The Center for the Future of Arizona is helping to shape and define Arizona’s future through an action-oriented agenda focused on issues and topics critical to the state.
More than a think tank, the center is an independent “do tank” that combines public-policy research with collaborative partnerships and initiatives that will create opportunities and quality of life for all Arizonans.
The Arizona We Want
A national panel has selected five projects representing communities from across Arizona as the winners of the inaugural Five Communities Project sponsored by the Center for the Future of Arizona. The five projects will jointly apply with the center for $1.5 million in funding ($100,000/year over a three-year period or $300,000 per project) from national organizations to implement their proposal.
Digital Learning
Coinciding with national Digital Learning Day, a new report on the status of digital learning in Arizona was released. Digital Learning: How to Enhance the Learning of Any Child, at Any Time, and in Any Place was co-authored by Sybil Francis, Ph.D., who is executive director of the Center for the Future of Arizona, and C.J. Eisenbarth Hager, who is a senior policy analyst at Morrison Institute for Public Policy at Arizona State University.
» Read more
Beat the Odds School Partners
A recent study by WestEd, a national research agency, found that, after two years, the Beat the Odds partner schools made significant progress in math and positive progress in reading.
In addition, 53 percent of the schools in 2008-09 improved their ratings under AZ Learns.
Three "keys to success" have proven especially vital to improving student achievement in low-income, minority-intensive Arizona schools.
» Read more
Move On When Ready
The Center for the Future of Arizona is playing a major role in bringing the idea of "move on when ready" and board examination systems to Arizona. The objective of move on when ready is to raise academic achievement for all children, allow them to advance based on demonstrated academic achievement and when ready, graduate from high school as early as age 16 and move on to postsecondary education without remediation.
» Read more