February 2026

At Center for the Future of Arizona, we’ve reached a major milestone — completing Career Connected Pathways, an Education Innovation Research grant from the U.S. Department of Education, in partnership with 12 high schools and seven community colleges across Arizona. The work responds to a clear need: while most students aspire to education after high school, far fewer actually enroll, limiting access to opportunity and Arizona’s future workforce.

We found that a Distributed Advising Approach — where students are supported by a coordinated team of educators, families, and mentors rather than a single advisor — strengthens student agency and “hopeful thinking,” increases participation in dual enrollment and computer science, and builds a shared culture of support across systems. This matters because dual enrollment, or earning college credit in high school, lowers the cost of college and connects students to high-demand, high-wage careers that increasingly require digital skills.

Students at Apache Junction High School (AJHS) experienced firsthand how leading their own career planning can lead to discovering their full potential. For the 2025-26 school year, AJHS plans to expand college and career course offerings and student experiences further. Explore their Story of Impact from the case study below — and stay tuned as we continue sharing case studies from this work.

We’re excited to share the launch of the Arizona Media Institute — a new, evolving resource designed to support reporting on the issues shaping Arizona’s future. Anchored by an online hub, the Institute makes it easier than ever for journalists to access trusted, localized data, context, and independent experts on the issues Arizonans care about most.

More than a website, it’s a support system built to grow alongside Arizona’s newsrooms.

Local policymakers, election officials, academics, and other experts joined CFA to discuss survey findings and define what makes a great election for Arizonans, with Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA, presenting the research and leading the discussion.

Arizona State University’s Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory (MODL), in partnership with Center for the Future of Arizona and the Democracy Defense Project, convened state and local leaders in Phoenix for the first in a three-part “What Makes a Great Election?” series. As a proud partner and contributor, CFA brought first-of-its-kind survey insights from the Good Elections Project into direct conversation with policymakers and election officials — grounding discussions in what Arizonans say they want from their elections. The series will continue with the next convening in Tucson.

More than 200 leaders and colleagues gathered at the Association for Career Technical Education of Arizona’s 2026 Midwinter Leadership Conference to share innovations focused on helping Arizona students gain real-world skills, earn industry certifications, and access high-demand careers.

As part of the conference, Erin McGehean, CFA’s Western Maricopa County College & Career Pathways project manager, presented alongside Gale Beauchamp of the Maricopa County School Superintendent’s Office. Their session highlighted how educator externships deepen classroom relevance, improve student career awareness, and help shape future externship opportunities planned for summer 2026.

That’s according to our latest statewide public opinion survey, the Good Elections Project, offering data-driven insight into what Arizonans want elections to deliver, regardless of party or outcome. When asked to prioritize what matters most, accuracy consistently ranks first for all Arizonans. When asked what is most essential, accuracy and trustworthy election officials top the list, followed closely by transparency, safety, and voter access.

Why this matters: Elections are one of the most powerful ways in which the priorities of Arizonans are expressed and advanced. We’re committed to ensuring that these priorities are clearly understood by leaders and translated into action.

Across political and demographic groups, the message is clear: a good election is one where every ballot is counted correctly, the process is visible and understandable, officials are trusted to administer it fairly, and all eligible voters have the opportunity to participate.

David Martinez III and Dr. Sybil Francis speak during a convening where local and national leaders joined CFA to reflect, collaborate, and explore ways to strengthen civic health across Arizona.

For years, the Vitalyst Health Foundation has worked to create the conditions all Arizonans need to thrive — particularly within vulnerable communities. A long-standing partner of Center for the Future of Arizona, we are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s fiscal support and for the engaged leadership of Vitalyst staff, from the legacy of former CEO Suzanne Pfister to the continued collaboration of Director of Strategic Community Partnerships David Martinez III, who have worked alongside CFA to advance The Arizona We Want.

Since 2010, Vitalyst has invested nearly $300,000 in CFA initiatives spanning civic participation and leadership, connected communities, and strengthening voting and democratic processes. The Foundation’s commitment to working across differences and in unity with marginalized communities reflects CFA’s own values and belief that progress grows from shared purpose.

Looking ahead, CFA and Vitalyst will continue its collaboration with the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation through the Arizona Civic Life Partnership to activate the Civic Health Progress Meters — aligning leaders around clear goals and credible data to put the metrics into action. Together, we are turning shared values into shared progress for Arizona.

This timely discussion offers a fact-based look at what Arizonans value most when it comes to elections — and what that means for policymakers, election officials, and the broader civic community.