May 2026

Leaders from across Arizona recently gathered through the Arizona Civic Life Partnership — co-led by CFA and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership at the Flinn Foundation — to explore how data can strengthen civic health and help Arizona move toward greater civic participation and more connected communities.

Turning Data into Action
During the spring convenings, participants:

• Shared tools and strategies for measuring civic health
• Identified key indicators with the greatest potential to inform decision-making
• Highlighted stories of impact already strengthening communities statewide

The discussions also served as a starting point for re-evaluating the Civic Health Progress Meters that define, track, and measure progress, while shaping future goals grounded in shared priorities and measurable outcomes.

What’s Next
Stay tuned as the work continues, with July and September convenings focused on setting statewide goals and identifying shared priorities to advance The Arizona We Want.

Over the past two months, we convened education leaders from across the state in Phoenix and Tucson to explore how Arizona’s existing policy flexibility can support school redesign and improve student success. Through hands-on scenario planning and peer collaboration, participants identified concrete strategies for using the Permission Granted Policy Primer and Innovation Guide to better meet the needs of students and communities — and momentum is already building, with some districts beginning to bring these conversations into local leadership and decision-making. In partnership with the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy and with support from Helios Education Foundation, we will continue expanding this work through future convenings, workshops, and implementation support opportunities across Arizona.

Another year of School Participatory Budgeting (SPB) Vote Days has wrapped across Arizona, with students turning their ideas into real improvements for their school communities. Students learned how SPB is more than voting on projects; they’re being equipped with skills to listen, collaborate, and lead.

From elementary to high school, students proposed projects, developed campaigns, and cast ballots — gaining firsthand experience in civic participation and learning democracy by doing.

This year’s winning proposals ranged from Frye Elementary’s school-themed cafeteria window wraps to Starline Elementary's gym and recess equipment, to Centennial Elementary's 3D printers, and outdoor shade at West Point High School. Higley Unified School District made its SPB debut this year, with 13 schools participating in the initiative. Multiple Higley elementary and middle schools voted for upgraded recess equipment and outdoor court improvements, while high school students voted for outdoor misters — reflecting the creativity, collaboration, and leadership of Arizona students.

We share a long-standing commitment with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) to help Arizona communities thrive and ensure all Arizonans have the opportunity to lead healthy, prosperous lives. For 17 years, AZ Blue has partnered with and invested more than $465,000 in Center for the Future of Arizona’s work to advance trusted data, community well-being, and pathways to opportunity that strengthen Arizona’s future.

Most recently, CFA and AZ Blue partnered to pilot an innovative community health fair model that connects community health, education, and workforce development. By combining free health screenings with career exploration and work-based learning opportunities for students, the effort reflects a forward-thinking approach to strengthening community well-being while building healthcare career pathways that could benefit communities across Arizona.

This partnership builds on years of collaboration between AZ Blue and CFA. In 2009, AZ Blue made a foundational investment in CFA to launch the first-of-its-kind decennial Gallup Arizona Survey. The investment helped CFA better understand the hopes, priorities, and shared values of Arizonans across the state and contributed to the creation of The Arizona We Want — a shared vision rooted in what matters most to Arizona communities.

Since then, AZ Blue’s continued collaboration has helped advance statewide efforts that connect community well-being, education, and workforce opportunity — supporting research, partnerships, and actionable solutions designed to strengthen communities and improve quality of life for Arizonans across the state.

The latest update to Arizona’s Education Progress Meters, developed in collaboration with Education Forward Arizona, highlights encouraging progress across Arizona’s education continuum while underscoring important opportunities ahead. From gains in post-secondary attainment to shifts across Arizona’s evolving K–12 landscape, this year’s data reinforces the connection between education, opportunity, and Arizona’s long-term economic future.

Key Takeaways:

• Post-secondary attainment reached 50%, increasing by one percent from the previous year and continuing progress toward the Achieve60AZ goal of ensuring 60% of Arizonans hold a degree or credential by 2030. The increase represents approximately 30,000 additional degrees, certificates, and licensures.
• Arizona’s workforce pipeline is showing encouraging momentum. Post-secondary enrollment continues to recover, and fewer young people are disconnected from both school and work, creating stronger pathways to education, training, and careers.
• Foundational indicators require continued focus. Third-grade reading and eighth-grade math proficiency declined, while Arizona’s high school graduation rate remained steady at 78% — highlighting the importance of preparing students for future success.
• Early learning and childcare challenges persist. Quality early childhood learning declined slightly, as expected, in-part due to the expiration of COVID-era funding in 2024.

Progress in education is ultimately about more than metrics — it reflects the opportunities available to students, the strength of Arizona’s talent pipeline, and the long-term vitality of our communities. As leaders across sectors consider what comes next, these insights can serve as a starting point for turning data into action.