Education Forward Arizona

“The form 990 is prepared by an outside accounting firm and then reviewed by the board of directors and approved by the president/ceo and executive committee before it is filed with the irs.”

“The board of directors are required to complete and sign conflict of interest questionnaires annually. The ceo and treasurer review and approve all transactions of the organization according to the organization's conflict of interest policy. Any potential conflicts of interest would be detected during the review and approval process. The procedures stated in the conflict-of-interest policy would be followed to deal with any issue arising.”

“The board of directors review external compensation/benefit information in making the determination each year if salary increases are warranted for the president/ceo based on performance and experience.”

“The organization does not make its articles of incorporation, bylaws, conflict of interest policy, or financial statements available to the public. It may provide documents upon written request. Form 990 is available to the public on guidestar or upon request.”

“Education is the fundamental driver of a more robust arizona workforce and economy and our best lever for improving the quality of life for all arizonans. To move arizona forward, we must move education forward. The college success services program granted scholarships in 2023 to 659 students, amounting to a total of $2,084,790. 2023 featured some important new success services partnerships and increased scholarship opportunities for deserving youth across arizona. Most education forward arizona scholars are provided with an education forward arizona success adviser who is a full-time team member. The success services program aims to help students achieve a college degree and guide them toward a successful life after college. Each student assigned to a success adviser meets with that person twice per semester on their respective campus, as well as via phone and virtual means, to help them identify any hindrances to their college education and to assist them in creating a plan to overcome such obstacles. These obstacles could be related to finances, family support, study habits, housing, emotional and mental health, or other factors. Success advisers offer support and motivation to their scholars, regularly reminding them they were chosen for the scholarship because education forward arizona has faith in their potential and future. The success services program has been running since 2005 and has helped over 915 students graduate through 2023. The six-year graduation rate is 74%, and freshman retention rate is 91%. Most of our students, around 70%, are first-generation college students. Additionally, we hold an annual leadership symposium each january for our scholars. This all-day event allows students to meet and network with peers from other campuses, listen to inspiring speakers, participate in teambuilding activities, and attend workshops focused on preparing for life after college. In 2023, education forward arizona relaunched and rebranded the arizona college access network (azcan) to grow its membership and leverage the network as an advocacy voice for advancing college access and student success toward attainment. The azcan college access professional segment increased by over 300 individuals in 2023 and now boasts 1,229 members. Among these, 459 represent k-12 schools, 132 represent school districts, 76 represent universities, 47 represent community colleges, 7 represent technical/trade schools, 22 represent state agencies, 220 represent college access programs, 188 represent community organizations, and the remaining 79 represent a diverse range of nonprofit organizations, businesses, and corporations. Additionally, in 2023, 662 professionals participated in 12 completely redeveloped college access professional (cap) courses, compared to 40 in 2022. Thirty-nine (39) earned certificates as arizona college access professionals, compared to seven (7) in the previous year. In 2023, education forward arizona established college readiness teams at 30 high schools as part of the helios education foundation college knowing & going (ckg) initiative. These teams comprise high school administrators, counselors, teachers, americorps members, postsecondary partners, community members, and ckg coordinators who work together to identify strategies to enhance college readiness and access. They also aim to strengthen the college-going culture, which is tailored to meet the unique needs of each school community. Fifty-eight (58) student ckg ambassadors enrolled in post-secondary institutions in the fall of 2023 and were awarded $2,000 each in scholarships. In its fifth year of operation in 2023, the goal of the adviseaz americorps program is to increase the number of high school students from low-income, first-generation, and minority backgrounds who pursue and complete postsecondary education through assistance provided by adviseaz members. These advisers are placed in title i high schools and community sites across arizona, including”

“Throughout 2023, education forward arizona disseminated valuable information via the education explainer, a nonpartisan resource that aimed to educate individuals on how crucial education issues impact schools, educators, students, and families. The organization also shared its perspective on how the issues can help increase education attainment and drive progress toward the education progress meter goals. Below are the education explainer topics covered since the education explainer was launched in 2022: - what is affirmative action and what does it mean for arizona students? - dual enrollment - what's in the governor's proposed fy24 state budget for education? - 2022 state of the state: addressing ducey's education agenda - what's in the governor's proposed fy23 state budget for education? - aggregate expenditure limit frequently asked questions - arizona's high school graduation requirements: spotlight on math - what's important to include in a school funding proposal & the impact of sb1269 - fy23 budget overview - arizona school vouchers explained - proposition 308 explained - education explainer: arizona's teacher shortage education forward arizona continued to position itself as a leading statewide voice for p-20 education in 2023 by building support for critical investments in education in the state budget and finding long-term education funding solutions. In march 2023, education forward arizona published the billions to gain economic impact report in partnership with helios education foundation. The report affirms the economic response to the question "is college worth it and shows that arizonans who pursue education after high school experience higher lifetime earnings, better health, and more economic opportunities. The report demonstrated how modest increases in higher education enrollment could lead to billions in economic gains for arizona each year. The report's findings are the backbone of the everything to gain campaign and a primary component of the economic and equity messaging now being delivered across the state. Specifically, throughout 2023, education forward arizona and helios education foundation convened community leaders to discuss the report and its implications for arizona educators and policymakers. Efa and helios leaders delivered this message at state, local and national conferences, including 50 presentations to over 970 community members statewide. Thousands of others were engaged through the popular monthly "power hour", which brings together experts to unpack complicated and timely education issues in a webinar setting. Significant media coverage also ensued. A second everything to gain press conference hosted in september in partnership with south mountain community college and business leaders revealed a new interim report and a business-education compact. The two press conferences held in 2023 around everything to gain garnered hundreds of digital, print, radio, and broadcast stories, resulting in a potential audience reach of 935 million people. As part of the effort, a "voice of attainment" group created and led by education forward arizona comprised of educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, foundations and chambers of commerce, continues to strategically promote the value of education and attainment and amplify everything to gain messages. Additionally, in 2023, education forward arizona launched an action plan that represents a shared set of priorities and advocacy agenda items from education, business, and community leaders representing the most important steps the state could take to advance the achieve60az attainment goal and the arizona progress meter indicators. This is the continuation of work that began in 2022 with a set of education thought leaders and expanded to hundreds of others across the state, including groups of educators and students. Hundreds of people were engaged in crafting the plan through multiple convenings and surveys. In 2023, many more were reac”

“The organization has not changed the process from the prior year.”