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REFLECTIONS FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“Just go out there and do what you’ve got to do.”
-Martina Navratilova
Dear friend of ABEC,
Happy New Year! We’ve gotten the first month of 2011 under our belts and look forward with anticipation or dread to the next eleven. It’s that time of year when we commit to ourselves action on some issue. We resolve to lose weight, to eat healthier, and to exercise every day. But those resolutions must be followed by action. So, here are a few of my own New Year’s resolutions:
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I resolve to do more anticipating and less dreading. I’ll take action by keeping a positive attitude and empowering myself with better planning.
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I resolve to connect with more policy makers. I’ll take action by making a list, checking it twice, and setting appointments.
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I resolve to write more often about policy issues in education. I’ll take action by putting writing time into my schedule and making my list of media outlets.
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I resolve to educate others about our approach to school finance. I’ll take action by creating appropriate presentations and continue to meet with, educate and update legislators on our proposals.
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I resolve to monitor the progress of the various ABEC school finance proposals in play. I’ll take action by monitoring the new data taskforce recommendations, the development of the Common Core Standards setting high expectations for Arizona students, and the continuing dialogue from leadership groups advocating comprehensive tax reform.
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I resolve to advocate for a quality system of education in the state of Arizona, and my first action will be to sign the Arizona Education Commitment.
Our Governor and Superintendent of Public Instruction have a few resolutions for education, too. They will:
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Exceed state standards in 3rd grade reading;
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Increase high school graduation rate from 75% to 93%;
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Increase NAEP scores for 8th graders from 67% to 85%; and
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Double the number of undergraduate degrees from our universities.
Achieving these resolutions will take action from all of us. What will you resolve to do for education?
Sincerely,
Susan Carlson
ABEC executive director
“Don’t wait for your 'ship to come in’, and feel angry and cheated when it doesn’t. Get going with something small." -Irene Kassorla
THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION VIEWPOINT
 ABEC asked two of its members to share their view by responding to the following question:
QUESTION: What do you hope MORE BUSINESS LEADERS or EDUCATORS would resolve to do this year to support K-12 public education?
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Dick Foreman, Director, Corporate Public Affairs, Southwest Gas Corporation
Life is full of reminders. I had one the other day. I was picking up my 5 year old, Brenna Maeve, from school. The first thing Brenna asked me was if she could go to the playground for some fun with her friends.
I watched her interact with very diverse, innocent, lovely children. I thought, if we ever do not get the value we should place in education, I hope I am hit with a video club of this moment to remind myself of what is really important.
For most business folks I work with, I notice a hunkering down going on. There is fear out there, some dread but a lot of hope, too. There is determination to once again prosper. But no business can prosper as an isolated piece within the communities it serves. We prosper best when our customers are happy. We prosper the most when our customers are confident, secure and safe in good homes. Our community education mission is not to just pass along what we have to our children. Our mission must be to enable the next generation to do better than we did.
So how will I respond to the all too familiar refrain of “we are in a budget crisis?” Yes, things need to change. Education is a major piece of this bigger, intricate and seemingly “no win” puzzle. But trusting educational managers more, taking off the strings attached to spending, and focusing on core missions is the answer. It’s the classroom experience, not the brick and mortar. It’s the best way to spend the dollar that counts, not just spending to spend.
If we can emerge stronger, so can our education community. We will engage new technology, flexibility in management and utilize every competitive tactic we can to improve results and achievement. Most importantly, there is no one answer, except working together. I have my video “club” in my back pocket. I don’t need it, but I’ll use it if I have to.
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Jeff Smith, Superintendent, Balsz Elementary School District
At the end of the day it is the outcomes we realize from our education system that will lead to the success of our state. This is why businesses and school leaders come together with a common interest. The students we are preparing today are the vibrant workforce of tomorrow. In fact several recent studies have pointed to the development of human capital as a key performance indicator of successful states. It has been said that the top question companies ask when they are looking to relocate is, “How good are the schools and the universities?” This means homegrown talent is Arizona’s most valuable asset.
Schools and businesses work together to develop relationships with mutual benefit. Our state universities collaborate with industry in research and development. Our community colleges train young adults for white collar and blue collar technical jobs while students participate in internship programs. Many businesses have stepped forward to partner with K-12 schools to support essential programs.
