Helping Arizona schools use existing policy flexibilities to design better learning experiences for students — starting now.
Arizona Schools Already Have Flexibility — Here’s How to Use It
Across Arizona, educators want to improve student outcomes but often assume meaningful change requires new policy, funding, or approvals.
In reality, significant flexibility already exists.
Permission Granted from Center for the Future of Arizona and the Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University clarifies supports a shift from “we can’t” to “we can, we will, and we have” through two practical tools:
- A Policy Primer, which explains where flexibility already exists in Arizona policy; and
- An Innovation Guide, which shows how schools are using that flexibility in practice.
The goal is simple: help schools prepare students for what comes next — college, career, and lifelong learning — without waiting for policy change.
Tools to Turn Flexibility Into Action
The Arizona Policy Primer is intended to increase knowledge and awareness of state policy flexibilities that can inform and inspire local strategic planning efforts to create innovative learning experiences that ensure the success of Arizona students. By integrating the concepts in the primer, school systems can use state policy to inform their school-day structure, teacher professional development systems, assessment systems, instructional time models, and more. The primer is also designed as a companion to the Arizona Innovation Guide, which includes examples of what is possible for districts using the flexibilities outlined in the primer.
The Arizona Innovation Guide is a practical tool for exploring how Arizona’s existing education policies can support innovation and improve student outcomes. It is meant to inspire ideas, reduce uncertainty, and support school systems as they plan and implement innovative approaches. Using real and hypothetical examples in the context of current policy, this guide is a starting place for school and school systems looking to take the next step in driving stronger outcomes for students.
How School Teams Can Explore, Plan, and Act
Whether you're just beginning or deepening work already underway, Permission Granted is designed as a practical starting point for action. School and system leaders may:
- Review the Policy Primer and Innovation Guide to understand available policy flexibility and examples of how schools are using it. School system teams may find it useful to do so together to think about which approaches might be most impactful for your learning community.
- Work with leadership teams to reflect on current practices and discuss opportunities aligned with instructional priorities.
- Connect with schools highlighted in the resources to learn how policy flexibility works in practice.
Both resources are organized around specific areas of innovation. You can read them from beginning to end or go directly to the action area most relevant to your goals. The intent is not to prescribe a single path, but to spark ideas, provide clarity, and help teams move from vision to implementation. If you’re unsure where to start, we suggest beginning with Action Area 1: Profile of a Graduate in the Innovation Guide.
Opportunities to Engage and Go Deeper Across Arizona
CFA and AIEE are excited to bring Permission Granted to communities across the state during the spring and summer of 2026; dates for convenings and workshops across Arizona will be announced soon.
Later in the fall, CFA and AIEE will continue implementation support for school systems excited to engage further with Permission Granted — through workshops, technical assistance, communities of practice, or other deep dives into the resource. Check back here frequently for more updates on how and when to become more engaged.
In the interim, feel free to dive straight in and explore how you can use Permission Granted to support your school system’s transformation.
Help Shape What Comes Next
Whether you’re trying something new, have a question, or hit a roadblock — we want to hear from you. Your input helps us clarify guidance, share examples, and build future supports.
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