance its competitiveness economically with a highly-skilled and knowledge-based community of residents who are able to seek and live their full potentials, thus improving the quality of life for all Arizonans.
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