I hope educators resolve to listen closely to their business partners, looking beyond the instant rhetoric for opportunities to educate them about the challenges schools face. We can gain unique insights from business leaders through healthy dialogue. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing, students who are prepared for college and career with the skills necessary to have a choice for the future.
It’s a simple concept; what is good for business is also good for education, what is good for education benefits business, and what is good for business and education is practical for our state. The energy is present right now for business leaders and school leaders to pull together and help our state thrive. People want to be a part of the solution and the solution lies within our school system. By listening to each other, we understand that the young people we prepare today will be the catalyst for economic vitality in the future.
ABEC CRASH COURSES: WHAT DID WE LEARN?
 Among the proposals for ABEC’s School Finance Reform Initiative, is an ABEC call for comprehensive tax reform. In order to learn more about this complex issue, ABEC convened a series of Crash Courses and a special event.
Dennis Hoffman, Director of WPC Seidman Research Institute at ASU, pointed to Section 10, Article XI in the Arizona Constitution that states maintenance, development and improvement in the state’s education system must be supported by taxation and that the tax system has endured piecemeal changes over time. Panelists offered various insights, including:
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from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, a demonstration of how the current structure negatively affects competitiveness of Arizona, compared to other states tax conditions in the region;
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from the Arizona Tax Research Association, a discussion of the elements of the current structure as to their effectiveness;
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from the Arizona School Boards Association, a review of a recently completed report on how to increase revenue over time;
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from the Arizona Education Association, observations about the condition of education and its relationship to Arizona’s future, and
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from Greater Phoenix Leadership, an awareness that discussions on the tax system must be accompanied by discussions of what we as a society want out of the system.
At the second Crash Course, representatives from the Arizona Town Hall, the Arizona Education Association, the Arizona School Boards Association, Fiscal 2000, and the Citizens Finance Review Commission (CFRC) each described research and reports that have been presented over the past 10 years and the resulting recommendations. Interestingly – three former governors beginning with Governor Rose Mofford, created task forces to review the tax structure and make recommendations. Yet, no comprehensive tax reform has resulted from that decade of work.
Arizona Town Hall convened hundreds of Arizonans around this issue and produced the report “Riding the Fiscal Roller Coaster” which contains a page of recommendations – many similar to those from earlier efforts, begging the question, “Why no comprehensive tax reform?”
The difficulty in creating this level of change is exacerbated by several things: term limits (long-term planning difficult), “no tax” pledges, short-term outlook of budget, two-thirds vote requirement for any new revenue, and strength of special interests.
ABEC also hosted a breakfast with the PEW Center on the States. Kil Huh, director of research, leading the PEW Center’s new project on states’ fiscal health, described the financial crisis at a national level. He pointed out that the “good times” masked the failing state revenue structures. And when states in crisis suddenly needed to borrow funds, lending had become restricted. “Arizona is one of five states in dire condition,” he reported. But in a survey of Arizona citizens, PEW found that almost 60% of our citizens wanted to protect K-12 education, and over 70% said they would pay higher taxes to support K-12 education.
So, here are two questions to ponder:
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With research, reports and leaders advising to undertake comprehensive tax reform, why do you think our leaders have shied away?
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Should the “homeowners rebate” which offsets residential property taxes, be phased out, resulting in an increase in your residual property tax?
Comprehensive tax reform, clearly, will touch the lives of every citizen.
ABEC LEGISLATIVE CONNECTION RECAP
 One of ABEC’s premier events just keeps getting better and better. On January 12th, over 100 ABEC members gathered under a tent on the House Lawn at the State Capitol to meet, greet and interact with legislators at ABEC’s members-only Legislative Connection. Attendees – including superintendents, presidents of boards of education, Arizona Teachers of the Year, heads of various non-profits, and senior staff of many ABEC member business organizations – chatted and dined with almost 40 legislators, many of whom not familiar with ABEC.
Superintendent John Huppenthal, Senators Crandall and Schapira and Representatives Goodale and Meyer, briefed us on their goals for the upcoming legislative session as members serving on the Education Committees. ABEC Public Policy Committee co-chairs Jason Bagley (Government Relations Manager for Intel Corporation) shared ABEC’s message along with the ABEC Principles of Agreement and interests, and Jeff Smith (Superintendent of Balsz Elementary School District) gave a brief background on ABEC.
The buffet luncheon was specially catered by Cactus High School Culinary Arts students from the Peoria Unified School District and the event was graciously sponsored by State Farm Insurance – A HUGE THANKS TO BOTH GROUPS!
ABEC members and legislators: this is an event you surely do not want to miss next year!
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ABEC’s Message to Legislators -
What ABEC asks.
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Education as a priority: the foundation for economic development.
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Stability: Stability is equally important for our educators as it is for business. Educators need a budget they can count on - and that won't require cutting mid-year.
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Comprehensive approach: Fixing that structural deficit requires us to approach tax reform in a comprehensive way - not in piecemeal fashion.
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Long-term planning: We recognize the difficulty of the current crisis, and want to work with legislators to find solutions for this short-term crisis - but also to put in place structures that benefit education for the longer term.
Let ABEC help.
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Vetting issues: ABEC can be a voice to advise legislators on how potential actions will impact school districts.
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Establishing the foundation for long-term change: ABEC will continue to focus on the elements of the School Finance Reform Initiative. Among those proposals:
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Tax reform: We need comprehensive tax reform.
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Data collection statewide: We must complete the data collection system.
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Pairing flexibility with accountability: We ask that flexibility in how school funding is spent be paired with accountability.
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Funding best practices: We ask for continued examination of the evidence-base approach to funding schools.
THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION IN ARIZONA
 Arizona’s 50th Legislature officially began January 10, 2011 on a somber note with little fanfare due to the tragic shootings in Tucson involving U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. But despite our pain, legislators must make the effort to move our state forward.
Over the next four years, Governor Brewer wants Arizona to reclaim its position as a national leader in population growth, job growth and economic energy, based on FOUR CORNERSTONES OF REFORM: Economic Competitiveness; Education; State Government; and Renewed Federalism.
For education, Gov. Brewer wants Arizona to be “a breeding ground for intellectual and educational achievement” by strengthening our education system in order to achieve a strong economy. The Governor’s education policy is anchored by her Education Reform Plan “that touches every student, every classroom, and every corner of our state … from pre-school to college.” This plan, developed by the P-20 Coordinating Council from its work on the State’s Race to the Top application, lays out yearly benchmarks in order to achieve specific goals by 2020, which includes:
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Improving Arizona’s high school graduation rate to 93%;
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Enabling at least 94% of 3rd graders to meet State reading standards; and
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Doubling the number of college graduates with a four-year degree.
Implementation of the Education Reform Plan is already underway. For example, the Executive Budget Recommendation for FY 2012 includes a plan to fund and oversee the development of a new data system that accurately reports the performance of students, teachers and schools.
Also as part of her Education Cornerstone, Gov. Brewer wants to empower parents to exercise their rights to enroll their child in a district school, charter school, private school, or home school. The newly launched website, Arizona School Choice, is intended to assist parents in making informed decisions regarding their child’s education. The Governor also plans to repurpose the P-20 Coordinating Council and dedicate its work to driving results and increasing transparency, while respecting local control.
ABEC will monitor legislation that affects its areas of interest and continue to educate, collaborate, advocate and influence when and where we can.
Additional Resources:
EDUCATION NEWS, WEBSITES & SPECIAL REPORTS
EDUCATION NEWS 
Schools recognized for beating the odds – The Arizona Republic, 1/26/11
Ten metro Phoenix-area schools with predominantly high-poverty, high-minority student populations will be honored as "Beat the Odds Schools" tonight at the Children's Museum of Phoenix. These schools had student academic achievement exceed expectations. More>
Goldwater Institute questions canceled Peoria school election – The Arizona Republic, 1/26/11
The Maricopa County superintendent's decision to cancel a special election to fill a vacant seat on the Peoria school board faces criticism from a conservative watchdog group. More>
Rodel Exemplary Principal finalists picked – The Arizona Republic, 1/20/11
The Rodel Charitable Foundation of Arizona has named 11 finalists for the 2011 Rodel Exemplary Principal award from Maricopa, Pinal and Yavapai counties. These finalists from high-need schools have been selected for their ability to inspire their staffs to contribute to the success and development of a safe, high-achieving campus. More>
Governor: Education overhaul could include more 4-year colleges – East Valley Tribune, 1/18/11
Gov. Jan Brewer wants lawmakers to explore creating a network of four-year colleges separate from the state university system. More>
State gives TUSD 60 days to heed law - The Arizona Republic, 1/5/11
Arizona's new superintendent of public schools is giving Tucson Unified School District 60 days to comply with a new state law that prohibits teaching courses aimed at certain ethnic groups. More>
WEBSITES
President Obama has established a goal that, by 2020, the U.S. will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world. Reaching this goal will require comprehensive education reforms from cradle to career, beginning with children at birth, supporting them through high school and postsecondary education. To monitor the Country's progress towards reaching the goal, the U.S. Dept. of Education created the Dashboard, intended to spur and inform conversations about how to improve educational results.
Return on Educational Investment – A look at more than 9,000 school districts nationwide finds common themes among those that get the most achievement from what they spend. To spark a national dialogue about educational productivity (i.e., how much learning a district produces for every dollar spent, after controlling for factors such as cost of living and students in poverty), CAP has attempted to evaluate the return on investment (ROI) of almost every major school district in the country.
This new website will be completely dedicated to aiding Arizona parents as they investigate the many educational opportunities available to their child such as charter schools, on-line instruction, homeschooling, private schools, and other options.
The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools is the leading national nonprofit organization committed to advancing the charter school movement. The Alliance has created the Public School Charter Dashboard which contains data, facts and information about charter schools nationwide and at the state level.
A new nonpartisan initiative, developed by organizations and individuals committed to Arizona’s long-term growth and economic prosperity, which are directly tied to a strong educational system and an educated workforce.
SPECIAL REPORTS
This report establishes a baseline of performance on the Common Core State Standards by using a sample comprising a quarter-million typical high school students, and then discusses how states, districts, and schools can support the implementation of the Standards going forward.
This report details the findings from a fall 2010 survey of state officials on efforts to adopt and implement the Common Core State Standards in reading and math. The survey found that states that have adopted the standards have plans for changing policies and programs, such as developing or adopting new assessments, modifying curriculum materials, and offering professional development for teachers, to ensure that the standards are fully implemented at the classroom level. However, many of these changes will not be fully in place until 2013 or later.
A recent report by Arizona State University's Morrision Institute for Public Policy and the Brookings Institution warns of large, long-term budget deficits for the state and calls for raising taxes via expansions of sales and other levies to now exempted industries and transactions.
The National Center for Teacher Quality released its 2010 State Teacher Policy Yearbook, which examines the alignment of states' teacher policies with goals to improve teacher quality.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This newsletter is dedicated in memory of Christopher Smith … a dedicated, loyal, inspiring and former board officer of ABEC.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
ABEC CRASH COURSES: What Did We Learn?
ABEC Legislative Connection Recap
READ Past Issues of eNews Spotlight
Wish to COMMENT on the ABEC eNewsletter?
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KUDOS TO OUR MEMBERS ... |
… CONGRATULATIONS to the ABEC member school districts who were 2010 ASBA Golden Bell Award Winners – honoring public school programs statewide that have shown outstanding successes in student achievement:
ELEMENTARY –
Alhambra Elementary School District (1st Place)
Litchfield Elementary School District (Runner-up)
MIDDLE YEARS –
Peoria Unified School District
(1st Place)
DISTRICT-WIDE –
Vail Unified School District
(Runner-up)
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... WELCOME to our NEWEST ABEC MEMBERS:
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Beaver Creek Elementary School District
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Double AA Builders
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Mr. George Cunningham
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International School of Arizona
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Kitchell Corporation
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Littleton Elementary School District
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Pendergast Elementary School District
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Queen Creek Unified School District |
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UPCOMING ABEC EVENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
ABEC Board of Directors Meeting
Friday, February 25, 2011
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Desert Willow Conference Center
Open to ALL ABEC members
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ABEC 2011 Annual Conference
Monday, June 6, 2011
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Desert Willow Conference Center
For more information on any upcoming ABEC event, go to
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EVENTS OF ABEC
MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS |
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Community in Schools
of Arizona
The Graduating to Success Breakfast
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
The Ritz-Carlton
2401 East Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ
For more information, contact Linda Torkelson
at 602-252-5312 x.33 or email linda.torkelson@cisarizona.org
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College Goal Sunday … and Saturday Too!
Feb 12 & 13, 2011
Get FREE help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online.
Locations throughout the state
For more information, go to
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry
28th Annual 'The Classic'
Golf Tournament
Friday, May 6th, 2011
Silverado Golf Club
7605 E. Indian Bend
Scottsdale, Arizona 85250
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ABEC SIGNIFICANT SUPPORTERS |
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